# Recommend a supplement brand? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 17, 2009, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-supplement-brand/486289 "2009-02-17T16:53:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-supplement-brand/486289/1 "2009-02-17T16:53:08Z")
I’m looking to start taking fish oil, and I don’t know how to research which brand to buy. I’d also like to take vitamin E. Do you have a brand you like? Or, what criteria should I use in deciding which brand to buy? I know I could just buy my grocery store’s brand, but is that best? ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-supplement-brand/486289/2 "2009-02-17T16:56:53Z")
What are your goals / expectations / why do you want to take it? ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-supplement-brand/486289/3 "2009-02-17T17:02:16Z")
I find GNC to be reliable. And if you are patient, a lot of their stuff goes on sale. ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-supplement-brand/486289/4 "2009-02-17T17:13:43Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > What are your goals / expectations / why do you want to take it? For the omega-3, the general benefits for heart health, emotional stability, mental clarity. I’ve read recently it can also help stabilize blood sugars, and I fear I am insulin resistant. For the vitamin E, I’m hoping it will improve my skin. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-supplement-brand/486289/5 "2009-02-17T17:17:46Z")
Vitamine E is overrated and overused. Nope, no cite, my cite is my doctor, I quit taking it and have noticed no change at all. Fish oil? Eat Fish, salmon. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-supplement-brand/486289/6 "2009-02-17T17:18:47Z")
Back when I knew about such things, I found products by Ortho-Molecular to be generally high quality, well-researched and designed products with appropriate binders/capsules (that break down in the right part of the digestive tract) and good dosing suggestions. They’ve got an [Omaga-3 heavy fish oil capsule](http://www.amazon.com/Ortho-Molecular-OrthOmega-Fish-Capsules/dp/B000H3E10K); haven’t tried it myself, but had good reports from clients I suggested it to. Ain’t cheap, though. One label I tend to avoid, and this might just be my snobbiness, is Nature Made. They’re always \*super \*cheap, and I wonder how they accomplish that. My cynical nature makes me suspect either adulterants or poor production controls. Sorry, that might be totally off base, but there it is. ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-supplement-brand/486289/7 "2009-02-17T17:18:53Z")
I know myself and I won’t cook fish on a regular basis. I accept this limitation. (In response to Lanzy.) ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-supplement-brand/486289/8 "2009-02-17T17:24:23Z")
Nature Made is a good brand of Omega 3 that you can get at Costco. I have been taking it for years and feel it has been a benefit to me. YMMV [http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11297054&whse=BC&topnav=&browse=&lang=en-US&s=1](http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11297054&whse=BC&topnav=&browse=&lang=en-US&s=1) ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-supplement-brand/486289/9 "2009-02-17T17:57:47Z")
That is a significant price difference between Ortho-Molecular and Nature Made, and it’s part of my motivation for the question. Why such a big difference? If they’re all the same, then I should shop on price. But maybe Nature Made is cheaper because they also make capsules for other brands to market under their own label? Or is it because they’re more cheaply developed and manufactured like **WhyNot** fears? Can anyone speak to this? ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-supplement-brand/486289/10 "2009-02-17T17:58:24Z")
> [@Lanzy](#): > > Fish oil? Eat Fish, salmon. I don’t like/eat seafood, and my doctor suggested that I start taking a fish oil supplement to help my cholesterol.\* So it’s not always that simple. 🙂 \*I have not done so because my numbers aren’t bad (one of them just isn’t as high/low as she’d like), I hate taking pills and am already taking 4/day (prescriptions), and I’m dubious about the effectiveness of supplements. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-supplement-brand/486289/11 "2009-02-17T18:02:18Z")
niblet\_ - why won’t you cook fish on a regular basis? If it’s because you don’t like it, then forget about taking fish oil capsules. Are you aware of fish burps? They happen even with the brands that claim they don’t give you them. They really should be nailed for false advertising because I’m pretty sure you’re getting the same capsule. ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-supplement-brand/486289/12 "2009-02-17T18:04:35Z")
It’s not that I don’t like it, it’s that I simply don’t cook that often, and certainly wouldn’t cook fish often enough to get the benefits. I would love to be the kind of person that cooks and eats fish 2 - 3 times a week for many reasons. But, man, I just ain’t. I can handle fish burps! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-supplement-brand/486289/13 "2009-02-17T18:06:00Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > Are you aware of fish burps? I know this wasn’t addressed to me, but: fish burps? :eek: 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-supplement-brand/486289/14 "2009-02-17T18:16:08Z")
Yep. You take the fish oil capsules to fight heart disease. And sometimes the fish oil fights back. It’s the smell of health! ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-supplement-brand/486289/15 "2009-02-17T18:35:11Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > I know this wasn’t addressed to me, but: fish burps? :eek: 😕 Yup. You take fish oil capsules and you’re treated to the taste of rancid fish coming up to say hi every 10 minutes for the rest of the day. Even if you take them with a meal. ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-supplement-brand/486289/16 "2009-02-17T19:11:27Z")
To be fair, I’ve gotten the occasional fish burp, but not with the frequency you describe. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-supplement-brand/486289/17 "2009-02-17T19:24:34Z")
Ok, y’all have just guaranteed that I will _never_ start taking fish oil supplements. 😃 Maybe I’ll just eat more Cheerios or something! ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-supplement-brand/486289/18 "2009-02-17T20:01:40Z")
Well, you can do flax seed oil instead. It’s got a nice nutty flavor and I’ve added flax seed meal to my cereal before. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-supplement-brand/486289/19 "2009-02-17T20:15:57Z")
> [@niblet\_head](#): > > That is a significant price difference between Ortho-Molecular and Nature Made, and it’s part of my motivation for the question. Why such a big difference? If they’re all the same, then I should shop on price. But maybe Nature Made is cheaper because they also make capsules for other brands to market under their own label? Or is it because they’re more cheaply developed and manufactured like **WhyNot** fears? Can anyone speak to this? Well, exactly. And I wish I had a better answer for you. It might simple be economies of scale, if Nature Made is now big enough to be stocking their product through Costco. It might be a great product - it could be a lovingly prepared oil from hand massaged free range mermaid tails, for all I know. But yeah, there’s a \*huge \*price difference and I’m made suspicious by that. One thing I can add that might be a variable in the discussion: Ortho-Molecular primarily sells its products through health care providers, be they doctors, acupuncturists or chiropractors, not through health food stores or drugstores. They consider themselves a “professional” line, and are probably at least a little price inflated just because of that. They actually pay people to come to practitioner’s offices and tell them about new products coming down the pipeline and they publish gorgeous glossy magazines sent to licensed professionals with lots of information about the products, processes and research, and all that costs money. Their standardization (meaning the sameness of product from one batch to the next and the strength of the capsule from one to the next) is apparently excellent, or at least seems very rigorous when you read their materials. They are, in those ways, more like a pharmaceutical company than your average supplement line. That doesn’t mean they’re _better_, mind. Just means the spend their money differently, perhaps. ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-supplement-brand/486289/20 "2009-02-17T20:25:20Z")
Roger that. I hear you, and I’m still hoping perhaps there may be someone who can speak to the Nature Made side of the equation (or any inexpensive brand for that matter). You and I are both making reasonable educated guesses. I’d like to know more. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-supplement-brand/486289.md?page=2)