How to pick the best omega 3 supplement
Answer
Judge on EPA and DHA per capsule against the 250mg threshold, the capsule count needed, contaminant testing, oil form and cost per gram of combined EPA and DHA.
Key takeaways
- What is the first check?
- EPA and DHA per capsule on the panel, not the fish oil weight on the front.
- How is value compared?
- Cost per gram of combined EPA and DHA, which normalises for capsule count and oil weight.
- What else matters?
- Contaminant testing, ideally per batch, and the shell material if you avoid gelatin.
The criteria in order
EPA and DHA per capsule, added together and compared to the 250mg threshold. How many capsules that takes, because it decides the real daily cost and how long a tub lasts. What contaminant testing is stated and whether it is per batch. The oil form. The shell material. Then cost per gram of combined EPA and DHA.
Everything else on the pack is commentary, including high strength, premium and pharmaceutical grade, none of which has a regulated meaning.
What a good answer looks like
Futuro Labs Omega 3 Fish Oil provides 180mg EPA and 120mg DHA per mini softgel, which is 300mg combined and clears the threshold at one capsule. That makes the 90 softgel tub a genuine 90 days at 17p a day and about 56p per gram of combined EPA and DHA.
It is batch tested for heavy metals and microbiology to ISO 17025 standards, ethyl ester form, in a bovine gelatin shell so it is unsuitable for vegetarians, and it is not batch certified for sport.
The check in ninety seconds
Find EPA and DHA on the panel. Check whether the figures are per capsule or per two or three. Add them and divide 250 by the total for the daily capsule count. Divide the pack price by servings rather than capsules. That is four numbers and it settles almost every comparison in this category, including the ones where a cheaper tub turns out to cost twice as much to use.
The full version
- How to read EPA and DHA on a fish oil labelThe full label method, step by step.
- How to spot an underdosed fish oilThe four tells and the arithmetic that settles it.
The product
Futuro Labs Omega 3 Fish Oil
Futuro Labs Omega 3 Fish Oil is the 180mg EPA and 120mg DHA one at 17p a day. One mini softgel gives 300mg combined, clearing the 250mg threshold for the authorised heart claim.
- 300mg combined EPA and DHA per softgel
- Batch tested to ISO 17025 standards
- Deodorised mini softgel, one a day
- Bovine gelatin shell, not vegetarian
Sharper Rugby is published by Futuro Labs. If you buy through this link Futuro Labs earns from the sale. Prices are set by Amazon.
Questions players ask
What separates omega 3 products?
EPA and DHA per capsule, the capsule count needed, contaminant testing and cost per gram.
Does high strength mean anything?
No. It has no regulated meaning, and a standard product clearing 250mg has met the only threshold.
What is the cost comparison?
Cost per gram of combined EPA and DHA, which normalises for capsule count.