Omega 3 Krill oil

Hi everyone,

Wanted to boost Omega 3 in the diet. Been looking at fish oil supplements. Apparently they disrupt platelet function. Is this true or exaggerated. Should I avoid these. Is it omega 3 that disrupts platelets or the fish oil. Any experiences or advise greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Abuisa

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Many years before being diagnosed with ITP I took fish oil supplements. IMHO, there is no real benefit in taking the more expensive Krill oil variant. After a while though, I stopped fish oil and just ate fish. On average, I ate 5 meals of fish per week. I guess the more fish I ate, the more I preferred it.

As for effects on platelets being exaggerated. That would be a relative question - everyone could have a different answer. Probably directly related to how low one's counts are, LOL. For what it's worth, I think Aspirin is a larger disrupter of platelet function. More caution needed there.

With ITP (and low counts), I now consume one meal of fish per week.

Does that help?

I took Omega 3 once when my platelet count was around 15K. I don't tend to bruise at those numbers, but after several days on Omega 3 I had dark bruises all over my arms. It really affected my platelet function! I figured it out and stopped the Omega 3. Bruises went away within 48 hrs. I was concerned that salmon with an equal amount of Omega 3 would do the same thing- but I've never had a problem with eating salmon. I eat fish a couple times a week. I stay away from fish oil and Omega 3 supplements, flax oil, and too much garlic- I've read they all have blood thinning properties. Garlic is thought to stimulate the immune system- mine is stimulated enough.
I agree Hal that aspirin is probably worse, I believe it destroys platelets. I think Omega 3 just inhibits them. I take Ibuprofen occasionally which also is said to inhibit platelet function- haven't had a problem with it.

Aspirin doesn't destroy platelets it reduces their stickiness. I rather think fish oils must do the same. I took Omega 3 capsules containing fish oil for a while. I don't think I had any more bruises than I would normally expect l but they were definitely bigger.