Remind me why Nordic Naturals CLO is not good? Site says natural A&D?

[Lilcrunchie]

I did a search but couldn't find the exact info I'm looking for. know there have been discussions that the fermented stuff is the only non synthetic CLO out there anymore. A friend just emailed me and was asking about Nordic Naturals as their site says their *fish* oil does not contain synthetic vitamins.

I also noticed under their question #33 here they say their A (not sure about D?) is naturally occurring
http://nordicnaturals.com/en/General...c/FAQs/264/#33

I totally believe that the fermented stuff is what is best now, but can anyone remind me of why NN should be avoided? IIRC they didn't have great ratios in the past but I've kind of slipped off the CLO wagon since finding out Carlson's was using synthetic vits. I just finished my first trimester, and while I'd love to be taking fermented, I have been scared it would make me vomit

Can someone refresh my memory why it is a problem? Is it that they are using synthetic D? Their ratios? Is their A really somehow synthetic despite them saying it is naturally occurring?

eta: one more link:
http://nordicnaturals.com/en/Product.../?ProdID=1418#
"our oil contains only natural levels of vitamins A and D (no added palmitate)

Okay, so does that mean they didn't add in synthetic A? Does "natural levels" mean they are using synthetics but at supposedly "naturally occurring" levels? any help translating would be appreciated. I'm not defending them...just trying to remember why they are a problem.

Also, one more annoying question-I'm currently taking the Nordic Naturals Prenatal DHA supplement. Should I have any concerns about that product?

[Lilcrunchie]

Back again to say that I re-read the entire 6 page thread about the topic here:
http://www.mothering.com/discussions...ghlight=wetzel

and I noticed several other people brought up the "naturally occurring A&D" bit that is on the Nordic Naturals (and I think Carlson's) site. I might have missed it, but no one really answered the question other than directing the posters to this piece: (End of April 2009 by David Wetzel)
http://www.siteground217.com/~weston...il-manufacture

I'm still not clear on what I'm missing. How do we know that the NN and Carlson's are synthetic? Are they making false claims that they are using naturally occurring A&D? I believe there is a problem, but I feel like I'm missing something

I read this thread too (among others)
http://www.mothering.com/discussions...1133672&page=4

[PaulaJoAnne]

The very basics that I understand, is that they are heat processing the oil, per "regulations", and then having to add back synthetic vitamins, so that the levels are "correct", since the heat kills the A and D.
I want to take a clo that is truly raw, and unadulterated, so I will stick with Blue Ice

[Zoeanne]

Hi--it's Zoe, in Durham (you hooked me up with the Williams a while back)

I mostly just wanted to say hi, since I am also just about to enter my second trimester

I have been taking Green Pasture's fermented clo/bu blend. At first, it was really gross b/c it is thick when refrig, and I had to kind of mouth it around to swallow it. Finally, I figured out to put it into a shot of hot water, and then just take it like a shot. I don't know anything about your questions about vits A and D, but maybe you could take fermented clo in a shot of water or juice?

[Lilcrunchie]

Hi Zoe-
Congratulations! How wonderful!!

Yeah, I should just order the fermented stuff. But I'm still having trouble explaining to a few naturalish friends what exactly the problem is w/ NN or Carlson's when their sites say "only natural vitamin A and D" etc.. I don't doubt they may be problematic, but it is hard to tell someone they may be adding back synthetic vites when their site doesn't say that. I"m not sure if I'm just dense or what, but i'm having trouble finding a definitive answer to that.

I know what Green Pastures says, but obviously they have a vested interest in selling their product. I wish I could get more definitive info. I believe the WAPF concerns over the other brands, but it is tough for me to try to give someone else solid info right now as I am just not finding that much, kwim?

I assume I'm missing something.

[FairyRae]

Some info from another forum (posted in a similar style to MDC, so not quoted from a necessarily reputable source, just fyi!):

http://kentaylordc.com/realfood/view...php?f=1&t=1023

one of those brands not recommended would be Nordic Naturals. I had this brand when I heard about this A/D issue and I was shocked because it has little vitamin D compared to A:

Ingredients: purified arctic cod liver oil, d-alpha tocopherol, natural orange flavor, rosemary extract

One Teaspoon Contains:
EPA: 410 mg
DHA: 625 mg
Other Omega-3s: 225 mg
Vitamin A: 650–1500 IU
Vitamin D: 1–20 IU [what's the point of 1-20 IUs? Why bother?]
Vitamin E: 30 IU

And this:

WAPF does not recommend Nordic Naturals and they no longer recommend Garden of Life CLO either as apparently all Norwegian CLO manufacturers remove the natural Vitamin A and D via processing and either leave it as is (i.e. Nordic Naturals) or add synthetic Vitamins A and D. As mentioned in the thread on Fermented CLO "[Dr.] Royal Lee [identified] OVER 160 metabolites of vitamin A and many, many of vitamin D. PLUS these nutrients rely on other quinones, enzymes, fatty acid structures, hormones ect... to be active and effective in our bodies."

On the WAPF site, NN Arctic-D CLO is on their "good" list (not BEST), I believe b/c the ratio of A to D is much better.

http://www.westonaprice.org/basicnut...-oil-menu.html

As of Spring, 2009, we recommend the following brands of cod liver oil. Sources of high-vitamin fermented cod liver oil and high-vitamin cod liver oil with natural vitamins added are in the BEST category; sources of processed cod liver oil with synthetic vitamins in the right proportions are in the GOOD category. We do not recommend brands of cod liver oil that have only low levels of vitamins A and D.

I'm reading this thread w/ interest--I too would like to know EXACTLY what is done to the NN CLO as well...I still don't feel like I 100% understand all this stuff! (Plus, my ds WILL take the NN arctic-D CLO, but spits out the fermented stuff...so I'm looking for as much info as I can on this!)

[Elizabeth2008]

my understanding is that the refining and deodarizing process of the CLO removes almost all the Vitamin D and most of the Vitamin A. This is true of NN as well. The only CLO now that doesnn't have the natural vitamins removed is the fermented CLO. Many manufacturers then add back in synthetic vitamin A & D. If NN is saying they have natural "levels" then you can be sure that it's not natural vitamins. If they had natural A & D, then they would say that, instead what they're saying (and very craftily constructed in their marketing department no doubt) is that the levels (i.e. the normally occuring ratio of A) are natural. All that means is their CLO contains the same ratio of A as in natural CLO, but it doesn't say that the vitamins themselves are natural.