ProEfa and different brands

[Guest guest]

I am currently using the ProEfa by Nordic Naturals for my son and was

wondering if anyone has used the one by Natrol/Prolab? I was thinking about

trying this brand since I can get a really good price on it. Has anyone

tried it? Any luck on it? I hate to stop something that is working so

well.

Cheryl Cepek

[Guest guest]

On the different brands -- We have tried them all! Efalex (a high DHA product)

was out because it tastes nasty. Same for eye q (a high EPA product), and

probably a dozen or more fish oil products from the health food store, flavored

and unflavored. I find the Nordic Naturals products to be palatable, not fishy

(maybe a faint after taste, but easily erased by drinking or eating something

strong-flavored), and no fishy " burp " effect like other fish oils. My sons

agree that they are better than the other products, but they still resist taking

them due to taste. Overall, they prefer the Nordic Naturals strawberry flavored

DHA-heavy products to the lemon-flavored EPA-heavy products. Both will take the

Coromega (indeed one thinks it is a big treat) -- it has very high amounts of

both EPA and DHA and really does taste great. So we go back and forth between

the Nordic Naturals and the Coromega, and often combine products to try to get

the dosage I want in something they will take!

I have been avoiding products with Omega 6 due to a history of seizures which

seemed to increase when he was on an Omega 3/Omega 6 blend, and went away when

we dropped the Omega 6. There is some research suggesting a possible link

between seizure activity in those already prone to seizures and primrose oil (a

common source of Omega 6). I have not seen any research regarding borage oil

(used in Nordic Naturals ProEFA and other products) but we had increased

seizures -- I think I have seen only 2-3 other parents report similar problems

here. Who knows, without the Omega 6, we may be missing some critical

ingredient in the ratio, but there appears to be no research out there yet on

that, unfortunately. (Yes, lots on importance of Omega 6 in the diet (which we

get much of from other sources, unlike the Omega 3s), but none on it as a

supplement for dyspraxia or other motor control conditions.)

For those of you with kids with fish allergies, you can get DHA products that

are vegetable-based -- look for the Neuromins tradename -- it is a DHA product

made by Martek that is in a lot of store-brand DHA products (like Safeway). I

don't know if there are non-fish sources of EPA.

On the research, it seems to me to be both limited and inconsistent regarding

which is more important (EPA or DHA) and what the ideal ratio is. Dr. Stordy's

research and research surveys support the benefit of DHA in treating ADHD,

dyslexia, and dyspraxia. The research seems to suggest that EPA is

the more important factor in treating those same conditions. has

ongoing research in England right now on a fish oil/evening primrose oil product

called " eye q " , in a dosage of almost 600 mgs EPA, 180 mgs DHA, and 60 mgs GLA

(Omega 6). (Compare ProEFA, perhaps the most popular product among families on

this listserv -- one dose has 148 mgs EPA, 98 mgs. DHA, and 40 mgs GLA, although

for older children, some people increase the dosage.)

Certainly, there has been far more research on DHA in brain development (some of

which says EPA has little or no role), and the FDA has approved it as a formula

supplement based on that research. The DHA research reviewed by the FDA

suggested that about 500 mgs of DHA a day was recommended -- the FDA approved

DHA as a formula additive in an amount equal to up to 30 mgs per kg of birth

weight. The research appears to support a dosage of about 450-500

mgs of EPA a day. The FDA has approved some heart-related health claims for

DHA and EPA, but does not approve dosages exceeding 2000 mg total for DHA and

EPA (for adults). The FDA has not approved any health benefit claims for DHA

and EPA relating to ADHD, dyslexia, and dyspraxia, which is why none of the

products made and marketed in the US claim those benefits on the label or in

advertising. (It does not appear that any of the makers have asked the FDA to

review the research or to approve such claims.)

I do not see any research out there on the ratio issue, although many people

seem to feel that there must be some ratio we should all be targeting. So far,

all we seem to have on that are our own anecdotal reports.

So if it all sounds rather confusing to those of us who are new at this, it is

because it is -- to some extent we are our own research subjects and this is

where we report our results.... There is no magic product or dosage or ratio

that seems to work for everyone....yet. But lots of products seem to work for

someone. What I have found striking is how many people have reported jumps in

progress when they change products or adjust dosage up or down, and then a

levelling off, although I don't see any clear pattern there either.

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[Guest guest]

I was wondering if you have tried the Natrol brand?

Cheryl Cepek

[ ] RE:ProEfa and different brands

On the different brands -- We have tried them all! Efalex (a high DHA

product) was out because it tastes nasty. Same for eye q (a high EPA

product), and probably a dozen or more fish oil products from the health

food store, flavored and unflavored. I find the Nordic Naturals products

to be palatable, not fishy (maybe a faint after taste, but easily erased by

drinking or eating something strong-flavored), and no fishy " burp " effect

like other fish oils. My sons agree that they are better than the other

products, but they still resist taking them due to taste. Overall, they

prefer the Nordic Naturals strawberry flavored DHA-heavy products to the

lemon-flavored EPA-heavy products. Both will take the Coromega (indeed one

thinks it is a big treat) -- it has very high amounts of both EPA and DHA

and really does taste great. So we go back and forth between the Nordic

Naturals and the Coromega, and often combine products to try to get the

dosage I want in something they will take!

I have been avoiding products with Omega 6 due to a history of seizures

which seemed to increase when he was on an Omega 3