In Part 1, I discussed some of the selection criteria for becoming a ‘favorite fish oil brand.’
And we looked at some good quality liquid fish oils.
But how ’bout pills?
Well, here are the brands of fish oil pills we love. Prices checked on company websites during July 2011 and may be different now.
Minami Nutrition MorEPA Platinum with Vitamin D
This is first on our list because it is probably the best of the bunch.
Likes:
- Hi-EPA formula
- 1000 mg of EPA + DHA Omega-3
- Finally being imported into USA
- Contains Vitamin D
Dislikes:
- Cost
- Still hard to find in most places
- 3rd party IFOS Certificate of Analysis unavailable
- Not enteric coated
Minami products were not always readily available in the US. They are now being imported from Europe by Garden of Life for distribution into health food stores. That’s a few more middlemen that I’d like to see, because it affects cost. Minami’s range of Omega-3 products tilt towards high-EPA formulas, like they should. They have high-DHA formulas for kids and pregnant women.
Cost: $28.95 + $6.00 S&H (online)
# of Pills: 30
Omega-3 Per Pill: 1100 mg
OmegaBrite
Did I mention that I love this product? Mostly because the pills are easy to swallow.
Likes:
- High Omega-3 content
- Easy-to-swallow pill
- High-EPA formula
Dislikes:
- Only 450 mg Omega-3 per pill
- Country of oil origin unknown
- 3rd party IFOS Certificate of Analysis unavailable
Whenever OmegaVia customers ask me if we make our product in smaller pills, I always point them to OmegaBrite. I’ve sent people to OmegaBrite dozens of times with never a complaint – some people just can’t swallow large pills, so this product is a great alternative. You’ll pay twice as much and need to swallow twice as many pills, but that may be worth it to you if pill size is an issue.
Cost: $22.99 + $6.95 S&H (online)
# of Pills: 60
Omega-3 Per Pill: 450 mg
OmegaSmart Super Critical
This product is from RenewLife, a digestive health company. I like this formula a lot. A good, solid amount of EPA. They say their oil is 95% pure Omega-3 – I don’t buy that. It’s probably about 90%, which is good enough for me. Must be some marketer trying to brag.
Likes:
- High Omega-3 levels per pill
- Contains Vitamin D3
- High EPA to DHA ratio
- IFOS Certified
Dislikes:
- Probably not quite 95% pure
- Cost
- Contains Vitamin D3 (yea, I know)
This is the only one of the bunch with IFOS 5-star certification, a good sign of open, transparent business and quality.
Cost: $24.99 + $6.00 S&H (online)
# of Pills: 30
Omega-3 Per Pill: 1025 mg
Comparison Chart
| Minami MorEPA |
Omega Brite |
Omega Smart |
OmegaVia | |
| Omega-3 Purity | 90% | 90% | “95%” | 90% |
| EPA/Pill | 765 mg | 350 mg | 780 mg | 780 mg |
| DHA/pill | 240 mg | 50 mg | 120 mg | 260 mg |
| Total Omega-3/pill | 1100 mg | 450 mg | 1025 mg | 1105 mg |
| Pills/Bottle | 30 | 60 | 30 | 60 |
| Total Cost | $29.95 + $5.95 S&H | $22.99 + $6.95 S&H | $24.99 + $6.00 S&H | $34.69 ($26.89 for AutoShip) |
| Cost/Pill | $0.97 | $0.38 | $0.80 | $0.57 |
| Cost of 1000 mg Omega-3 | $0.91 | $0.85 | $0.81 | $0.40 – $0.52 |
| IFOS Tested | No | No | Yes | Yes |
There is a common formulation thread that connects these brands – they are all high in EPA Omega-3.
Why? Because EPA Omega-3 is a feedback inhibitor to Arachidonic Acid and all its potentially harmful byproducts. DHA does not do this.*
This is a key reason why OmegaVia is high in EPA.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
A little secret…
‘Cost of 1000 mg Omega-3’ is a very useful cost comparison tool. Why? Because it strips away all the hype and gets to the heart of the matter – the amount of Omega-3. Use it to compare similar products, like two ultra-high Omega-3 formulas. You can’t compare a low-purity (30% Omega-3) formula with a 90% Omega-3 product because the raw material cost difference between the 30% oil and 90% oil is not 3X. It’s more like 20X. You have to pay for purity.
Besides, studies show that oils need to be about 80 to 85% Omega-3 before you can expect triglyceride reduction. In other words, Ultra-concentrated fish oil.
Here’s how you can calculate the ‘Cost Per 1000 mg Omega-3’: (Total cost of bottle X 1000) divided by (number of pills in bottle X mg of Omega-3 per pill).
This formula works only if you compare products with roughly equal Omega-3 potency.
Favorite fish oil brands…if you’re pregnant
What if you’re pregnant? If you’re pregnant, you need extra DHA Omega-3. These brands (above) very little DHA. Consider OmegaVia DHA 600.
During the second and third trimester of pregnancy, you need a lot of DHA – between 500 and 1000 mg of DHA per day for not just your health, but the proper development of your baby.*
No matter how much we like these other brands, you will need to take a DHA supplement. Your pediatrician may give you a prescription for a DHA supplement. They are good for you, except there is rarely enough DHA in any of the prescription DHA supplements.
My recommendation if you’re pregnant is to get OmegaVia DHA 600 or Nordic Naturals DHA 1000 or Ovega-3.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Hi. I too am a bit confused about the fish oil/ krill oil comparison. Just wondering if you heard of fish oil from neutraceutical sciences institute and their quality. I have been taking their Mega EFA omega-3 EPA & DHA… Any thoughts? They have 800 mg of EPA and 400 mg DHAper2 capsules.. Thanks so much..
Hi Diane – I am somewhat familiar with their product.
I have not tested their oil in the lab, so I cannot comment on the quality with any authority, other than it LOOKS fine. Their oil is 60% Omega-3, which is better than most retail fish oil, which typically have 25-30% Omega-3. If you’re taking fish oil for general health maintenance, you’ll be fine with 3 to 4 of their pills per day.
If you’re trying to maintain healthy triglycerides or deal with occasional joint flare ups etc., you may want to look into stronger fish oil and combine that with a healthy diet and exercise plan.*
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
I’m confused about the cost and # of pills in the Omega Via bottle….the top of this page says 30pills per bottle, but on the chart showing comparisons with other brands, it says 60 pills per bottle….how many must be taken per day?
Hi Annie – there are 60 pills per bottle. The reference to 30 pills is talking about another brand – Minami Nutrition. OmegaVia costs anywhere from $24.74 per if purchased on an automatic delivery basis to $29.74 + $4.95 shipping if you purchase just one bottle. Ideal dosage depends on your specific health needs. Most people do fine with 1 or 2 pills per day.
Please tell me what brand Fish Oil you consider the best-
Hi Elisabeth – besides OmegaVia, of course (!), I like Minami Nutrition, RenewLife OmegaSmart, OmegaBrite and Nordic Naturals.
– Vin
What affect does Fish Oil have on controlling seizures?
Hi Elisabeth – there is no conclusive evidence that says Omega-3, may help with this. The evidence is limited and there is still plenty of research needed to say for sure. Here is one research paper: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15129839
Hope this helps.
Hi Vin. You stated that the OmegaSmart Super Critical is a really good fish oil supplement. RenewLife also makes a Norwegian Gold Super Critical Omega supplement. Do you know the difference between these two and which one is better?
Hi Lori – as far as I can tell, they are the same thing. Both have 1025 mg of Omega-3 per pill. I’m guessing one brand is sold in health food stores and the other version of the brand is sold in other channels. Very good product.
– Vin Kutty
Hi Vin – Thanks for the information. I finally received an email back from the company and they said the difference is that the Norwegian Gold has an enteric coating. Also the Gold capsules are made with fish gelatin and the Omega Smart are made from beef gelatin. Does this really matter? Thank you.
Hi Lori – thanks for clarifying! The type of gelatin doesn’t matter. Gelatin can be from pork, beef or fish. Choice has more to do with religious views more than anything else. And if you burp after taking fish oil, I’d go with the enteric coated formula. There are some other advantages to enteric coatings but it’s fairly minor.
– Vin Kutty
OmegaVia has 1000mg of Omega-3; 700mg of EPA, 150mg of DHA, and 150mg of “essential oils” in each pill. What are these “essential oils”?
thanks,
mike
Hi Mike – 150 mg isn’t quite ‘Essential oils’ but rather Omega-3 fats other than EPA and DHA. These Omega-3 are often unaccounted for and I think these are valuable. If you eat walnuts or flaxseed you get ALA, some of which gets converted to EPA. If you eat grass-fed beef, you will get some DPA, most of which gets converted to EPA/DHA. Likewise, SDA gets converted to EPA. So these other Omega-3, even though it is only 150 mg, are not useless. Your body will put them to good use. Hope this helps.
– Vin Kutty
Hi, what can you say about this brand? They seem to have EPA/DHA levels 2 times higher than the ones you have already mentioned. Is this the real deal or is it fake? http://www.omega3innovations.com/index.php/omega-cure/flavored-omega-cure.html
Hi Bjorn – yes, I can recommend it. It is a good, clean liquid fish oil. If you can tolerate liquid oils, then the levels of Omega-3 that you can consume becomes very high easily.
This company also makes an Omega-3 cookie, which I think is, uh…nutritionally counter-productive. That’s a diplomatic way to put it! 🙂 Too much sugar and starch. You’re better off taking the liquid product.
I bought a fish oil from Vitamin World claiming 3x the normal strength, 950mg of active Omega-3 in a 1,360mg pill. It also claims to be Ester Omega, what is Ester Omega? These pills cost 3x the amount of the normal strength. Have you heard of this brand and what’s your opinion.
Hi Todd – this Vitamin World product is not bad. It is better than most mass market fish oils when it comes to Omega-3 concentration. It’s concentration is 70%, which is almost-pharmaceutical grade in my opinion. ‘Ester Omega’ is the molecular form of Omega-3. Technically it is ethyl ester – organic chemistry details that’s not worth worrying about.
– Vin Kutty
what is your take on fermented fish oil? thanks
Hi Sobia – I do not like fermented fish oil at all. And I am not talking about taste or odor! My biggest issue with fermented fish oil is quality. The issue is that the companies who manufacture them may not be following established industry quality standards and manufacturing protocols. Having to belong to an industry association forces some quality compliance. Fermented cod liver oil is popular with folks following ancestral diets. I eat a paleo diet but would never consume fermented cod liver oil. Proponents say there is a lot of Vitamin A and D in these products. I get my vitamin A from egg yolks and grass-fed beef liver. And I get my vitamin D from sunlight and supplements.
– Vin Kutty
I’m considering using GNC Triple Strength fish oil. Would you recommend this product? It doesn’t specify so I’m unsure if it is molecularly distilled.
Hi Betsy – GNC Triple Strength is a good product. Not the best, but better than most mass-market fish oils. Given that regular fish oil is about 30% Omega-3 and ‘Triple Strength’ fish oils are 60% Omega-3, you would think that the right name for the product would be ‘Double Strength.’ But marketers like to put a shine on things, so it is called ‘Triple Strength.’ The product will work well for basic health maintenance and inflammation.
Hi Vin
Thank you very much for your information here. I have learned a lot
I have a question regarding to shark liver oil.
I know shark fish oil is basically do more harm than good! What about its liver? The manufacturer claims the deep blue ocean shark liver has the best purity and it has all the benefits of a normal fish oil ! What do you think about that?
Thanks
Jenny
Hi Jenny – I think they are full of cr*p. You asked. 🙂
Sharks are at the top of the food chain. They eat and accumulate a lot of toxins. Most of the toxins find their way to the poor shark’s liver where it attempts to eliminate them from the body. A low-concentration oil (which most shark oils are) will have a lot of environmental toxins. ‘Deep blue ocean’ describes most sharks. No shark is immune. And let’s not get into the sustainability of shark oils – there aren’t enough sharks around for us to make oil out of.
Please stay away from this stuff. Not when you have so many better, safer, healthier options.
– Vin Kutty
I am currently taking JNK, to repair the JNK gene. I am also taking OMEGA 3 1000mg, 3 in the morning and 3 at noon. Is it safe to take OMEGABRITE instead of Omega 3 1000 mg?
Hi Sharon – yes, absolutely. I think OmegaBrite is a great product and you’ll probably experience better benefits than with the current product, which sounds like low-potency oil.
– Vin Kutty
Hi I bought GNC Triple Cod Liver oil, n it has 173 mg of EPA n 120mg of DHA along with some Vit A,D and E. I am not sure about the dosage per day. If you could please let me know dosage for an adult and also if theres any other better brand.
Thanks
Hi Rahul – GNC makes fairly good products. The product you mention is fine. for general health maintenance, 3 of your current pills per day will do the trick.
Hi, I have been taking Kroger fish oil 1360. I am 2 months pregnant – and saw that this contains mackerel, I thought this was a big no no in pregnancy. Should I be worried?
Thank you,
Courtney
Hi Courtney – you are thinking about King Mackerel, which is a big fish and should be avoided. But the mackerel used to make fish oil supplements are small fish and perfectly safe. You are fine with just one of those pills for now. Once you get into your second and third trimesters, increase to 2 pills per day.
Hi Leila – kudos to you for getting you mom some Omega-3 pills. It is the right thing to do if she has heart issues.
If I only had a dollar for every time someone with a laptop published an article titled ‘The shocking truth about fish oil’! There is nothing shocking about fish oil. The shocking part is the ignorance stuffed into these articles. I quickly clicked on the link you provided and sure enough, the person has no clue!
The shocking truth is, if you ate a healthy diet consisting exclusively of vegetables, grass-fed meats, seafood, eggs, fruits and nuts, you would not need Omega-3 supplements.
Yes, fish oil can go rancid but not all fish oils are rancid. Yes, fish oils sometimes contain mercury but most don’t. That’s no reason not to buy fish oil. That’s a reason to do your homework by going to IFOS Consumer where they list exactly how rancid or pure products are.
Asking people to eat algae DHA pills because they are not from fish and do not go rancid is ridiculous! Algae DHA goes rancid just as fish oil. Try it! Leave a few algae DHA pills out in the sun for a week and then pop them in your mouth and bite into the pills. Tell me how refreshing that feels! 🙂
There is no established daily value for EPA and DHA. If you find products that list Daily Values, watch out!
My advice: Google IFOS Consumer Report. They are thrid-party tested products rated on a 5-star scale. Then search for products listed under the ultra-pure category. There are dozens of brands listed there – we are one of them. You can’t go wrong with any of the listed brands.
I am 92 and am currently taking natures bounty fish oil 1000mg and300mg of omega 3.I was taking flaxseed oil but had severe abdomnal pains and gas so I switched, I take two capsules a day and still have much gas and loose bowel movements.Both my heart Dr and GP know what I am taking but never mentioned any side effects. I just found out on this internet that it could be caused by fish oil. I am am going to quit taking it for a while and would like to know how long should I not take it before I can expect to see if it makes a difference. Thank you
Hi Walter – if it was the fish oil causing your digestive distress, stopping it should make it better in a few days. But that’s not a real confirmation that it was the fish oil that caused the distress. You may want to consider starting the fish oil again in a couple of weeks – if the discomfort starts up again, then you know that the fish oil was the culprit. You may also want to consider taking a digestive enzyme supplement to help digest the omega-3. Take one that contains Lipase. Hope this helps.
Hello. I’m torn between using omegabrite, or Nordic Naturals children’s DHA for my 6 year old son. He’s actually been using the Nordic Naturals for over a month, but someone had recently informed me of the Omegabrite. The Nordic Naturals has 205mg of EPA, and 300mg of DHA. I’m not familiar with the ingredients of the Omegabrite, but I’m curious to know if it may be a better product for my son. Also, what is your recommended dosage of EPA and DHA for a 6 year old little boy. I would be so grateful if you could help me.
Thank you,
Logan
Hi Logan – about 200 mg of DHA is about all a 6 year old would ever need. Keep in mind that DHA is built into the body and it stays there for a long time – it stays in your brain for over 2 years. EPA, however, recycles every 3 to 4 days. So people (including kids) generally need more EPA than DHA once their daily needs are met. You can’t go wrong with either product, but if you’re worried about ADHD etc. you may be better off buying OmegaBrite as it has more EPA than Nordic’s. Regardless, start thinking about cutting/eliminating about sugar, processed/packaged foods, anything with high-fructose corn syrup, refined vegetable seed oils and basically anything that comes with a UPC code and sold in the center of grocery stores.
Thank you so much, I really appreciate it! So as of now, I guess its okay for me to leave the Nordic Naturals behind and start the Omegabrites? Thanks for the diet tips as well. I really don’t want my son on any medications, so I’m trying something new over the summer. Hopefully it works out when he’s ready for the next school year. I cannot thank you enough!:o)
Hi Logan – I think you’re fine with both brands. If he has attention deficit issues, OmegaBrite may be a better option.
Is Omega-3 safe to take with Lipitor 10mg a day? Thanks.
Hi Zach – check with your doctor if you’re already taking Lipitor under his/her guidance. But ‘combination therapy’ as it is called, is generally very safe and effective: http://www.omegavia.com/fish-oil-plus-statins/
I recently bought vitamin shoppe brand cod liver oil whats the difference between store brand and name brand cod liver oil
Hi Rebeca – generally speaking, store brand fish oils have no transparency – not physically, but I mean you have no idea what’s really in the product, there is no third party testing and if you have any questions about the quality of the product, you won’t find an answer. Store brand is all about cost and savings, so often you get what you pay for. The quality may be good or bad. It’s a toss up. Ingredients could be from China too. No way to tell. I generally tell people to stay far away from store brand products. This is the case for Walmart, Walgreens, CVS etc. However, I dont feel the same way about GNC or VitaminShoppe fish oils, since these are specialty shops that focus on supplements. You still wont know much about the products because of lack of third-party testing.
To answer your specific question: I think VitaminShoppe Cod Liver Oil is probably about as good as the other stuff. But I am not a fan of cod liver oils. See here to find out why: http://www.omegavia.com/cod-liver-oil/
As high purity Omega-3 (60% or higher) products are more costly. I wonder if I can make up for the total EPA/DHA one should take by simply consuming more number of pills.
Whether a pill contains 30% or 90%, what is inside is still EPA/DHA right?
Hi Pav – yes, you can do that. But lower the concentration of Omega-3, the higher the concentration of environmental contaminants like mercury, PCBs etc. Yes, there is EPA and DHA inside 30% pure oils, certainly. It’s the other 70% and what’s in the 70% that you need to think about. If money is tight, at least go up to 60% Omega-3.
hi Vin,
i was wondering what you think about the brand Swisse – Wild Fish Oil.
I am an australian and this in bought hear. It says it has Omega 3 trigliycerides as 180mg of EPA and 120mg of DHA.
I have Epilepsy and wonder what you thick about this and how much i should take.
Thanks very much, Kym
Hi Kym – Swisse fish oil is a good brand. It is available here in the US as well. It’s a bit over-priced for low-potency oils. 180 mg EPA and 120 mg DHA is low. They also make more potent oils – I’d rather you take the more concentrated oils.
I don’t think that the evidence for epilepsy and Omega-3 is strong. It is encouraging but I can’t say that taking Omega-3 will stop or reduce episodes. But if you take 1000 mg of Omega-3 per day and reduce sugar/refined starch consumption, you will be much healthier overall.
I ordered Omegabrite gelcaps for my 8 year old son with attention issues. He weighs 80 lbs. What is the right dosage for him? Thanks.
Hi Adelaida – you will need to contact their customer service department to get their answer. But my educated guess is 2 pills per day.
Hi Nancy – your original question was Real Dose TG vs OmegaBrite. I’d go with OmegaBrite if given those two choices. But with OmegaBrite vs OmegaVia, from a cost perspective, OmegaVia is definitely a better value (cost effective), especially if you consider OmegaVia EPA 500 found here: http://www.amazon.com/OmegaVia-Pharmaceutical-EPA-Only-Burp-Free-Mini-Gels/dp/B00D37S0HC/
Hi Vin,
I just ordered OmegaBrite for the first time. I’m already worried. I can’t find a COA on them, and evidently no IFOS and you say due to being unregulated that companies can claim almost anything. I’m very concerned about purity, country of origin, purity issues, false claims, etc. Thank you!
Hi Jim – while it is true that SOME companies try to claim amounts that are not true. I feel fairly confident that OmegaBrite would not do that. I think they are trustworthy. Still, would be nice if you had a Certificate of Analysis from IFOS. Please share what you find out.
Hi Vin,
I have now sent two e-mails requesting COA from OmegaBrite! No response! So this morning, called the company. She’s aware of my e-mails and says the person in charge will send me a COA this afternoon. I told them to cancel my order immediately if they, for whatever reason, wouldn’t send the COA. My question now is, what if they do, but it’s not current? Would one assume purity based upon an older report? Well, they may or may not send it, but I’ve learned enough NOT to purchase without it, and will demand my money back without a COA.. Thanks Vin.
Hi Jim – thanks for the update. You need to make sure that the Certificate of Analysis has the same lot # as the one printed on your OmegaBrite bottle. It’s not a matter or being current. I order OmegaBrite occasionally just to see if the product and customer experience has changed…after all, it is a product that I recommend on this site. The last time I ordered, there were no issues, but I did not ask for C of A.
If the C of A you get is for a different lot or batch of product, then, you still do not have a C of A.
I have not talked about this new product much. We just introduced it and it is available on Amazon – you may want to give it a look: http://www.amazon.com/OmegaVia-Pharmaceutical-EPA-Only-Burp-Free-Mini-Gels/dp/B00D37S0HC/
Hi Vin,
I cancelled my order for OmegaBrite. Two e-mails and two phone calls later, no coa. I really DON’T get it. Seems everyone would want, and should be entitled to that information. I noticed considerable fluctuations amongst various manufacturers throughout the IFOS measuring criteria. I’ve read that Peroxide simply MUST be below 5 meq/kg. Omegavia well below in that category. I’m really sold on Omegavia, but do have 2 questions: For Omegavia EPA 500, in the IFOS testing, if I order right now, would it be the current (IFOS listed) Batch/Lot# MG477 that I would receive? There’s some sort of Marine Fisheries compliance that many companies adhere to, does Omegavia maintain that “World Standard” for fish caught being immediately processed all while still ice cold? And finally, why does the IFOS report not list the amount of EPA/DHA from the product label claim, OR the Batch Results? Also, under IFOS Compliance for Total Omega 3, it says N/A? Just curious. Ready to order, but will wait for your reply. Many thanks, Vin, and obtw, thanks for giving us all such great unbiased answers to highly relevant questions…Greatly appreciated and Thanks again.
Hi Jim – yes, lot # MG477 is the current batch being shipped to customers.
Are you referring to Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified for environmental sustainability? OmegaVia is MSC-certified sustainable, but EPA 500 is not certified.
As for processing, yes, fish are processed right after capture.
Since EPA 500 is an EPA-only product and IFOS has so far only dealt with fish oil that contain both EPA and DHA, their results format will contain EPA, DHA and Total Omega-3. Since EPA is the only Omega-3 here, it also Total Omega-3 for this product. There may be a few mg of DHA but we don’t even bother measuring it.
Hi Vin,
I cancelled my order for OmegaBrite. Two e-mails and two phone calls later, no coa. I really DON’T get it. Seems everyone would want, and should be entitled to that information. I noticed considerable fluctuations amongst various manufacturers throughout the IFOS measuring criteria. I’ve read that Peroxide simply MUST be below 5 meq/kg. Omegavia well below in that category. I’m really sold on Omegavia, but do have 2 questions: For Omegavia EPA 500, in the IFOS testing, if I order right now, would it be the current (IFOS listed) Batch/Lot# MG477 that I would receive? There’s some sort of Marine Fisheries compliance that many companies adhere to, does Omegavia maintain that “World Standard” for fish caught being immediately processed all while still ice cold? And finally, why does the IFOS report not list the amount of EPA/DHA from the product label claim, OR the Batch Results? Also, under IFOS Compliance for Total Omega 3, it says N/A? Just curious. Ready to order, but will wait for your reply. Many thanks, Vin, and obtw, thanks for giving us all such great unbiased answers to highly relevant questions…Greatly appreciated and Thanks again.
Vin, again, I need to know why the IFOS Consumer Report is NOT verifying the amount of EPA/DHA on the product label claim, batch results or compliance?? What’s with that? I asked this last night and posted, but it was evidently removed, so I’m asking again. Also, if I ordered the OmegaVia EPA 500 today, would the product I receive be from batch/lot# MG477?? If this is removed again, I’ll forget it and move on, but I’ve read ALL your information and answers to so many people’s questions and look to you as the premiere authority on all things fish oil and EPA/DHA. I was stunned when my question was apparently removed. Please answer this so I can either purchase Omegavia or something else. Thank you.
Hi Jim – your previous comment was not removed. Questions were in backlog and have been answered. I don’t get to these questions rapidly on the weekends as I do during the week.
Vin, again, I need to know why the IFOS Consumer Report is NOT verifying the amount of EPA/DHA on the product label claim, batch results or compliance?? What’s with that? I asked this last night and posted, but it was evidently removed, so I’m asking again. Also, if I ordered the OmegaVia EPA 500 today, would the product I receive be from batch/lot# MG477?? If this is removed again, I’ll forget it and move on, but I’ve read ALL your information and answers to so many people’s questions and look to you as the premiere authority on all things fish oil and EPA/DHA. I was stunned when my question was apparently removed. Please answer this so I can either purchase Omegavia or something else. Thank you.
Hello Vin, sorry to sound so desperate here, but frankly, there are a LOT of LIARS out there, and I would advise ANYONE to do your due diligence and proceed with much caution. I am certainly concerned about potentially deadly contaminants entering my body. My triglycerides are high. I’m 3 months out from my 6 month blood test, and trying desperately to make the exact right decision this time on fish oil. I’m messed up twice now, and after much, much research, I believe the omegavia 500 could be what I need, but MUST have my questions regarding label claims, batch results and IFOS compliance answered. Please let me know asap. Many thanks, and please understand, it’s been a long, frustrating journey and just trying to get it right this time.
Hi Jim – doctors can give you medicines, but still, you are in charge of what you put in your body. So you are right in being concerned about contaminants. However what I consider contaminants, may not be what others consider contaminants. I am paranoid about not consuming any gluten or wheat. About sugar. I worry about endocrine disruptors. Weedkillers. Household cleaning products, bath and hygiene products are full of stuff that I dont want too! And then the usual list of suspects like mercury, PCBs and pesticides. At first, it is overwhelming, but after you re-establish your routine, it’s easier. Having said all that, your supplements should not be a source of contaminants! That’s why we test everything at IFOS and let you decide.
To re-iterate my answer to your previous question: IFOS says N/A next to DHA because we do not measure DHA. This is an all-EPA product. And mg EPA here is the same as Total Omega-3 because it is, again, an all-EPA product.
Hello Vin, sorry to sound so desperate here, but frankly, there are a LOT of LIARS out there, and I would advise ANYONE to do your due diligence and proceed with much caution. I am certainly concerned about potentially deadly contaminants entering my body. My triglycerides are high. I’m 3 months out from my 6 month blood test, and trying desperately to make the exact right decision this time on fish oil. I’m messed up twice now, and after much, much research, I believe the omegavia 500 could be what I need, but MUST have my questions regarding label claims, batch results and IFOS compliance answered. Please let me know asap. Many thanks, and please understand, it’s been a long, frustrating journey and just trying to get it right this time.
Hi Jim – temperature of the meal or spiciness is irrelevant. But the fat content is critical. You need healthy fats in your meals – olive oil, coconut oil, pastured butter etc. to help with absorption, not to mention your health. A few minutes (10-15) before or after a meal is still OK. Dont wait 30 or 45 minutes after a meal. Start with a small dose like 1 pill. Then after a couple of days of that, work up to 2 or whatever your eventual dose may be. You will need 3000 mg Omega-3 per day to notice a TG drop and you will see it in 6 to 8 weeks. Also, make sure you are cutting out all sugar, juice, and as much processed foods and grains as possible. The cereal you mentioned is a bad idea for triglycerides. Think more healthy fats, proteins, eggs and grass-fed meats. Watch our for sugar and carbs – they are the culprits, not fats or meats. Usually, you can manage triglycerides with just diet, but each 1000 mg of Omega-3 will drop your TG by about 10%. So with 3000 mg, you should notice a 25-30% drop.
Wow, you know how sometimes you’re just too busy to cook or spend a lot of time in the kitchen, on the go, hard to always eat those healthy fats. I’ve got to study up on the Paleo Diet and see how I can simplify it and utilize it. I’ve very much within healthy weight parameters, skinny really, but I’ve eaten lots of fruits, vegetables & whole grain cereals and breads. Amazing how much conflicting info out there. I’ve worried about the “processed” cereals, but always thought whole grain cereals, literally sprayed with essential vitamins, loaded with nutrients, Vitamins D, B-6, B-12, A, Magnesium, Thiamin, Riboflavin and Iron really helped make up for deficiencies in other areas. But I’m learning. I always add fresh fruits (Strawberries, blueberries, apples, bananas, raspberries, mango) to my cereals. But you essentially say wheat and whole wheat products, including cereals, not good?? May have to re-think my entire diet! Definitely want to make the most of the fish oil benefits, and ordered it last night by the way. Thanks Vin. Greatly appreciated. Learn something new here everyday.
Jim – I don’t go near wheat or cereal grains. The stuff can harm you in ways we are just beginning to understand. Today’s wheat is not what our parents ate – dozens of reasons to avoid it. Veggies are, obviously, great. Fruits in moderation is OK too, but too much will jack up your blood sugar and in turn, triglycerides.
Hello Vin,
If you don’t mind, could you please give me a few examples of really quick meals, particularly lunch with very very little time, one could throw together that includes the healthy fats? I REALLY want to eat and do attempt to eat healthy, but time is an issue. I’d REALLY love to know of some quick healthy lunches that me the criteria for better omegavia absorption. Healthy fats, but specifically what is quick and easy to prepare? I’m planning on studying the Paleo Diet, but thought you might could provide a few quick solutions. GREATLY Appreciated. Thank you.
Hi Jim – I’d be writing a cookbook! First, what works for me may not work for you. Ultimately, you will need to tailor your diet to your tastes, lifestyle, budget and health. So I feel it’s pointless to suggest meal plans…however, there are blogs that do EXACTLY what you are asking for, so I will not re-invent it here. Se this: http://authoritynutrition.com/11-paleo-low-carb-registered-dietitians-with-blogs/
I found that once I ditched the traditional breakfast of cereal + skim milk + bagel + OJ breakfast and went back to eggs and bacon etc., that my appetite for lunch disappeared. Perfect example is today’s breakfast. Small cup of coffee with a LOT Of heavy cream (from grass-fed cows), handful of macadamia nuts, 2 pastured eggs scrambled in a tablespoon of coconut oil, full-fat coconut milk smoothie with fresh berries and unsweetened cocoa. I had this at 8 AM or so. It probably had 100 grams of fat or more and most of it is saturated. Other than coconut and olive, I don’t have any other vegetable fats. It may take a couple of months of eating this way, but once your appetite signals are dialed in, a meal like this will carry you throughout the day. I won’t even think about food until about 5 or 6 PM…at which time, I will eat some meat and veggies, cooked generously in olive oil or butter or more recently, I’ve been cooking with duck fat and tallow.
You’re probably thinking ‘what the heck?!’ but that’s understandable after 3 decades of brain-washing we’ve all had about fearing fats and embracing whole grains. Still, it does not mean everyone should eat this way. If my wife eats what I eat, she gets headaches and gets grumpy – she needs a lot more carbs than I do and she gets is from fruits, sweet potato, plantains, potato, carrots, and occasionally white rice etc. If I eat my wife’s diet, my triglycerides will shoot to near 300. If I eat the way I do, my blood glucose and triglycerides plummet to normal levels. My point is: what works for me, may not work for you. That’s the biggest downside to the Paleo diet. Everyone’s paleo diet will be different and it’s up to you to figure it out. Hopefully, you will learn a thing or two from the link above. Good luck.
OMG! Lots of information here! I will begin the investigation immediately! Always go to the store on Tuesday nights, so going to digest as much info as possible between now and then. Hopefully, thru trial and error, I can begin to put together a plan that truly works for me. This is very helpful information, and with all the dietitians and other health and food expersts, just adds to the credibility of it all. Change is always difficult, and eating for me has always been about convenience, but I certainly am one who has bought into the whole wheat/whole grains system along with fresh fruits and vegetables. Last night I grilled two ground chuck burgers with onions, mustard and ketchup and a few chips and scarfed it all down with pepsi next (60% less sugar) cola. But that is not the norm, more the exception. Do eat pizza or chinese once a week though. I hope there is still wiggle room in this diet for burgers, steak, pizza, once in awhile, in moderation of course. Grateful for all the helpful information and advice. Will read everything you’ve sent here to gain perspective and enhance my life. Thank you again very much!!
hello vin!
excuse my poor english, i am from greece.i wanted to ask you some questions. i have blepharitis and my eyelids produce thicker sebum from the oil glands.i heard that omega 3 can help with that a little but i don’t see any improvements to my condition nor to all the many other benefits that they say about fish oil.none! i take minami nutrition morepa platinum, 3 capsules a day 3000mg epa and dha compined. which is very expensive here in greece. 54 euros but i found one pharmacy that sales it for 38. and there are only 30 capsules in a bottle.is there a posibility that omega 3 doesn’t work on me? i used to take astaxanthin but i quited because i didn’t see any improvements to inflamation nor to so many other health benefits they say about astaxanthin. should i change to another brand of fish oil? i searched very well and ended up to mor epa platinum and i think i made a good dicision. what is wrong? i take it for more than three months now. also i worry about heavy metals. is it safe to take it for life? thanks….
Hi Aggelos – the Minami product is excellent. I would not worry about heavy metals or pollution or taking it for a long time. If 3000 mg of Omega-3 per day did not give you the benefits you were looking for, then, I think the next step is to look at your diet. I don’t know if fish oil can reduce blepharitis. It may just mean that your diet contains inflammatory agents like sugar, Omega-6-rich vegetable seed oils or wheat or may be you have an inflamed or leaky gut – all of this can offset some of the benefits of Omega-3. I suggest you speak to a dietitian about putting you on an anti-inflammatory diet.
Remember, Omega-3 fats are not a panacea. But it needs to be part of a healthy diet and lifestyle to make a big difference.
hi vin!
thanks for your reply!my diet is very balanced! i dot not eat any sugar not even in my tea. i eat only homemade foods like beans peas, cooked food generally and i avoid ordering pizza or anything else. i also avoid pork and dairy and fat generally. the one thing i eat a lot is bread and that may be not so good! i have to agree that omega 3 fats are not a panacea. it’s just that i avoid so many foods that i used to enjoy like dairy products meat and egg yolks and i see no improvement not only to my condition(which is chronic and uncurable). maybe it takes longer to see some benefits but i will reduce the dose to two pills. it is so expensive i can not afford to take 3 pills any more. thanks for informing me that the product i take is nothing to worry about. have a nice day vin! greetings from greece!
Hi Aggelos – why are you avoiding fat, eggs and meat? This is a very bad idea. If you can digest butter or yogurt, eat it. Eat more traditional fats and eliminate the wheat. Go back to a traditional or ancestral way of eating.
because i read all over the internet and i saw numerous videos on you tube by dr mercola and others that dairy and red meat that contains omega 6 are pro-inflammatory foods.they increase inflammation on the body. and egg yolks too. they build arachinoic acid in the body which is pro inflammatory too.for meat i eat fish(whenever i can) and chicken. the other foods i eat belong to the classical mediteranian diet since i am from greece.nothing fancy just traditional medideranian foods.
Hi Aggelos – too much Omega-6 is certainly bad for you. Most Omega-6 comes from vegetable oils like soy or corn oils. Olive oil, red meat and dairy are fairly low in Omega-6. Chicken has a lot more Omega-6 than red meat! This is why I suggested to you that you should go back to the way your great, grandparents would eat.
i didn’t know that chicken has more omega 6 than red meat. thanks for all the information vin. i enjoy talking with you. i would continue taking omega 3 and be more carefull not to eat wheat.i eat oat quaker at mornings because they say oat is good for fibers. should i discontinue it? is it ok to return to cosume dairy products and how much.other nutritionists say that dairy is bad for our helth and should not be consumed when we are grown ups. it doesn’t make any sence. why nutritionist don’t agree with one another. i don’t know what to believe any more.
there is a video at youtube by someone named Dr. Mark Hyman and explain 6 reasons for avoid dairy completly.
hi vi!
for all my life i was consuming dairy products without any problems. i stopped them recently about 3 months ago because i read that dairy isn’t good for inflammatory conditions like blepharitis and seborheic dermatitis . i have both! but i feel the same after quiting dairy. i guess it is not so harmfull as they say.i don’t know.by the way i contacted minami nutrition and they told me that the platinum mor epa is in rtg form not ethyl ester. i know tha ethyl ester form needs foods with fat for better absortion. is this true for the rtg form also? could i take the pills without food?i take three capsules a day after a meal. should i devide the dose through the hole day or at once as i take them now? maybe i do something wrong and i miss the best absortion from my body
Hi Aggelos – EE form definitely need to be taken with food, but both rTG and EE forms of fish oil require enzymes for digestion and these enzymes are present in greater quantities with the supplement is taken with foods. You can take it all at once or separate it – this does not make much difference, as long as you take it with food.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O-ehIkwGME
I still don’t think most adults should drink milk. Commercially produced dairy also has growth hormones and antibiotics etc., so buying organic may be an option. But what I’m interested in milk are the fats and the vitamins. If your body can tolerate dairy, then butter from grass fed cows are a great source of Vitamin K2 and A, and palmitoleic acid and some other nutrients that are otherwise a little hard to get.
hi vin!
i was thinking of changing brand of fish oil. i am taking the minami nutrition morepa platinum. i know it is great quality but it is very expensive.i was thinking nordic naturals but it is at the same price and give you much less of epa and dha.it costs 44euros for 60 tablets here in greece. insane price. it is just like these supplements are made for rich people. and if i had to take 2-3 gramms it is a disaster since i don’t even have a job. i found a company named health aid. their product is called omegazon and it is in resonable price. 20 euros for 60 tablets. it’s an english company like lamberts. i was taking lamberts fish oil supplements before but i have to say smelled very fish which probably is not very good. i changed to life extension super omega for which i searched at the internet and they say that it is a good product and it is certified from an independent organization. it has a discount now from 32 euros to 23 euros for 60 tablets and i was thinking i should return to it or try omegazon from health aid. i worry about polution and heavy metals. with minami nutrition you told me it is ok but what about omegazon and life extension super omega? i want to know what i put on my mouth. i hear lots of scary stuff about heavy metals and lots of fish oils found to be way off the regulations for either potency and heavy metal levels. thanks!
Life Extension makes a good product, but I am not familiar with Omegazon.
Hi vin,
I just bought whole earth and sea pure food herring gold omega 3. 500 mg. It says total romega 30 is 500 mg but there is 65 mg of dha and 50 mg of epa. It also has dha phospholipids and epa phospholipids. (15 mg and 20 mg respectfully) did I just get ripped off?
Hi Linda – I have no idea how much you paid for this product. Based on what it sells for on Amazon.com, you didn’t get a great value for your money. You’re better of getting your Omega-3 from salmon and phospholipids from eggs yolks. If you prefer supplements, get yourself a pharmaceutical grade fish oil and a separate phospholipid supplement. The added premium you may have paid for phospholipid-bound Omega-3 is not worth it in my opinion.
Hi Donna – Omega-3 deficiency could be one of many nutritional factors causing your daughter to feel these symptoms. As a starting point, I’d try 1 or 2 capsules a day with a meal. There are a few more supplements worth trying: http://www.omegavia.com/supplements-for-depression-anxiety/
I also highly recommend that you have her consult a functional or integrative medicine MD.
Hi Vin,
What do you think of NOW Ultra Omega-3 brand of fish oil?
Hi Scott – I like NOW Ultra Omega-3. It has 75% Omega-3 oil. It’s a good value. It would be nicer if there was a little more transparency about the oil in the product and if it were IFOS third-party tested. FYI – our sister brand, Innovix Labs sells a similar product: http://www.amazon.com/Strength-InnovixLabs-Concentrated-Burp-Free-Capsules/dp/B00FM9KNSI/
Hello, I was just wondering what your thoughts were about Nutrigold’s Triple Strength Omega-3?
It seems to be a fairly decent product…one of my concerns is that it’s made with cod/pollock; while most other omega-3 supplements are made from the oilier fish like salmon, sardines, anchovies etc. I would only be taking it due to not liking fish at all – and also I would be using it for my 2 Saint Bernards to supplement their diet as well.
Hi Michelle – Nutrigold is a very good product and I like the people behind the product.
OmegaVia capsules used to contain oil from Pollock and Whiting, which are larger fish than sardines and anchovies. We have since switched to Sardines, anchovies, mackerel and menhaden – all small fish that are short-lived and low on the food chain.
Hi Vin,
I am in UAE & below are the omega 3 brands available here.
NOW
Webber Naturals
Puritan’s Pride
Nature’s Bounty
Which one to choose?
Hi Abdul – hopefully you’ll be able to buy Omegavia there soon! But for now, go with NOW or Webber Naturals. Puritan’s Pride and Nature’s Bounty are the same company and they serve the low end of the market.
Hi Vin,
Thank you.
I could not find high strength omega 3 in NOW & Webber Naturals here. I did find Solgar double strength omega 3.
Is Solgar a better brand than NOW & Webber Naturals.
Please let me know which of the below two is better
1. Solgar Double Strength (700 mg omega 3/softgel >> EPA – 360 mg. DHA-240 mg >> no info on total fish oil quantity)
2. Webber Naturals Omega 3 (Fish oil conc – 535 mg >> Omega 3 – 320 mg >> EPA-200 mg. DHA-100 mg. Organic flax seed oil – 500 mg >> ALA – 265 mg)
Hi Abdul – I would go with the Solgar product. It has more Omega-3 per pill.
Hi Vin,
I’m in Canada. Do you know if Natural Factors – Wild Pacific Salmon oil is any good.
Hi Linda – Natural Factors make good quality products. It’s not a question of quality. But rather a question of Omega-3 content because salmon oils are typically low in Omega-3. And make sure it is declared arsenic-free. Most people think of fish oil and worry about mercury. With salmon, the issue is arsenic. As long as the oil has gone through an extra step for arsenic removal, you’re fine.
Hi Vin,
I’m currently 2 months pragnent and I’m taking GARDEN OF LIFE OCEANS MOM prenatal DHA, 350 mg OMEGA-3 DHA. On the back of the bottle it says to take 1 pill a day but it only contains 350mg of DHA and 15mg of EPA. Should I take more then one pill per day? And what do you think of Garden of Life brand? I am willing to switch brands if better for me… Thank you
Hi Luba – take two per day. Or you can look into this: http://shop.omegavia.com/products/omegavia-dha-600?variant=14633178183
Be sure to get 600-900 mg per day as you enter your third trimester and closer to delivery.
Im 4 weeks pregnant and I would like to start taking Omega. Im concerning because Im having 3 amalgams filling and I just find out that can be very toxic for me and for the baby. Now is too late to think in removed it. Do you recommend me to take Omega or not. Im worry to add more amount of mercury toxic to my body. I know that some brands have lower amount of mercury. Not all are 100% pure or Am I wrong? Can be a best choice to buy omega made from algae instead fish.? I just want to repair the damage that I already my baby is been exposed from mercury. Thanks
Hi Fanny – fish meat can contain mercury, depending on which type of fish you consume. Fish oil itself has virtually no mercury. Algae or fish does not matter – just take Omega-3 for your baby’s sake.
Thank you for answer my question. I don’t eat any kind of fish. I get my omega from chia seed and flax seed. Also from milk and eggs that on the package said Omega. I just thought that fish oil also contain a little amount of mercury. I was concerning because that little amount plus the amount that I already have for the dental amalgams it would be more worse for my baby. Now I do understand that fish oil is purified and mercury free. Thank you so much. Can you give me your opinion about Nordic Brands can I trust that brand. Also omega via what amount of dha and epa should be good for me during pregnancy. Thanks Mr. Vin.
Hi Fanny – Nordic Naturals is a good brand. I would trust it. We have OmegaVia DHA 600 that is made for pregnancy. Once you are past 6 months, you need 600 to 900 mg (at least) DHA per day. See here: http://shop.omegavia.com/products/omegavia-dha-600?variant=14633178183
Hi Vin I will soon enter my second trimestre for my pregnancy. Im having twins I was taking prenatal nordic dha. Having two babies what should be the right dose Of Dha. Also, Im taking vita coderaw prenatal vitamin. Should I change this vitamin to a better one with more nutrients or the amount are ok for both babies. Thanks
Hi Olga – congratulations! You can easily double your Nordic DHA dosage and still be fine. In your third trimester you will definitely have to double or triple your dosage. Talk to your OB/GYN about prenatal – in my opinion most of the prenatals are awful.
Thanks for answer my question soon. I talked to my OB he just said keep that prenatal and get all you nutrients from your diet. However I would like to heard any suggestion. I choose vitamin code raw a year ago before conception. Don’t know if is enough for both babies. Thanks so much.
Are these fish oil pills tested for mercury levels
Hi Raymond – you will have ask each manufacturer what they test for. Most are tested for mercury levels. Mercury, believe it or not, is not a problem with the oil. It can be a problem with the meat of some fish, especially larger predatory fish that live for a long time, such as shark, king mackerel.
Also, another question. There seems to be a lot of noise regarding fermented cod liver oil (ie: Green Pastures) and extra-virgin cod liver oil (Rosita). Their claim to fame is
1. “All natural” / Unrefined
2. All vitamins A & D within the product are naturally occurring and non-synthetic
Are these products just snake oil or the real deal?
Hi Shameer – it is not snake oil. But not the real deal either. I’d never consider either of those product for myself or my family/friends. I purchased and analyzed these oils a couple of years ago. I found them to be highly oxidized and low in A, D, and even Omega-3. I wanted to make a stink about it, but the obvious conflict of interest (that I work for OmegaVia and found quibbles with a cod liver oil product) mellowed my interest in exposing what I found from the analysis. However, others without a conflict of interest had also noticed this. You may want to download the free white paper on these oils called ‘Hook, line & stinker’ by Dr. Kaayla Daniel.
http://drkaayladaniel.com
Hi Shameer – ZoneLabs is a good brand. When OmegaVia was formulated 10 years ago, OmegaRx was the benchmark to beat. In the last decade, both the technologies for purification and concentration have come a long way and so, there are several products, including OmegaVia that are more concentrated than OmegaRx. Despite the 75% Omega-3 concentration, which is moderate in today’s standards, that is a very good quality product. If you take OmegaRx, you can expect a triglyceride moderation effect, but you may have to take one additional pill than if you were taking OmegaVia. Four capsules of OmegaRx 2 will give you 3000 mg of Omega-3. Four capsules of OmegaVia will give you 4420 mg of Omega-3.
We’ve discussed ethyl ester vs triglyceride form at length on this blog. If you take your ethyl ester fish oil with a meal, you won’t notice much difference in absorption. But ethyl esters are slightly less absrobed when taken on an empty stomach. Triglyceride fish oils are well-absorbed with or without food. Ultimately, I don’t think it makes much of a difference. This debate is driven by marketing and sales people, not scientists. More here: https://omegavia.com/fish-oil-ethyl-ester-vs-triglyceride-revisited/
Most good fish oil brands test for all 209 congeners of PCBs. All IFOS 5-star rated products are. Not many fish oil products are tested by NSF for Sport (Anti-doping proof). This adds to trust and may be critical for brands that cater to professional athletes who need to prove that they are not doping. We don’t find proof of anti-doping certification essential or critical because our customers are focused on heart health, blood lipids, inflammation etc.
Overall, any product that gets 5-stars on IFOS testing is more than adequate. You have a wide variety to choose from. Am I biased towards OmegaVia? Oh, you bet!
Hi Vin- just curious…why do you sell products under 2 labels (OmegaVia & Innovix Labs)?
I hate to ask about the competition (and the fact that you provide your input if you have looked at said product is awesome), but have you had a chance to look into NOW Foods Ultra Omega 3 Fish Oil? I get the sense this is the new kid on the block and possibly low cost supplement provider, but I’ve done the math and their cost/1000mg EPA is cheaper that your stuff. Now with that said , I certainly understand sourcing & quality are more important than cost, but you 2 were ranked top 2 here: https://labdoor.com/rankings/fish-oil , which is actually my next question- is Labdoor independent?
Hi Jason – OmegaVia is a premium Omega-3 brand. As the name implies, only Omega-3 products are sold under the OmegaVia brand. OmegaVia is a much older brand and has always operated separately from InnovixLabs.
InnovixLabs, on the other hand, is a vehicle for us to convey our overall nutritional opinions, that inflammation, low-nutrient-density diets, poor gut health/dysbiosis, stress are the key drivers of most modern health conditions. Under the InnovixLabs brand, you will see a lot of non-Omega-3 products and ingredients.
NOW Foods Ultra Omega-3 is similar to our InnovixLabs Triple Strength product – similar concentration, but less Omega-3 per pill. On a Cost per 1000 mg Omega-3 basis, both products cost EXACTLY the same at $0.0155 per 1000 mg Omega-3. See here: https://innovixlabs.com/products/triple-strength-omega-3/ Both products have different EPA to DHA ratios, so the comparison for cost per mg EPA will be different because NOW Ultra has a 3:1 ratio of EPA to DHA while our product has more DHA. Still, NOW is a good brand. I take their Vitamin A.
Is Labdoor independent? I don’t know their ownership structure, but it is privately owned from what I understand. Full disclosure: they sell a couple of our products. Many of the top ranked items on their site are also sold on the site. So, it is important to remember that Labdoor has business relationships with the companies whose products they review. Labdoor does a fairly good job of testing the products – analytical labs are part of Labdoor’s ownership hierarchy, so they are good at measuring what’s in the products. However, I have several issues with their proprietary product ranking algorithm. Each product category has its own formula for ranking and the fish oil ranking formula leaves a lot to be desired. I say that despite our products being ranked very highly.
Hi Vin. Thanks for your advices and information. I have used two brands: 1) the Norwegian Moller’s (cod liver oil liquid) and 2) the English Seven Seas (also cod liver oil liquid & pills). I wonder what is your opinion is about these brands.
Greeting from sunny Greece
Hi Stefanos – both brands are established and trustworthy. I don’t like cod liver oil for several reasons. However, both brands make highly concentrated Omega-3 products with high amounts of Omega-3 in each pill.
Hi Vin – I recently had blood work done and my triglycerides came back in the 400’s. I read that there are certain medications that can increase your triglycerides such as beta blockers and hormonal pills (such as birth control) – both of which I am on. I am looking for a way to decrease my triglycerides, possibly by taking a fish oil supplement as you suggest. My question is, will fish oil supplements be as effective at lowering triglyceride levels on someone whose levels are increased due to medication? Or will I need to get off of those medications to see a reduction? Thanks for your time.
Hi Rachel – if your triglycerides are 400+, I’d look at diet and exercise as culprits, not medications. If your doctor feels you should be on those medications, then, only your doctor and you can decide if/when you should remain on those medications. Having said that, medications that may increase triglycerides only do so marginally. I’d be willing to bet that if you eliminated sugar, juices, sodas, refined grains, and flour from your diet and increase vigorous exercise levels, you’d drop your triglyceride levels in half. Sure, Omega-3 may help, but that’s bonus. It doesn’t matter what medications you are on – diet, exercise, and Omega-3 will still have an impact on triglycerides.