Fish oil supplementations are gaining lots of popularity nowadays. Do you know where do the fishes come from of the fish oil that you currently take? What kind of purification processes and testing have they gone through? At Bioclinic Naturals, they start with the best catch, by sourcing their oils from small, clean fish (sardines, anchovies and mackerel) from the clear waters off the Peruvian coast. Their supplier works directly with a fishery managed by some of the world's toughest regulations, providing a sustainable, renewable resource. Many of their fish oil products were the first, and remain the only fish oils in the world to be verified by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) and receive the prestigious USP Verified Dietary Supplement Ingredient Mark. Their fish oil supplier is the world's largest supplier of Omega-3 EPA/DHA ingredients to the dietary supplement and food manufacturing markets and also has the largest privately owned marine research and development facility in North America.
 
In Canada, we have long had very strict regulations and high standards set for quality control of fish oil products. Any ingredient Bioclinic Naturals uses as a raw material is tested for purity, identity, heavy metals, PCBs, pesticides, and other contaminants, in accordance with Health Canada’s Natural Health Products Directorate (NHPD) requirements. Their laboratories also test finished products for weight, disintegration time, and uniformity, and all potencies are verified. In-house testing facilities ensure that accurate test results can be obtained quickly and efficiently. All fish oil supplements must conform to the following Health Canada purity standards:
 
Bioclinic Naturals tests for:

• Identity of medicinal ingredient(s) and the quantity and potency of the ingredients
• Purity (microbial): total aerobic count, yeast & mold, E. coli, salmonella & staphylococcus aureus
• Pesticides: tested on raw material only because they would not show up in finished product if none are found in original source
• Solvent residues (if applicable)
• Peroxide values: max. 5 mEq/kg
• Arsenic: < 0.14 µ/kg b.w./day
• Cadmium: < 0.09 µ/kg b.w./day
• Lead: < 0.29 µ/kg b.w./day
• Mercury: < 0.29 µ/kg b.w./day
• Total PCBs: <0.09 ppm (= to 90 nanogram / gram of fish oil)
• Dioxins: <2 pg/kg b.w./day         

kg = kilograms, g = grams, mcg = microgram, pg = pictogram, b.w. = body weight

Note that the limits are dependent on body weight. This means that for children’s products, we apply a lower tolerance level for heavy metals, PCBs and dioxins.

(Note that this is not an exhaustive list. For more information on standards of purity, please visit):
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/prodnatur/legislation/docs/eq-paq-eng.php#243 )

In terms of purification for their concentrate fish oil products, they use molecular distillation and ultra purification to remove any toxins. No chemical solvents are used in the purification process. After many steps of distillation, filtrations and deodorization, Bioclinic Naturals customers can be assured that this high-quality product is free of contaminants. Molecular distillation is a process for purifying heat-sensitive liquids (e.g. fish oils) using a vacuum or low pressure still. Distillation is a method of separating chemical substances based on differences in their tendency
 
I encourage you to do your due diligent with different manufactures/ supplement companies on their quality control and standards. A lot of the professional line companies that we will be dealing with most probably have high standards. However, there are manufactures in the market place that might not hold the same standards. By researching different companies thoroughly, we will be at a better position to treat and educate our future patients.

Wendy Tao , B.Sc.

Student Representative

A University of Alberta Bachelor of Science graduate with studies in food and nutrition, Wendy has a passion for nutrition and health. This has inspired her to continue her education in Naturopathic Medicine at the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine (BINM). She is fluent in Chinese including Cantonese and Mandarin and has been active in the vitamin and nutrition field since 1996.

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