Print Article for : Pharmaceutical Grade Fish Oil

Your Online Guide » Pet Guide » Aquarium Fish

[P283]Pharmaceutical Grade Fish Oil

by Thomas Budd, Tho

Omega 3 fish oil is a health and nutritional supplement that can have dynamic effects on your health and overall mood and vitality. However, now that the secret is out, there are more brands than ever to choose from. In addition to the myriad of different forms (capsules, powders, pills, etc.) available, some supplements claim to be "pharmaceutical grade." What does this mean, exactly?

Specifically, pharmaceutical grade is the highest quality label for the ingredients present in a dietary supplement. When choosing ingredients for a supplement for their product, a company can choose from three categories: feed grade, food grade and pharmaceutical grade. Feed grade means that the ingredients are fit for animal consumption. These ingredients should only be used for domestic and captive animals, like the ones at your local zoo. Your pet's veterinarian should probably be the only one who reads this on a supplement label. This leaves us with food grade and pharmaceutical grade ingredients for the nutritional supplements available at your local health store. While food grade and pharmaceutical grade are both fit for human consumption, it is important to distinguish the two.

The difference between food grade and pharmaceutical grade usually comes down to potency and purity. However, with the help of some clever wording and marketing, some companies can make their products appear to be as potent and pure as pharmaceutical grade when they actually are not. The only way to truly tell if the product you are buying is pharmaceutical grade is if it is certified so by the United States Pharmacopeia. The United States Pharmacopeia, or USP, assures a quality standard for ingredients that would be necessary for distribution in hospitals and pharmacies. In addition to maintaining a standard for the purity of the raw ingredients, the USP also ensures that they are obtained from a reliable source. Generally, this means checking that they are rotated on a consistent basis.

Due to these factors, the benefits from using pharmaceutical grade supplements are more than simply getting more bang for your buck. Since food grade supplements can claim to be "ultra concentrated," they may seem to be the way to go for those who are searching for a deal. However, be warned that even the "Supplement Facts" label on the back of the bottle does not always paint the whole picture. Finally, since the standards vary from country to country due to trade regulations, the only way to be sure about a supplements purity and potency is if it is certified by the USP.

If you do your homework, the benefits of buying pharmaceutical grade supplements vastly outweigh the costs. Indeed, considering the ever changing climate of the health care industry, it may end up being the most cost effective choice in the long run. Since only pharmaceutical grade supplements can be guaranteed of their purity, they may just find their way into your next health insurance plan. With all of its benefits, omega 3 fish oil should find its way into your shopping cart as well.

Vitamins are necessary for human life and health. They are required in minute amounts, and with the exception of Vitamin B12, cannot be manufactured in your bodies. These organic compounds need to be obtained from diet, and if deprived of a particular vitamin, you will suffer from disease specific to that vitamin. It is a matter of record that you are not getting enough vitamins. Though we Americans are living longer, our quality of life leaves much to be desired.

The thirteen different vitamins are classified into two main categories:

Â·Water Soluble Vitamins - They dissolve easily in water. They are Vitamin C and the eight types of Vitamins B, B-1, B-2, B-3, B-5, B-6, B-7, B-9, and B-12.
Â·Fat Soluble Vitamins - With the help of lipids, they are absorbed through the intestinal tract. These vitamins are Vitamins A. D, E, and K.

The term Vitamin does not mean to include essential nutrients, such as, dietary minerals, essential fatty acids, or essential amino acids; neither does it mean to include other nutrients that just promote health, and may not be essential.

The Different Grades of Vitamins
Vitamin supplements are taken by more than 75% of the world's population. With the plethora of different brands, it becomes difficult to know what is what. Vitamins and other nutritional supplements are made from three different grades of raw materials:

Â·Pharmaceutical Grade - It meets pharmaceutical standards
Â·Food Grade - It meets standards for human consumption
Â·Feed Grade - It meets standards for animal consumption

The main difference is of quality and purity. Due to the addition of various other substances, no product is 100% pure. Pharmaceutical Grade Vitamins must be in excess of 99% purity containing no binders, fillers, excipients - substances used as diluents for a drug - dyes, or unknown substances. Regular Vitamins of the other two grades are available as Over The Counter (OTC) products, whereas pharmaceutical grade vitamins are only available through prescriptions.

Pharmaceutical grade vitamins are formulated to yield a higher degree of bioavailability - the degree at which the vitamin is absorbed into a living system. As these vitamins can be absorbed into your body quickly, they improve and enhance the quality of your life rapidly.

Of late, the American vitamin industry has gained a lot of bad reputation, and many feel it is rightly deserved. People walk into stores and pharmacies to buy regular vitamins. In some of the cases, the ingredients specified on the label are not in conformity with what they find inside the bottle. A variety of ingredients do not absorb into the body.

More and more people are opting for pharmaceutical grade vitamins, as they are available through prescriptions from doctors and licensed medical practitioners. Pharmaceutical grade vitamins, vis-Ã -vis regular vitamins, have been tested for their quality and ability to give results. They are tested by third parties to confirm that the bottles contain what they profess to contain.

The information in this article is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice.

Article Source : Pg. 3

About Author

Both Thomas Budd & Cathy Taylor are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Thomas Budd has sinced written about articles on various topics from Aquarium Fish, High Cholesterol and Aquarium Fish. About the Author:Thomas Budd has a special interest in fish oil, as he takes the supplement everyday. Your good health is important, and Fish Oil has been proven to augment that good health. Now is the time to get your FREE bottle of Fish Oil, and see for. Thomas Budd's top article generates over 6600 views. to your Favourites.

Cathy Taylor has sinced written about articles on various topics from Yoga Practice, Pregnancy Problems and Food And Drink. Cathy Taylor is a marketing consultant and freelance writer and can be reached at . Cathy Taylor's top article generates over 22200 views. to your Favourites.