Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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As far as supplements go, I recently changed them. I've also been feeling rather run down the last 1.5 weeks. I attributed it to fighting off a cold, but am not sure.

Previously, I was taking:

5000IU Vitamin D
90mcg MK7 Vitamin K
CVS brand B-complex + C
CVS brand Cod Liver Oil

Recently I added two new supplements:

Nature Made Fish Oil (half dose) ~ 600mg
Target brand Glucosamine

I am only taking one fish oil pill (the dose is two pills), as I do eat fish and try to get grass finished meat as much as possible. The intent is to balance out my presumed Omega imbalance.

But it coincides to well with when I started feeling crappy. Can Fish Oil cause fatigue? If so, how? And how would I confirm this?

edited May 7 2010 at 19:08

asked May 7 2010 at 18:49

Aaron Griffin

Ed · Accepted Answer · 2010-05-08 00:26:21Z UTC

Some cod liver oil products contain significant DHA and EPA, so it may not be necessary to take CLO and fish oil simultaneously, especially if you eat fish and grass-fed meats.

Fish oils can lower blood pressure, which is a plausible mechanism that could explain the fatigue ( http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fish-oil/NS_patient-fishoil/DSECTION=safety ).

Glucosamine has been shown to increase insulin levels in diabetics ( http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=14559 ). If that were to also hold for non-diabetics, it could theoretically make you feel more fatigued by lowering your blood sugar.

Shane Toman · Answer 2 · 2011-09-19 23:51:22Z UTC

It all sounds completely psychosomatic to me. There is nothing in fish oil that would suddenly cause fatigue, manic behavior, or anything else, unless the same thing happens with a piece of cold water fish. My only other guess is that maybe you are allergic to the pill casing or something? That's a stretch though.

jm054 · Answer 3 · 2010-05-07 19:16:43Z UTC

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"If so, how? And how would I confirm this?"

A basic test would be to remove the fish oil and rate your perceived level of energy. Do you feel more or less fatigued?

Are these Dr. prescribed supplements? Just seems like you are taking quite a few pills. Ironically, the paleo diet is supposed to move you to a level of better health. One would think that would be a life with less pills and less obsession.

answered May 7 2010 at 19:16

jm054
1,127●4●9

	Not from a doctor, no. I generally do not buy high quality meats and veggies, so these supplements are to combat these sorts of things. D, K, and B-complex supplements are pretty much recommended for anyone not consuming lots of offal. I've confirmed deficiency in some B vitamins as well as A via Fitday food tracking, thus the Cod Liver oil addition. The fish oil addition was an attempt to balance the theoretical omega 3:6 ratio. – Aaron Griffin May 7 2010 at 19:37
	I am still slightly sick. If I remove the fish oil, and get better around the same time, I am changing 2 variables. So I will need to wait one to two weeks before trying that experiment. I don't want to go through 1-2 weeks of fatigue; hence the question. – Aaron Griffin May 7 2010 at 19:39
	See this thread for similar rationale to mine: paleohacks.com/questions/641/… – Aaron Griffin May 7 2010 at 20:00
	"I generally do not buy high quality meats and veggies"... May I ask why? Because you don't have access to them or because you opt not to eat them out of convenience or budgetary reasons? – jm054 May 7 2010 at 20:42
	It's a multitude of things. I try, whenever I can, but the local butcher that has grassfed beef, pastured chickens doesn't have a lot. I may show up and there's 2 steaks left. And sometimes, $11/lb is just too much for dinner. So it's a combination of access, timing, convenience, AND budget – Aaron Griffin May 7 2010 at 20:54

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Daniel Smith · Answer 4 · 2010-05-07 19:41:01Z UTC

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Fish oil and Vit. D both seem to prevent me from falling asleep. I have no idea why. It takes a few days for the effect to start and a few days for me to get back to normal after I stop taking them, so it was hard to confirm-- but I've tried several times now, always with the same result.

answered May 7 2010 at 19:41

Daniel Smith
662●4●4

Hmm, I take these in the early morning with my coffee. I've been taking VitD in this quantity for over a year now, so I don't think that's the culprit. I HAVE also had issues waking up recently. This could be related. Hmmm – Aaron Griffin May 7 2010 at 20:02

Chase · Answer 5 · 2011-09-19 22:32:02Z UTC

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It could be the K2. For some reason I don't do well when I take K2. I go from being fine to being tired yet wired ... meaning no energy to work out but a sort of fast heart beat feeling.

answered Sep 19 2011 at 22:32

Chase
877●3●15

sam · Answer 6 · 2011-09-19 23:07:40Z UTC

Maybe your fatigue is a result of a slightly compromised immune system? There was a question posted here on paleohacks not long ago that addressed that issue:

http://paleohacks.com/questions/2091/is-fish-oil-immunosuppressive#axzz1YIQowK39

I don't get fatigued when I'm taking cod liver and fish oil regularly. In fact I get really manic and stressed out. I also notice coming down with colds when I'm taking those supplements regularly, which is something that almost never happens otherwise. I personally feel much better when I just make a habit of eating a little bit of oily fish every day. I get all the nice mood effects of the omega 3's and vitamin D, without the negative feelings I get with fish oil. Plus I get to eat lots of salmon, which I like.

Lisa · Answer 7 · 2011-10-14 17:41:39Z UTC

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I took fish oil for 2 months and experienced significant fatigue. Once the bottle ran out and I felt more awake I wondered about the connection. Seems there very well could be one. Disturbing.

answered Oct 14 2011 at 17:41

Lisa
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majkinetor · Answer 8 · 2011-10-14 18:19:49Z UTC

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There could be toxins in fish oil. Mercury and friends. U should use selenium source with it, and vitamin C. Try to change brand. Use fish oil for pregnancy.

answered Oct 14 2011 at 18:19

majkinetor

Nicole · Answer 9 · 2012-11-26 17:51:52Z UTC

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I notice I get tired with in an hour of taking my fish oil supps, so I started taking them at night.

answered Nov 26 at 17:51

Nicole
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Fish oil and fatigue?

9 Answers