Quick History of Fish Oil Supplementation

Here is a brief history of Fish Oil supplementation.

• The first recorded use of fish oil supplementation was 1775 in London England.  Cod livers were laid out on the streets and the oil that oozed out of it was collected (This was the first Cod Liver Oil use).  Believe it or not this was considered a cure for arthritis[1].

• In 1973 Danish researchers discovered that a big reason why Eskimos who ate very high fat diets and had little cardiovascular disease risk ate a large amount of omega-3 fish oil[2].

• Since Cod Liver Oil was high in Vitamin A, in the 1980’s fish oil was able to be taken out of the flesh instead of the liver[1].

• Eventually because of the bad taste of the early fish oil, manufacturers encapsulated fish oil in Gelatin Capsules to mask the taste.  The only problem was people would have to take eight capsules to get 2.5 grams of EPA/DHA[1].

• In the 1980s Fish Oil use was suggested but it quickly went away for three reasons.  First, people were not getting close to taking even 2.5 grams of EPA/DHA.  Second, high carb diets were popular and caused additional inflammation because of high insulin (Fish Oil works best when carb intake is moderate or low).  Finally, the early fish oil was high in Vitamin A, PCBs, DDT and organic mercury compounds[1].

• Vitamin A was eventually removed from fish oil and some PCBs were removed in a process called molecular distillation[1].

• Fractionized fish oils removed saturated fat and contained slightly increased levels of long chain fatty acids[1].

• Finally pharmaceutical fish oil was developed by using more advanced distillation techniques.  Most saturated fat is removed by fractional distillation.  Nearly all PCBs are removed by molecular distillation.  With these new distillation methods a concentrated amount of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids could be made without unwanted by products like chemical contaminants or harmful fatty acids[1].

• Regarding sports performance Danish Physiotherapist Soren Mavrogenis successfully used a combination of Omega-3, GLA and antioxidants to rehab athletes[1].
• Sometime in the early-mid 90s strength coach Charles Poliquin used omega-3 supplements with his athletes[I can't confirm the exact date].

Hope you enjoyed this history lesson!

References:
1.  Sears, B.  2002.  The Omega Rx Zone.  New York, NY:  Harper Collins.
2.  Challem, J.  2010.  The Inflammation Syndrome.  Hobeken, NJ:  Whiley.