AHI increase when taking Omega 3

[sbeery]

About a year ago I was taking a couple of Omega-3 pills to try to help with some arthritis in my hands and shoulders(getting a lot of aches and pains all over-probably due to apnea). After taking these for 2 weeks, pain was going away. However, I started having these episodes at night (later figured out it was sleep apnea). I stopped taking the omega 3 and the episodes didn't happen. I tried a 4 days later with just taking omega 3 and apneas came back. I tried again in a week and the same thing happened. I was probably having sleep apnea for a long time before this, but it seems like it was making it much worse. CPAP has done a pretty good job for the last year. I haven't been taking any omega 3's for over a year and just recently tried a new brand of omega 3 and I started waking up gasping for air while using the CPAP(been doing it all week says my wife) and I only took the pills for 3 days. I noticed my 7 day average AHI(on remstar) increased from around 3.6 up to 4.8 for the week average. Since I stopped taking the pills, my AHI has decreased down to 4.2.

Has anyone else had this issue? I've always taken omega 3's and didn't have this kind of reaction. However, I hadn't taken them for a while before all this started.

[GumbyCT]

Has anyone else had this issue? I've always taken omega 3's and didn't have this kind of reaction. However, I hadn't taken them for a while before all this started.

You say Omega 3 but don't mention a brand. I take (and have for some time) Omega 3 and my AHI incl. Flow Limitations is below .5 avg.

Could your Omega 3 have some other additives?

[Elle]

I have heard that omega 3 and salmon oil capsules have been used as sleep aids in treatment facilities where they can't use sedatives.

Perhaps you are sleeping more soundly with the omega 3?

http://www.livestrong.com/article/34074 ... for-sleep/

[VVV]

AHI increase when taking Omega 3

The big omega 3 pill is stuck in your throat.

Every time you take one you should wash it down with 8 ounces of water.

[theSleeper]

Interesting reading this....

For so far unclear reason my AHI average over longer term went up by a few points as well. Mostly Hypopnea's went up.
It is after a period of taking very strictly 2 Omega-3 pills a day to control my higher cholesterol.

Hard to say that it's related for sure but there may be a connection. I ran out of Omega-3 pills... let's see for a few weeks if the AHI goes down again.

[sbeery]

The brand I took a year ago was Ultimate Omega by Nordic Naturals. The recent brand is Carlson Omega 3 Gems Fish Oil. As far as I can tell, these are some of the better brands and the only thing they add is vitamin E. Ultimate Omega had 1280 mg of O3 and Carlson had 600mg of O3.

I've been wondering about the sleep aid benefit. When I was taking these in the past without SA issues, I would dream more frequently and remember the dreams.

to "thesleeper": I am very interested in hearing your results.

My average now after 5 nights without O3 is now 4.1, so it's dropped .7. I don't know how long the fats are in your system. I'm seeing Lincare this afternoon to get the detailed report so I can see how high each of the days got when on O3 and to make sure my machine is working well.

[sbeery]

My card reader wasn't working when I went in, so I got a new machine. (luckily it was under warranty). So I haven't eaten anything with a high quantity of omega 3 since just before I posted. The new machine seemed to have a higher AHI and it seems to keep coming down(must have to adjust?). My 7 day average got to 4.4 prior to 2 days ago. The last 2 days, I've eaten Tuna for lunch, kind of testing things out again. So the previous night went from 4.4 to 4.6...not a big deal. However, last night increased the average to 5.2. If I've done my math right and if all the days up to that day were averaging 4.4, that means my AHI could have been as high as 8.8. Felt pretty crappy this morning even though I'm using the CPAP.

I've seen posts that omega 3 can use up Vitamin E stores (it's used for omega 3 absorption) and I've seen sites about using vitamin E to reduce sleep apnea. I've listed off some different sites that talk about it since you have to google just the right phrases and weed out the hits that discuss that Vitamin E keeps the pills from going rancid.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/44414 ... eficiency/
http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/Treatme ... atty-acids
http://www.theroadback.org/aaapretaper.aspx

I'll probably go back to my cpap provider and have them print out a report now that my machine is working. I report again once I get that.

[Drowsy Dancer]

Interesting. My n=1 is that my fish oil supplements appear to have no effect on my AHI AFAICT.

[RandyJ]

I am taking Omega 3s... large dose for almost 8 weeks now. It has had no effect on AHI, which averages 0.1 to 0.5.

[sbeery]

It's been a while since I posted this. I think the cause was that I was taking them before bed and this was causing acid reflux. When I eat too late at night my Ahi always seems worse the next day as well. After looking at my reports, these nights showed up as central apneas. My sleep studies never showed central, just obstructive. I'm wondering if central apneas and acid reflux are related? Maybe the reflux is shutting down my breathing.

Anyway, ii don't eat anything after 7:30 most nights and ahi looks better.

[Captain_Midnight]

I agree w above poster that you might just be reaching a deeper level of sleep w the fish oil supplements.

I take a relatively large dose of fish oil twice daily, and have for many years. It's a good inflammation fighter.

Good luck resolving this.

.

[Linda45678]

Did it ever occur to you that you might be allergic to fish oil? Do you have a problem eating fish? I burp mine so take them In The morning.

[Julie]

Omega-3 supps are known for causing reflux... not a new story at all.