Fish Oil and Benefits for Human Health: A Review

ABOUT AUTHOR
Subha Ganguly*
All India Coordinated Research Project on Post Harvest Technology (ICAR), Department of Fish Processing Technology, Faculty of Fishery Sciences, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences,
Kolkata-700 094, WB, India
*E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract
Fish serves as an important and rich source of easily digestible protein supplement to human body. Also, fish oil serves as an important source of omega-3 fatty acids also contains traces of mercury, as reported by the Environmental Protection Agency. The oily fishes act as potential source of fish oil containing rich content of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Cold water fishes namely, salmon, herring, mackerel, anchovies and sardines serve as rich source of fish oil. On the contrary, the tunas have comparatively lesser concentration of omega-3 acids present in them. The intake of fish oil has enormous implications in overall health status of the consumers. The omega-3 fatty acids fraction present in the fish oil has the benefit to treat cardiac diseases and hypertriglyceridemia. It gas also clinically proven antidepressant and prevents the occurrence of cancer, anxiety and macular degeneration. The fish oil is also a rich source of Vitamin A.
Key words: Fatty acids, Fish oil, Protein