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hillview
12-20-2012, 08:21 AM
I am wanting to start DS2 on fish oil. I gave him some liquid today in some juice which he happily drank. I am doing 1000mg or nordics (not kid formula) liquid. Is this roughly ok?
Thanks for any help!

OH and DS2 is 55 lbs and 5 years old.

pastrygirl
12-20-2012, 09:18 AM
Is this for the omega-3? I'm paying attention because I just bought some gummy omega-3s but would much rather not do the gummy thing.

hillview
12-20-2012, 09:56 AM
Is this for the omega-3? I'm paying attention because I just bought some gummy omega-3s but would much rather not do the gummy thing.

yes! waiting for wisdom!

Reina
12-20-2012, 10:11 AM
The Nordic naturals brand is one of the best brands in terms of ingredient quality. Carlson is another brand with very high quality ingredients and no fillers. Make sure there is more DHA than EPA in the fish oil. For kids over 3 years and over 33.5 lbs (15kg) the recommended dose is 1000mg. This is information from our pediatrician.

Gena
12-20-2012, 11:28 AM
Make sure there is more DHA than EPA in the fish oil. For kids over 3 years and over 33.5 lbs (15kg) the recommended dose is 1000mg.

The ratio of DHA to EPA can be really important. Some kids need more EPA and some need more DHA. It depends on the child's age as well as why you are giving the Omegas - such as are you giving them for general health or are you giving them for specific symptoms such as hyperactivity or mood instability.

The research I have read and the discussions I have had with DS's doctors support using a product with high EPA and low DHA. There is a lot of evidence that children with hyperactivity respond better to high EPA formulas.

Our developmental ped has always recommended a high EPA / low DHA ratio for DS. She told me that high DHA is important in the infant through preschool years and then EPA becomes increasingly important. As an adult DHA becomes primary again during pregnancy/breastfeeding and then again when one reaches a senior age. The Dev Ped also told me that the body can convert excess EPA to DHA, but not the other way around.

So I choose to go with a product that has an EPA to DHA ratio of 7:1 (MorEPA Mini (http://www.minami-nutrition.us/website/morepa_mini.php)) . This may be a higher ratio that what my DS really needs. But I get concerned about all the foods that have "added DHA" messing up his ratios. I try to aviod these foods, but sometimes they slip by. Also I figure that since the body converts excess EPA to DHA, this high ratio allows his body to regulate its own optimal ratio.

I have seen a lot of improvement in DS with this high EPA product, more than the previous products we tried (which also had higher EPA than DHA levels, but not to this extent). It's no cure by any means, but it does help DS a lot. Also I like the quality of this product in its source, production, and purity.

Of course every child is different and it can take a lot of trial and error to find the right ratio and right product for your child.

Reina
12-20-2012, 12:27 PM
My apologies. I didn't pay attention to where I was posting. You are absolutely correct Gena. I was just talking in general terms.
My best,
Antoinette

Gena
12-20-2012, 12:42 PM
My apologies. I didn't pay attention to where I was posting. You are absolutely correct Gena. I was just talking in general terms.
My best,
Antoinette

No need to apologize. You raised an important point by talking about DHA and EPA. And I think it's great that you've discussed this with your child's pediatrician. I think a lot of parents give omega supplements without talking to a medical professional and sometimes this can lead to a child getting a ratio or dose that is not appropriate for that individual.

We're all here to share information. Sometimes we get different information from different sources, and that's when the discussion gets interesting!

inmypjs
12-20-2012, 04:10 PM
We also do a high EPA to DHA ratio to help with attention and learning issues. We have MorEpa minis and Carlson's liquid, but DS doesn't like taking those. I've emptied the MorEpa capsules into juice but still no. He prefers the Coromega packets. They aren't quite as high of a ratio as I'd like but it's what he'll take without complaint. We get the chocolate orange flavor and I usually order from Amazon.

hillview
12-20-2012, 04:12 PM
does your regular pedi give you dosage suggestions? I am having a hard time imagining my pedi supporting this.

JustMe
12-24-2012, 01:26 AM
I started dd on Nordic Naturals omega3s at the end of August. I started her at one tab/day and about 3 weeks later increased to 2 tabs/day. This was suggested by her developmental ped. Dd sucks the oil out of the caps because she cannot swallow them (they're huge!) and says they taste like lemon. I have noticed if it gets on anything it will start to stink like fish ( she used to put the empty caps on washcloths/napkins).

Dds's pediatrician supported this, although did not help with the info on dosage.

I have seen a drastic reduction in dd's generalized anxiety since starting on the omegas.

I am still open to seeing if there is a better way for her to take them (not sucking the oil out of a capsule, etc), but its working so well in other ways I hesitate to change. Each 2 tabs are 330 EPA, 200 DHA, and 140 other omega 3s.

JustMe
12-24-2012, 01:31 AM
T
So I choose to go with a product that has an EPA to DHA ratio of 7:1 (MorEPA Mini (http://www.minami-nutrition.us/website/morepa_mini.php)) . T

Just looked at the link on this product. Wow, it looks great and they are actually small capsules? That would be great as dd can swallow capsules if they are not huge!

Where do you buy these and how much do they cost?

Gena
12-28-2012, 12:58 PM
Just looked at the link on this product. Wow, it looks great and they are actually small capsules? That would be great as dd can swallow capsules if they are not huge!

Where do you buy these and how much do they cost?

Sorry for the delayed response - it's been a busy week.

I get the MorEPA at my local The Vitamin Shoppe (http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/store/en/browse/sku_detail.jsp?id=M9-1002#.UN3LQKzvh8Ehttp://). I pay $22 for a 30 day supply, which is more expensive than the other omega supplements we have tried, but DS does much better with it. So for us it's worth the price.

The size of each pill is slightly larger than an extra-strength Tylenol tablet (the adult size). The capsules are burstable and my DS just chews them, because he can't swallow capsules. It's kind of like biting into a cherry tomato. They have a pleasant strawberry flavor.

If the capsules are a problem, you might want to look at Coromega. It comes in individual packs with a pudding-like consistency and you can get orange flavored or orange-chocolate flavored and they taste pretty good. It's also very reasonably priced: $25.00 for 90 doses at The Vitamin Shoppe (http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/store/en/browse/sku_detail.jsp?id=JT-1001#.UN3Nlazvh8Ehttp://) (the B&M stores will match web pricing, but you have to ask). It doesn't have as much EPA as the other products, so you'll need to look into that.

JustMe
12-28-2012, 01:11 PM
Sorry for the delayed response - it's been a busy week.

I get the MorEPA at my local The Vitamin Shoppe (http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/store/en/browse/sku_detail.jsp?id=M9-1002#.UN3LQKzvh8Ehttp://). I pay $22 for a 30 day supply, which is more expensive than the other omega supplements we have tried, but DS does much better with it. So for us it's worth the price.

The size of each pill is slightly larger than an extra-strength Tylenol tablet (the adult size). The capsules are burstable and my DS just chews them, because he can't swallow capsules. It's kind of like biting into a cherry tomato. They have a pleasant strawberry flavor.

If the capsules are a problem, you might want to look at Coromega. It comes in individual packs with a pudding-like consistency and you can get orange flavored or orange-chocolate flavored and they taste pretty good. It's also very reasonably priced: $25.00 for 90 doses at The Vitamin Shoppe (http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/store/en/browse/sku_detail.jsp?id=JT-1001#.UN3Nlazvh8Ehttp://) (the B&M stores will match web pricing, but you have to ask). It doesn't have as much EPA as the other products, so you'll need to look into that.


Thanks, Gena. I was hoping you'd respond. I will probably try the Morepa for dd. Can ask why you decided to get the junior ones? The dev. ped. I spoke with said the range of total omegas could be from 800 to 1200 (now I can't remember waht ever unit they use) so I'm wondering if I should just get the adult.

I don't want to go with the coromega because I want more of the epa and dd would be the type that would not want to do anything else after getting something pudding-like! Also, the nordic naturals are working well enough. She has been willing to suck the insides out..I am just feeling like she could use more of a dose at this point and I would rather she didn't have to suck the inside out~

Gena
12-28-2012, 01:53 PM
Thanks, Gena. I was hoping you'd respond. I will probably try the Morepa for dd. Can ask why you decided to get the junior ones? The dev. ped. I spoke with said the range of total omegas could be from 800 to 1200 (now I can't remember waht ever unit they use) so I'm wondering if I should just get the adult.

I stared giving DS the MorEPA Mini-Junior when we was 5 (he's been on omega supplements since he was 3), so at that age the adult dose was really out of the question for me. The Mini-Juniors are labeled for 10 and up. (The company changes the packaging every so often. The newest version of the packaging says "MorEPA Mini: Teen Formula", but it's the same product that used to be labeled as Mini-Junior). DS is 8, so at this point he still seems to do well with the Mini and is still below the target age range for this product. I take the adult version and they are huge. I can't imaging giving one to DS at this point.

Also, omega supplements are known blood thinners. DS has always had frequent nosebleeds, so his doctors make sure we keep him a dose that does not interfere with his ability to clot.



I don't want to go with the coromega because I want more of the epa and dd would be the type that would not want to do anything else after getting something pudding-like! Also, the nordic naturals are working well enough. She has been willing to suck the insides out..I am just feeling like she could use more of a dose at this point and I would rather she didn't have to suck the inside out~

I completely understand. I just wanted to throw it out there as an option in case the capsules were presenting a problem for you or your DD.

inmypjs
12-28-2012, 09:09 PM
Just wanted to add that you can break open the MorEpa capsules and put the liquid into something, like OJ, applesauce or yogurt. That is the only way my DS will take them. We do Coromega most of the time for ease.

pastrygirl
02-21-2013, 11:19 PM
Bumping this because I finally bought the Morepa mini capsules. The dosage says 2/day; is that for 10+, or is it also OK for my 6.5yr old?


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Gena
02-22-2013, 10:08 AM
The dosage says 2/day; is that for 10+, or is it also OK for my 6.5yr old?

DS has been taking this same dose since he was 5.

pastrygirl
02-22-2013, 03:53 PM
Great, thanks! He doesn't like how it tastes, but today he was able to swallow one without biting it. He was so proud!


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