2400 mg is not the "upper limit" of fish oil. That is 2.4 Grams. Clinical trials for mood dsorders, for instance, routinely use 2-4 Grams (up to 4000 mg).

However, you might wish to check your vitamin D and thyroid levels.

may say 2.4grms...but that is not the amount of active ingredient in a typical fish oil.

The EPA and DHA levels are much less.
It is confusing but some papers mean 2 grms of EPA etc, not the total weight of the capsule itself.

for example ..RX Lovaza:
My double strength Costco fish oil has 684 mg of combined EPA/DHa in a 1200 mg capsule. A standard strength fish oil has about 1/2 of this amount.

The papers don't always clarify the doses, and labels can be confusing.

Jaspar and Mrs D thanks. My D level and thyroid is fine. I know when I saw that holistic doctor he wanted me to take a lot but also felt that way on other supplements. So I should I take 2 fish oil and 2 flaxseed pills? That would give me 2000mg of flax and 2400mg of fish oil. I have no idea the conversion. I wish they would make this easier for the consumer. I remember this with magnesium too.

Make sure you take with food.

You will need B6 too for conversion of the fats.

The Omega Capsules that I take have 600mg EPA, 480 mg of DHA, 120 mg of other essential fatty acids, 1200 mg of Omega 3 fatty acids, and 220 mg of an Omega 5 6 9 complex (70% pomegranate seed oil, evening primrose seed oil, borage seed oil and organic flax seed oil)

I just found this today... doses are not listed, but it is a very positive article:

I have an Rx for Lovaza for heart health, but know Mrs. D. uses the Costco brand that is enteric coated. I had also read that some of the better fish oils are more readily absorbed than capsules. Is one form better than the other for absorbability and metabolization by our bodies? Also, what are the cofactors needed for metabolization of fish or flax oil? I have been reading all of your past and current posts, Mrs. Doubtfyre, but am having trouble putting all of the facts together in a brain absorbable form. . .

All the fish oils I know of are oils. Hence they are best
absorbed with food present. The bile released at mealtimes emulsifies the oil and improves absorption.

There are some liquid emulsified oils.
Here is an article about Coromega:
http://www.coromega.com/01What/f_bio...ty/f_body.html

Whether this is necessary for most people remains questionable. The emulsified forms are more expensive, and were mostly used by people who couldn't swallow large capsules, and for children.

You can use your Lovaza. My comments are about the hype surrounding it...which may not be exactly true, to account for its increased price. If your insurance pays for it, then the price is not an issue. I do like the fact that the new nutraceuticals that the drug industry are making like Lovaza educate doctors more and help everyone get access to fish oil or other useful things. But the cost to the patient involved is unpleasant IMO.

For example my insurance is going up in January, as I assume many others will be affected as well.
The most reasonable way for me to obtain an RX medication is by mail order. A 3 month supply for me is going up to $65. So a 3 month supply of Lovaza would cost far more than a 3 month supply of
double strength fish oil over the counter. So even WITH insurance people may be paying more for Lovaza.

There is a new study being shared now that is very interesting.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0419133844.htm

I suspect we will see a drug form of this in the near future.

In the meantime, take those fish oil caps, or at least DHA.

Here is a new study showing Omega-3s from fish and supplements may stave off colon cancer in white patients:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100423/...s_omega_cancer

The African American study subjects did not show statistical improvement however in this study.

It is another step in the direction of good preventive help for major diseases of aging.