Should Fish Oil Be Specially Shipped?

Question:
An online supplement seller suggests I pay $10 extra to ship my order of bottled fish oil with freezer packs using priority mail. Is this necessary?

Reviewed and edited by Tod Cooperman, M.D.

Initial Posting: 3/26/2018    Last Update: 3/26/2018

Answer:
It's probably not necessary. Most bottled fish oils are flushed with nitrogen to drive out oxygen and prevent oxidation (until you open it and let in air). Check that this is the case with the product. As long it's not exposed to extremely hot temperatures, it should be fine -- so choose to buy it during a time of year when the weather is cold or mild. Encapsulated fish oil is protected from oxygen by the capsules. For tips for keeping your fish oil fresh once it arrives, see the Keep It Fresh section of the Fish Oil and Omega-3 Fatty Acids Review.

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