FT there are thousands of studies on fish oil supplements, pick a few to read, it is interesting. I don't think you're really that dense and closed minded but if you are there is no use in this conversation going further.
fruits are loaded with beneficial nutrients and fiber and you just want the vitamin c? not to mention vitamin c supplements by pill are also in question: Vitamins E and C supplements not effective for prevention of cardiovascular disease in men Neither vitamin E nor vitamin C supplements reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events in a large, long-term study of male physicians, according to a study in the November 12 issue of JAMA. The article is being released early online November 9 to coincide with the scientific presentation of the study findings at the American Heart Association meeting. Most adults in the United States have taken vitamin supplements in the past year, according to background information provided by the authors. "Basic research studies suggest that vitamin E, vitamin C, and other antioxidants reduce cardiovascular disease by trapping organic free radicals, by deactivating excited oxygen molecules, or both, to prevent tissue damage." Some previous observational studies have supported a role for vitamin E in cardiovascular disease prevention. Some previous observational studies have also shown a role for vitamin C in reducing coronary heart disease risk. In this study, known as the Physicians' Health Study II, Howard D. Sesso, Sc.D, M.P.H., and colleagues from Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School and School of Public Health and VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, assessed the effects of vitamin E and vitamin C supplements on the risk of major cardiovascular disease events among 14,641 male physicians. These physicians were 50 years or older and at low risk of cardiovascular disease at the beginning of the study in 1997, and 754 (5.1 percent) had prevalent cardiovascular disease. The study participants were randomized to receive 400 IU of vitamin E every other day or a placebo and 500 mg of vitamin C daily or a placebo. "During a mean (average) follow-up of 8 years, there were 1,245 confirmed major cardiovascular events," the researchers report. There were 511 total myocardial infarctions (heart attacks), 464 total strokes, and 509 cardiovascular deaths, with some men experiencing multiple events. A total of 1,661 men died during follow-up. Compared with placebo, neither vitamin E nor vitamin C had an effect on the prevention of major cardiovascular events. "Neither vitamin E nor vitamin C had a significant effect on total mortality, but vitamin E was associated with an increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke." In conclusion the authors write: "In this large, long-term trial of male physicians, neither vitamin E nor vitamin C supplementation reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events. These data provide no support for the use of these supplements for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in middle-aged and older men." http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-11/jaaj-vea110608.php
One thing against eating the real thing, fish is the possibility of having too much mercury. Kinda bad for you. If you take krill oil, since krill is the lowest on the food pyramid, there is no chance of having mercury in it... Advice from the net:"Go for small fatty fish that are low on the food chain to avoid toxins that bioaccumulate. The large predatory fish that are popular in the US are not the most healthy option. Try mackeral, herring, croaker, trout. A tuna tip: eat the cheap, red kind. The albacore/white chunk tuna comes from older, mature fish. That kind is more expensive and more loaded with mercury because they've lived longer and are higher on the food chain." Also, arctic salmon is one of the best, if your P/L is very positive..
krill oil was popularized by dr merkola. probably the most prolific woomeister on the web. it has the same problems that most other supplements have. the body passes them without recieving the benefit like it would from natural food. if mercury concerns you eat fish with a short lifespan ,like salmon. they dont live long enough to accumulate high levels of mercury.
You might want to check out threads here, lots of personal positive experiences with different kind of problems: http://www.reddit.com/search?q=fish+oil
testimonials? you do understand that real clinical trials are designed to eliminate bias of testimonials?
Pekelo asked, "So if fish oil doesn't do zilch for cardio vascular health, why big pharma is making a prescription drug from it?" Why did this question make you laugh?
well, it should be obvious. follow the money. supplement makers sold 25 billion in untested supplements including 1.1 billion in fish oil alone. big pharma has to come up with a way to tap into that river of money.
So what did the trials say about Lovaza? I bet they said it works! I personally prefer to buy/take things when I read positive costumers/users feed back. Sure, they can be scams too, but just use common sense. If a product gets 4+ stars rating with 100s of users on Amazon, I take it as good as any trials.... But that is just me... "CLINICAL EFFICACY Triglycerides and Cholesterol Some small, prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trials have been conducted to study the effect of omega-3-acid ethyl esters on very high TG levels. The trials lasted from 6 to 24 weeks. In most of the trials, the placebo was corn oil. The baseline TG levels for study subjects ranged from 500 to 2,000 mg/dL. In these studies, Lovaza decreased TG levels by 26% to 47%, whereas corn oil placebo increased them by an average of 6.7%. The higher the baseline TG level before therapy began, the greater the percentage reduction achieved after therapeutic drug levels were attained." http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2683599/
Right and that's why people who take synthetically produced vic C still die from scurvy anyway. Absorption is ALWAYS a concern and it's not limited to the supplement industry. But then again I consider you a wholesale idiot for good reason.