title: Varying quality of fish oil capsules: fatty acids and tocopherol.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the content and composition of fatty acids and tocopherols in commercially available oil capsules, and to assay thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) as a marker of oxidation in these oils.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fish and seal oil capsules were analyzed for their contents of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (DPA, EPA, and DHA), tocopherols, and malondialdehyde.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Large variations were found in the levels of EPA (6.5-40.9%), and DHA (8.1-26.4%), α-tocopherol (117-10282 μg/g), γ-tocopherol (406-2352 μg/g) and δ-tocopherol (127-978 μg/g). The level of malondialdehyde was very low in all capsules.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The tested samples of oil capsules showed large variation in quality with respect to long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and tocopherols. The low levels of malondialdehyde indicated a successful oxidation protection strategy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Mukhtiar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Ali A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Moazzami
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pickova
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002214:Capsules; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis / Q000592:standards*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000032:analysis; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000592:standards*; D005399:Fishes; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000032:analysis; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D046048:Seals, Earless; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D013548:Sweden; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000032:analysis; D024505:Tocopherols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000592:standards*
chemical_list: D002214:Capsules; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D005395:Fish Oils; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D024505:Tocopherols