Claim:
Fish Oil quality can be determined using a thermocol test. Fish Oil made of Triglycerides are superior than those of Ethyl Esters.

Fact:
The thermocol test is not a scientific test in any manner and does not determine anything. As for triglyceride and ethyl ester forms, both are effective omega-3 sources for the human body.

A video has been going viral on social media recently, which claims that ethyl esters containing fish oils are inferior than triglyceride based ones, and one can use a thermocol to test the quality of the fish oil.

In the video, which was shared on YouTube by a Satvik Pandey, a man is seen pouring some fish oil on a thermocol.

"And if your thermocol reacts this way, that is it starts melting, it means your fish oil is in ethyl esther form... and if it doesn't react with the thermocol, it means it is in triglyceride form. You have to buy the triglyceride one," he says, while holding up the different pieces of the thermocol.

He goes on to say that 90-95% of the fish oil capsules available in the market are in the form of ethyl esters. "You shouldn't take these, as they are not as premium," he says.

Satvik Pandey has 162,000 subscribers on YouTube, and this particular video was viewed close to 6 million times on the site, and has garnered 162,000 likes. Pandey had shared the same video on Instagram as well, where he has over 26,000 followers and the video has been liked over 40,000 times.

Such assertions have circulated in various forms over the years, creating confusion among consumers seeking reliable information about omega-3 supplements, and has also been fact-checked by multiple fact-checkers over the years.

However, considering that the claim is refusing to die down, First Check has done a comprehensive fact-check on this claim.

The assertion that omega-3 tablets containing ethyl esters dissolve thermocol or styrofoam, while triglyceride-based ones do not, is factually incorrect. Both will melt the thermocol or styrofoam, given enough time. Ethyl esters dissolve them faster than triglycerides because of their differing polarities. Ethyl esters are more polar than triglycerides due to their chemical structure, which allows them to interact more readily with non-polar substances like polystyrene- that is thermocol and styrofoam. When ethyl esters come into contact with these substances, they can disrupt its molecular structure, leading to dissolution. In contrast, triglycerides do not exhibit this same level of interaction due to their less polar nature, thus taking more time for its effect on styrofoam and thermocol, but triglycerides do dissolve thermocol or styrofoam nonetheless.

This chemical reaction has been observed in various informal tests, including those conducted by health authorities. For instance, studies have shown that fish oils containing ethyl esters can create visible damage to styrofoam and thermocol within minutes of contact. This reaction highlights a fundamental difference in how these two forms of omega-3 fatty acids behave chemically.

Second, the speaker claims triglyceride based fish oils are better than ethyl ester based ones. While the video itself just says that triglyceride based fish oils are better, the image of thermocol melting away can cause panic among viewers about what ethyl ester based fish oils can do to one's body.

According to health authorities, both triglyceride and ethyl ester forms of omega-3 supplements are safe for consumption. Both types have undergone rigorous testing and evaluation by government authorities and regulatory bodies before being approved for public use. These assessments ensure that they meet safety standards and provide health benefits as intended.

In fact, Dr Anoop Misra, Chairman, Fortis CDOC Hospital in an article from 2023 has written "The benefit of Omega-3 fatty acid on blood triglyceride levels has been proven without doubt... In medical practice, we use such doses in some patients with uncontrolled triglyceride levels (seen in Indians) despite application of optimum diet, exercise and other drugs."

Also read: Fact-check – Not all dietary fats are evil

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