title: [Contaminating substances in 22 over-the-counter fish oil and cod liver oil preparations: cholesterol, heavy metals and vitamin A].
abstract: Fish oil capsules are increasingly used by self-medicating patients. We studied 22 commercial fish oil and menhaden oil preparations in respect to accompanying substances that could be harmful. The substances measured were: cholesterol as determined by gas liquid chromatography, heavy metals measured by atomic absorption, and vitamin A as determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The contents of cholesterol and heavy metals were in ranges which can be regarded as negligible; the content of vitamin A in menhaden oils, however, was found in amounts which warrant that pregnant women do not exceed the dosage as recommended by the manufacturers.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Physiologische Chemie II, Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität, Mainz.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koller
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Luley
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Baum
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Biesalski
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002104:Cadmium / Q000032:analysis; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000032:analysis*; D003060:Cod Liver Oil / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D004340:Drug Contamination; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D005395:Fish Oils; D008670:Metals; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D002104:Cadmium; D014801:Vitamin A; D007854:Lead; D003060:Cod Liver Oil; D002784:Cholesterol; D008628:Mercury
vernacular_title: Begleitende Inhaltsstoffe in 22 OTC-Fischöl- und Lebertranpräparaten: Cholesterin, Schwermetalle und Vitamin A.