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In general, fish oil capsules are extremely well-tolerated, with very little to no side effects. Although the body cannot produce its own EPA, it is a naturally occurring substance that is essential to good health.
Consuming excessive amount of fish-oil capsules can result in excessive bleeding, gastrointestinal distress, anemia, or strokes. Other possible adverse effects that have been reported include easy bruising, and occasional nosebleeds. Some patients report a slight "fishy taste" in their mouth after taking fish oil capsules. In this case, a strong mouthwash might be recommended to remove the taste and any residual bad breath.
Fish oil supplements should be used cautiously in pregnant and lactating women.
While supplementation with fish oil consistently lowers triglycerides, the effect of fish oil on LDL (“bad”) cholesterol varies. In some cases, fish oil supplementation has been reported to increase LDL levels. The LDL-cholesterol raising effect of EPA and DHA has also been reported to be prevented by taking garlic supplements (or presumably including garlic in the diet) along with EPA and DHA.
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