Fish oil
[CAS# 8016-13-5]

Identification

• Classification: API >> Circulatory system medication >> Regulating blood lipids
• Name: Fish oil
• Synonyms: Krill oil
• CAS Registry Number: 8016-13-5
• EC Number: 232-402-9

Discovory and Applicatios

Fish oil is an oil derived from the tissues of oily fish and has been used historically both as a nutritional supplement and as an industrial material. Traditional consumption of fish oils can be traced to coastal populations with diets rich in fatty fish. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, cod liver oil, obtained from the livers of Atlantic cod, became widely used in Europe and North America. It was administered as a dietary remedy, particularly for children, and was associated with the prevention of rickets before the identification of vitamin D. Later research established that cod liver oil contains significant amounts of vitamins A and D, confirming its nutritional value.

In the twentieth century, scientific investigation clarified the composition of fish oil and identified its major constituents as triglycerides containing long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Among these, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid were characterized as important omega-3 fatty acids. Analytical studies demonstrated that these fatty acids are incorporated into cell membranes and participate in physiological processes. Controlled clinical research established that dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil can reduce elevated triglyceride levels in the blood. On the basis of such evidence, concentrated fish oil preparations have been approved in several countries for the management of severe hypertriglyceridemia.

Epidemiological observations in the mid-twentieth century reported lower rates of certain cardiovascular conditions in populations consuming diets high in marine fats. These findings stimulated extensive clinical and biochemical research into the role of omega-3 fatty acids in cardiovascular health. Documented effects include modulation of plasma lipid levels and influences on platelet function and inflammatory mediators. While research continues to refine understanding of these effects, the triglyceride-lowering action of specific omega-3 formulations derived from fish oil is supported by clinical evidence.

Fish oil has also been incorporated into infant nutrition products. Docosahexaenoic acid is a structural component of neural and retinal tissues, and its presence in human milk has been well documented. As a result, fish oil–derived DHA has been added to certain infant formulas to more closely resemble the fatty acid profile of breast milk. This application followed compositional analyses of human milk and controlled evaluations of fatty acid supplementation.

Beyond nutritional and medical uses, fish oil has industrial applications. Historically, it was used as a fuel for lamps and as a lubricant. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, fish oil served as a raw material in the manufacture of soaps and in leather processing. Its drying properties, resulting from unsaturated fatty acid content, allowed its use in certain coatings and finishes. Although many of these uses have been replaced by petroleum-derived or synthetic materials, fish oil remains an example of a biologically sourced industrial oil.

Modern production of fish oil typically involves cooking, pressing, and centrifugation of fish or fish by-products to separate oil from protein and water fractions. Refinement steps such as degumming, neutralization, bleaching, and deodorization are applied to improve purity and sensory qualities for human consumption. Concentration techniques have been developed to increase the proportion of specific omega-3 fatty acids in pharmaceutical-grade preparations.

Fish oil thus represents a natural product whose documented discovery, compositional analysis, and applications span nutrition, medicine, and industry. From its early empirical use as cod liver oil to its current role as a source of purified omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil has been studied extensively and continues to be utilized based on established chemical and physiological properties.

References

2016. Synthesis of docosahexaenoic acid from eicosapentaenoic acid in retina neurons protects photoreceptors from oxidative stress. Journal of Neurochemistry.
DOI: 10.1111/jnc.13487