What Organ Does Fish Oil Come From?

Fish is quite good for you, but if you're don't like it, you can still get the positive effects by taking fish oil. This popular dietary supplement has been around for centuries.

Source

• Fish oil does not come from any particular organ in the fish's body. The whole fish is processed to produce oil.

Process

• In processing plants, raw fish is cut up, steam-cooked and either centrifuged or pressed. The last step separates the solids from the oil and water. The oil is further refined to remove impurities.

Types

• Fatty fish such as mackerel, herring, flounder, sardines, salmon, trout and tuna are used to make fish oil.

Attributes

• The main health benefit of fish oil is that it contains the omega-3 fatty acids that regulate cholesterol. It also reduces inflammation, which is good for arthritis relief.

Producers

• Chile, Iceland, Norway, Denmark and Peru produce the most fish oil. Peru, responsible for about a quarter of worldwide production, is the main fish oil producer.