Supplementing with Fish Oil Makes Me Burp and Feel Bloated. How Can I Prevent This?

A: Different brands of fish oil contain different concentrations of the heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). To minimize gas, choose a brand that requires taking the fewest capsules to provide 3,000 mg daily of combined EPA and DHA… and take with meals. If symptoms persist, reduce to 2,000 mg daily and build back up over four weeks. Check the expiration date — rancid oil may cause more digestive upset and tissue-damaging oxidation. Unless the manufacturer advises against this, store capsules in the freezer and swallow them frozen — they may be digested more slowly and produce less gas. If none of this helps, switch to krill oil, which some people find easier to digest. It also provides omega-3s, though it has less vitamin A and no vitamin D.