Pharmaceutical Grade Fish Oil
Pharmaceutical grade fish oil is the same as regular omega 3 fish oil except that it has been processed under a process called molecular distillation. Molecularly distilled fish oil has the least amount of impurities. Oily ocean fish like salmon have high levels of omega 3 fats in them. One of the consequences of these high fat levels is high levels of pollutants and toxins. Removing those pollutants is very important if you intend to take the fish oil for any length of time. It is extremely important for women who may become pregnant as these toxins like mercury are very bad for a fetus.
Through molecular distillation the EPA (eicospentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahaxaenoic acid) are extracted from the pre-processed substance leaving the impurities behind. The really cheap ones you can get at any local drugstore can contain much higher levels of PCB's, dioxins, mercury, Dibenzofurans as well as other heavy metals. Taking pharmaceutical grade omega 3 fish oil is the safer alternative to very cheap fish oil supplements.
When you take a 1000mg fish oil capsule the concentration of the active ingredients can be less than 50%. The rest of the pill can be made up of filler. Dr. Puri, a leading researcher in omega 3 fatty acids, states that the EPA is the most important fatty acid in the oil. Therefore, I would look for a high ratio of EPA to DHA. Look for a ratio of 2:1 or higher.
This is the fish oil that I take. I found out about this company after listening to Doctor Barry Sears' audiobook Anti Inflamation Zone. I found the University of Guelph website that listed the five star (purest) rated pharmaceutical grade fish oils. These guys were on the list rated at a full five stars. I compared their prices to the prices of the other oils on the list rated five stars. These guys were less than everybody. So I gave them a shot.
I have been taking their fish oil for many years now. I order a six months supply twice a year to save on shipping. I am very comfortable in recommending them.