Is Krill oil better than Fish oil?
Yes.
BUT!!
(You knew there was going to be a ‘but’…I’ll explain below.)
It’s all about Omega-3 absorption when you’re comparing Krill oil vs Fish Oil.
The Omega-3 in Krill oil is better absorbed into your body than the Omega-3 from regular fish oil.
That’s a fact.
There are several published scientific papers that prove it.
Krill Oil is definitely better. At least NKO Krill Oil is. NKO stands for Neptune Krill Oil.
NKO Krill Oil is the only one with published clinical evidence of improved absorption and bioavailability.
I was in the audience when the Chief Scientific Officer from NKO presented the data at a conference in Las Vegas in 2009.
Krill Oil vs Fish Oil: Why is NKO Krill Oil better?
Well, NKO has a patent to GENTLY remove Omega-3 from krill. This gentle process protects the delicate bond between the Omega-3 and phospholipid. Just like in fish oil, it’s the Omega-3 we’re interested in.
It’s the phospholipid bond that makes Krill Oil better than Fish Oil. You see, our cell membranes are also made of phospholipids. So Krill Oil takes to our cell membranes quickly and easily.
Fish oil makes it into our cell membranes too, but just not as well or easily.
Krill Oil vs Fish Oil: What about other Krill oils besides NKO?
Well, NKO has the patent for gentle extraction. So if anyone claims to make it as gently as NKO, they are breaking the law or doing something funny. Either way, nobody knows because no one else has published their results.
The reason why this gentle process is so important is that the phospholipid bond that makes Krill Oil superior is easily damaged by heat.
Once the phospholipid bond is damaged, then Krill oil is no different than fish oil.
Heat damaged Krill oil is just really expensive, red-colored oil.
How much better is Krill oil, really?
NKO’s science says that:
- Krill oil is 17% better absorbed than fish oil after 4 weeks
- And about 40% better absorbed after 8 weeks.
That’s really good!
Percent Omega-3 Change in Plasma
(The red bar is NKO Krill oil; green and yellow bars are fish oils)
Source: Evaluation of Omega-3 Bioavailability & Steady State Assessment of Neptune Krill Oil Compared to Established Omega-3 Formulations. Presented at SSW 2009.
What’s the catch?
The catch is the cost and the effective dosage.
NKO’s science says you need 1 gram of Krill oil at a minimum and 3 grams is best.
MegaRed is the most popular brand of Krill oil. So we’ll use it as an example here.
Using MegaRed Krill Oil,
- 1 grams = 3 to 4 krill oil pills
- 3 grams = more than 10 pills
I know, MegaRed says you only need 1 little red pill a day. That’s just marketing. The published science says you need 3 to 4 pills a day. Scientists, by nature, are less likely to stretch the truth to make more money.
Let’s say you take 4 pills a day. That’s 120 pills a month.
Average price of a MegaRed pill is $0.45.
So you will need to spend $54 a month on MegaRed Krill oil.
That’s a lot. But worth it if it works for you.
You are ready for Krill Oil if… |
| Let’s say you bought a battery for $1. And then you saw a better battery that lasts TWICE as long…
How much would you pay for the better battery? a) $1
If you said $8, then you are ready to buy Krill Oil. |
Why is Krill Oil So Expensive?
Because:
- Krill is caught in Antarctica, near the South Pole.
- Unlike fish, Krill must be caught and processed immediately on the ship. Or else it will go rancid. This process is very expensive.
- The harvest season is only a couple of months every year.
- Low capacity to process and purify oil.
- Someone must pay for expensive TV advertising.
Krill oil vs Fish Oil: Real World Comparison
Let’s compare MegaRed to a Pharmaceutical Grade Fish Oil.
MegaRed contains 90 mg of Omega-3 per pill.
No, that was not a typo.
It contains only 90 mg of Omega-3 per pill. And it’s the Omega-3 in the krill oil that gives you the actual health benefit.
There are a few good fish oil pills that provide 900 mg of Omega-3 in just one pill. Or 10X more Omega-3 per pill.
Let’s compare it with GNC’s Triple Strength Fish Oil with 900 mg of Omega-3 per pill.
It costs $26 for 60 pills. Or $0.43 per pill. Almost exactly the same as a MegaRed pill.
MegaRed = 90 mg
Triple Strength Fish Oil = 900 mg
But Krill oil is only 40% better absorbed. For the price, shouldn’t krill oil be 1000% better absorbed?
Forget Triple Strength Fish Oil – how about cheap, old fish oil from Walmart? Even that has 300 mg Omega-3.
Krill oil would have to be 300% better absorbed than REGULAR fish oil to equal the discount fish oil at Walmart, let alone Pharmaceutical grade fish oil!
But it is only 40% better.
MegaRed and NKO Krill Oil
Now what if I told you MegaRed used to have NKO Krill oil. But not any more.
Now MegaRed uses another type of krill oil, with less published science. In 2009, MegaRed stopped using NKO Neptune Krill oil. They switched to Superba Krill oil.
I flew to Quebec, Canada to meet with the NKO folks at their headquarters. And last year, I also met with the Norwegian company that makes Superba krill oil.
I know why MegaRed changed krill oils but I’ll spare you the sordid details.
What does this mean to you, the consumer?
It means that MegaRed no longer uses krill oil with the most science behind it. Nobody has published a side-by-side absorption comparison between NKO and Superba oils.
Forget NKO and Superba for a second.
It Gets Uglier!
Because Krill oil is so popular, competition has come out of the woodwork.
You can now buy container loads of “Krill oil” from China and the Middle East. There are krill oils from strange places that may not actually be krill oil – they could be regular old fish oil with red algae extract for color and some soy bean phospholipids added to fool the Quality Control labs.
Percent Omega-3 Change in Plasma
(The red bar is NKO Krill oil and the blue bar is a cheap store brand knock-off)
Source: Evaluation of Omega-3 Bioavailability & Steady State Assessment of Neptune Krill Oil Compared to Established Omega-3 Formulations. Presented at SSW 2009.
There are a lot of inferior, mysterious krill oil-like products out there. Every drug store and grocery store has its own store brand version of Krill oil. And my goodness, people are buying them!
‘Store Brand Krill Oil’ with unknown krill source is not quite as bad a scam as Bernie Madoff or Mortgage-backed Securities…but a LOT of uninformed consumers are being separated from their hard-earned money.
It’s sad.
ConsumerLab.com weighs in… |
| On Oct. 1, 2010, ConsumerLab.com published its regular review of fish oils. This time, they added a few krill oils to their test.
This is what they said:
|
 |
Find out Why Whole Foods Market Banned Krill Oil |
Other Krill Oil Marketing Gimmicks:
“Contains Antioxidants.”
Sure, astaxanthin in Krill is a good antioxidant. But so are Vitamins C and E and they are dirt cheap. Astaxanthin can prevent sunburns after a month of use – other than that, it is no more special than many of the other special antioxidants.
“No fishy smell.”
Love this one.
Sure, there is no fishy smell. It smells like krill, not fish!
The astaxanthin found in Krill oil can act as an anti-rancidity (antioxidant) agent, but only if it is present in very high quantities. But the astaxanthin level is usually too low to protect krill oil from turning rancid.
Krill oil is one of the most sensitive oils to rancidity. Many Krill companies send me samples of their oil to review. After receiving complaints from employees, I no longer open these bottles inside the office. I now open these sample bottles in the parking lot while wearing gloves. And I usually walk to the dumpster before I return to my office.
Krill oil spoils MUCH faster than any fish oil I’ve worked with in the last 20 years. You can use 2 year old krill oil as stink bombs!
“Only 1 pill a day.”
Well, nothing wrong with just one pill a day. But if you want REAL health benefits, you need to take 3 to 4 pills.
“Three Times More Powerful Than Fish Oil.”
Well, MegaRed got in trouble with the Better Business Bureau’s National Advertising Review Council for saying that. The label has been changed now.
So back to our multiple-choice about the battery that lasts twice as long.
If you still buy Krill Oil, you are ready to pay $8 for a battery that lasts twice as long as a $1 battery.
Would you like to buy a Rolex, amigo?
Bottom-line:
The Phospholipid-bound Omega-3 in Krill oil is much better absorbed than the Omega-3 in fish oil. But you will pay way too much for that benefit.
You are MUCH better off taking pharmaceutical grade fish oil.
But I would switch to Krill oil in a heart beat if:
- I could get a 1000 mg Krill oil pill (instead of the 300 or 500 mg pills that flood the market)
- Get it for a slightly higher price than fish oil. I’ll pay a little more for Krill oil…because it is 40% better absorbed.
But I’m not going to pay 5X or 10X more! That’s crazy!
Don’t miss the new blog entry: Krill Oil vs Fish Oil – New Scientific Evidence
About the Author: Vin Kutty is OmegaVia’s Scientific Advisor and Chief Blogger. He is a nutritionist, author, and Omega-3 expert with over 20 years of experience. Email him.
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{ 141 comments… read them below or add one }
So what are the details on why MegaRed switched from NKO to Superba? I’ve been looking everywhere for the answer. I’ve noticed the ones I buy from costco are the new ones.
Jason,
Schiff, the maker of MegaRed, created the krill craze when they launched their popular product into Costco (with exaggerated claim.) They used Neptune’s NKO oil in MegaRed. As the brand grew in volume, Neptune’s small processing facility became the supply bottleneck. So there were increasingly frequent empty shelves at Costco and other retailers. When supply got tight, smaller retailers did not get any MegaRed. I hear this temporarily affected Schiff’s reputation at a few retailers. Schiff held Neptune responsible, but Neptune was the only game in town. A lawsuit ensued – see link http://bit.ly/9rXbCz.
Norway’s Aker Biomarine, the maker of Superba krill oil, was late to the market. And when Aker finally had enough volume to supply MegaRed, Schiff dumped Neptune and switched to Aker. Aker makes a fairly good product but it has less published human clinical data behind it. Then Neptune sued Aker. http://bit.ly/9MQPeT I think both Aker and Neptune make good products. The problem is that there are so many imitation krill oil products out there that contain a little krill, some fish oil, some astaxanthin for red color and some soy phospholipids. Sure, the stuff looks and smells like krill from a distance, but these knock-offs are worthless. And now the Chinese have entered the krill harvesting business – this ought to make both Aker and Neptune shake in their boots for pricing reasons and the consumers shake in their boots for quality reasons.
Of course, there are a few anecdotal reasons behind the Neptune to Aker switch, which I’ll be glad to share with you over a beer.
These things get pretty ugly. It’s business and lots of money is at stake, so lawsuits fly. But to the consumer, krill is a very effective product. Except the cost/benefit ratio is totally wacky. Krill is definitely better than fish oil, but at an unreasonably high cost. If you dislike swallowing large fish oil pills and money is no object, krill is perfect.
Vin
Big big thanks for useful information
Is there any difference in processing between NKO and Aker, i.e. cold processing versus versus heat. Also, what are the up and down sides of cold processing. Can
parasites or other “baddies” sneek through with cold processing?
Rick, yes, NKO and Aker use different solvents top purify their krill oils. NKO uses acetone and Aker uses alcohol, from what I can decipher from their patents. End result is somewhat the same…acetone allows a cooler and less damaging process. The phospholipid-Omega-3 bond is sensitive to heat and cooler the better. But some people don’t want acetone residues even if it is in parts per million quantities. No, parasites cannot survive the cold processing.
-Vin
I saw on tv a free supply of the krill oil and I would like to try it. email and tell me what to do to get it …thanks
Hi Patsy – no harm in trying krill oil at all! But be careful of free offers on TV! They may not charge you for the first free bottle, but they will probably need your credit card number. And if you don’t call and cancel within the first few days or weeks, you could get billed for another bottle next month. Vin
I guess my question would be, if Krill Oil contains the Omega 3′s, is there any difference between prescription Lovaza and Krill Oil to help lower high triglicerides? My doctor has me taking 4,000 MG daily
Hi Cookie – both krill oil and Lovaza will lower triglycerides. DO NOT stop taking your prescription meds without taking to your doctor. You’ll need 4000 mg of Lovaza to do the job and probably could probably get the same benefit from 2000 or 3000 mg of Krill oil Omega-3. That’s anywhere from 5 to 10 krill oil pills a day. Krill oil is not a drug but there is a prescription krill oil in the works and may hit the market in a few years. The dosage they are using is 1000 mg to 2000 mg of Omega-3 from krill. Given that each krill oil pill has only about 100 mg of Omega-3, this could be a lot of little red pills! This highlights the point I’ve been trying to make – while krill oil is great, there is very little Omega-3 in it, so you need to take a lot of it. At least until they find a way to really concentrate it like we’ve managed to do with fish oil. Again, talk to your doctor before making the switch.
Vin
My husband & I having been taking fish oil for years to lower his triglycerides. After lots of reading & dr mercola’s articles, we switched to krill. How do I find the purest krill that helps keep him off statins?
Hi Bobbi – krill oil is a hot commodity these days. There are unethical marketers selling fish oil blended with red algae extract as krill oil. The most researched (and trusted) krill oils are Superba and NKO (Neptune). These two brands are available from many good quality brands. Also, you need less krill oil than fish oil to notice triglyceride reduction. That’s where the good news ends. You need about 4000 mg of fish oil Omega-3 for significant triglyceride reduction. You might be able to get the same result with half as much krill oil Omega-3. Given that most krill oil pills have about 100 mg of Omega-3, the math is easy but scary – you will need 20 krill oil pills a day. Even if you cut that by half, you still need 10 krill oil pills per day. The last time I calculated the cost, krill would cost you about $5 a day to reduce triglycerides. You can get there with fish oil for about $1. Hope this helps.
- Vin
Does Omegavia contain traces of cod fish? I have a specific cod fish allergy not a fish allergy.
Hi Florence – no, OmegaVia does not contain any trace of cod fish or cod liver oil.
- Vin
I have fish oil pills that are 750mg total. 500 EPA and 250 DHA. How many pills
do I need a day to reduce triglycerides?
I also have krill oil pills that are 500mg total. 150 EPA and 90 DHA. How many
pills do I need a day to reduce triglycerides?
Or how about if I took them together? Or if separately? which would be more
effective?e
Hi Hank – You will need between 3000 and 4000 mg of Omega-3 per day to get a noticeable drop in triglycerides. Generally, every 1000 mg of Omega-3 will result in 5 to 10% drop in TG. So with your fish oil, you’ll need between 4 to 6 pills.
As for your krill oil, it is not pure krill oil. It is a blend of fish and krill oil. Nothing wrong with mixing krill and fish oil! It is just not possible to get 240 mg of EPA+DHA in a 500 mg pill of krill oil. Krill simply does not have that much Omega-3. You are not going to find the unique or superior benefits of krill oil that you may think you’re getting. If you decide to get another brand of krill oil, say MegaRed, you could get the same benefits of 4000 mg of fish oil with possibly 2000 mg or more likely 3000 mg of krill oil per day. With MegaRed, you will go through that 60-capsule bottle in about 6 or 7 days and each bottle costs about $25. Krill oil is great but just does not make financial sense.
If money is no object, stay with 100% pure Krill oil and take a dozen pills a day. Or if you want to stay with your current fish oil (my recommendation), then take 5 to 6 pills per day. Still, way too many pills, I’d say, for most people.
Hope this helps.
- Vin
I noticed on the Omegavia label that the EPA is 700 and the DHA is only 150.
Can you explain why the DHA is so much lower? I’m not sure what each one
does.
Hi Hank – there are several reasons why OmegaVia has a high EPA level and a low DHA level.
1. The brain is only able to incorporate about 5 mg of DHA per day! That’s it. Any excess is incorporated into eyes, heart etc., also in very small quantities or converted to EPA. And once incorporated, the DHA stays there for a couple of years. The point being that you don’t need much DHA on a daily basis. Unless you’re pregnant, the almost 200 mg of DHA in each OmegaVia pill is more than sufficient.
2. EPA is a key anti-inflammatory agent in the body. It does this by blocking the conversion of Omega-6 derivative Arachidonic Acid into highly inflammatory compounds. In other words, it blocks inflammation from taking place even if you’ve been eating an Omega-6 rich diet.
3. EPA has no impact on LDL cholesterol, which DHA can bump up a little bit. This is not a major concern, but most people don’t want to see an increase in LDL cholesterol.
Hope this helps.
- Vin
Thanks, that explains a lot.
Also, my daughter suffers from OCD and also ADD.
I have heard that fish oil may be a help for this. Do you know what the dosages
are for this as far as EPA and DHA?
Hi Hank – there is some promising research with Omega-3 and ADD. The anecdotal cases that I hear about used very high doses, like 5000 mg Omega-3 per day. Dr. Barry Sears suggests even higher doses for ADD. Best results are achieved when Omega-3 is combined with a complete elimination of Omega-6 rich vegetable oils, wheat and sugar in all its forms.
- Vin
@Hank I am assuming you are using NOW Foods Krill Oil in regards to your 500 mg capsules. Those are larger capsules than the MegaRed pills which are just a marketing joke. The capsules you have are pure Krill Oil not a combination like you have been led to believe. They are bigger then someone typically imagines when they think Krill Oil supplements because they contain the needed ratio of Omega 3. I urge you to continue your research at another site.
I just bought MegaRed Krill oil at Costco today and it’s 22 cents a pill, not 54. I’m ok with the price.
Hi Ryan – 22 cents a pill is a good price for the product. Pill size and quality are good too. Just make sure you’re getting a proper dose.
- Vin
I’m so confused. I was using the Kirkland Brand Omega 3 for years then I started
hearing about Krill Oil. I tried to do my due diligence and found that Krill Oil is superior
to Omega 3 oil, or so I thought. Now I don’t know what to believe.
I’ve read astaxanthin is important so switched to ArcticPure Krill Oil with 300mg omega 3 an d1.5 mg of astaxanthin..
Now I need to switch again.
So confused.
Hi Jane – krill oil is superior to fish oil on gram for gram Omega-3 basis. But not on a pill for pill basis. Let me explain. Current research says that 1000 mg of Omega-3 from krill oil is about 1.6 times better absorbed than fish oil. In other words 1000 mg of Omega-3 from krill equals 1600 mg of Omega-3 from fish oil. So if your krill oil pill has 90 mg of Omega-3, it is as good as 144 mg of Omega-3 from fish oil. So 90 mg of Omega-3 is better than 90 mg of Omega-3 from fish oil.
But even the cheapest fish oil (forget quality for sake of argument) has 300 mg of Omega-3! Many have 500 to 600 mg per pill. And some have 900 or 1000 mg per pill. Do you see what I’m getting at?
Krill also has phospholipids and astaxanthin, as you mention. Both are nice to have. You get plenty of phospholipids from eggs and you can get astaxanthin at: http://www.vitacost.com/vitacost-natural-astaxanthin-featuring-hawaiian-bioastin for just $9 for a 2 month supply.
If you were happy with the Kirkland brand, then I suggest you take their One-Per-Day Omega-3. It’s much better than their regular fish oi. I formulated it for Costco several years ago in a previous position.
Hope this helps clear up some confusion.
- Vin
Hi, I have a weird question. I have been taking MegaRed krill oil for about 1month
or more and have a strange taste in my mouth when I eat. It tastes a bit like the pills
smells. Can the oil get into the saliva? It makes my food taste funny. I am ready to
quit them for that reason. Have you ever heard of this before? I also take ICaps
and Preservision at the same time. What is your take on this?
Hi Carolyn – I have not heard of this before with krill oil pills. Once you swallow the pill, the oil will get absorbed and the Omega-3 makes its way into each cell in your body. But I doubt it is concentrating in your saliva. Whenever I hear of rare side effects, my suggestion is to stop taking the pill for 2 weeks. Then resume for 2 weeks and see if the side effect comes back. And repeat the process once more to confirm. This takes a long time, but it’s one of the more reliable ways to nail down the root cause. It is possible that the other supplements or something in your diet or environment could be causing the problem. So you need to make yourself a guinea pig for a few weeks to find out the truth.
- Vin
Thanks for the info. I´m interested in using Superba krill to off-set joint inflammation. I´m wondering would you consider this an effective treatment? If so, is the necessary dosage also 3-4 capsules, or is it less for this purpose?
Hi Jules – Superba krill oil will work well for joint inflammation. The efficacy of krill oil is not in doubt. It’s the ‘perceived dosage’ that I have an issue with. What I mean by that is that most people think a couple of krill oil pills a day will do the trick. Nope, they won’t! Most krill oil pills have about 100 mg of Omega-3. While that is better than nothing, you may need a minimum of 500 mg Omega-3 per day to noticeably reduce your joint inflammation, but more likely, 1000 mg Omega-3 per day. That’s 5 to 10 pills per day. In clinical studies using krill oil, rarely, if ever, do researchers use the dosage provided by 3 to 4 pills. Starting dosage in many of the studies I’ve seen studies is about 500 mg. So is krill oil an effective treatment? Absolutely! Is 3-4 pills a day going to be effective? Probably not. Still, that’s much better than 1 to 2 pills that most people take. Hope this help.
- Vin
I have a question that I think is either confusing me, or I’m misunderstanding…
When you read recommendations as to how much Fish Oil you need per day, what exactly is included in that?
For example, I’ve been reading that in fish oil, you need to look at the EPA and DHA numbers and only consider that. So if my doctor told me I need to be taking 3000 mg of fish oil daily, does that mean 3000 mg of EPA+DHA, or does that mean 3000 mg of Omega 3′s with EPA+DHA included in that batch?
I was taking MegaRed for years, thinking I was doing myself good, then when I was told to up my dosage to 3000 mg, that seemed very high to me, as I knew that the MegaRed standard pill is only 300mg. But then I looked at the EPA and DHA amounts in the pill and saw it was under 100g per pill! But the krill oil and omega 3′s are a little higher….
So my question is, what should my 3000 mg a day number be aiming at, consuming 3000 EPA and DHA, or just 3000 in Omega 3′s including those. I don’t want to ‘overdose’ and take more than I need.
By the way, I’ve found as being someone who cannot swallow large pills, finding any that are tolerable for me is impossible and MegaRed was the best option. Instead, I found this organic product called Barlean’s Omega Swirl which has 720mg of just EPA and DHA, plus other Omega 3′s in each serving, and it tastes absolutely delightful, like candy. I find it hard to believe I’m taking fish oil, so I’m hoping that it IS good enough to be true.
Thank you for your advice!
Hi Trekkie – telling someone to take a certain amount of fish oil per day is useless advice…because fish oil can have varying amount of Omega-3. And it’s the Omega-3 that you’re really after. The regular drug-store variety fish oils contain about 25 to 30% Omega-3. So a 1000 mg Fish oil pill will usually contain about 300 mg of Omega-3.
When your doctor said ‘take 3000 mg of fish oil,’ I am sure he or she meant ‘take 3000 mg of Omega-3.’ There is a BIG difference in those two statements. While your doctor’s advice was a good one, the details were off. To get your blood lipids in line, you need between 3000 and 4000 mg of Omega-3 per day.
You need to look at EPA, DHA and other Omega-3. Sometimes called Total Omega-3. The ‘other Omega-3′ is a mix of about 5-7 other Omega-3 fatty acids that also are beneficial. Since you doctor wants you to take 3000 mg per day, that would be 10 pills a day if you were to take the drug-store variety pills I was just talking about.
If you were to get 3000 mg of Omega-3 with krill oil, it would be cumbersome and extremely expensive. You’d have to gobble krill oil pills down by the handful. If you were to use a krill oil pill with 100 mg of Omega-3, the math is simple. That’s 30 pills a day. But luckily, you need less krill oil than fish oil to do the job. You’d only need half to two-third of the amount of krill oil to do the job of the same amount of fish oil Omega-3. Still, that could mean 15 krill oil pills a day.
I think you should definitely make the switch to the Barleans product. Or some other flavored liquid Omega-3. If you cant swallow large pills, this is the best option to get large amounts of Omega-3.
Hope this helps.
Vin Kutty
Vin, great website – packed with valuable information and comments from your clients. I’m 65 but still very active (tennis and mountain biking) but I have arthritis in my lower back and right knee resulting from injuries over the years in those areas. I have been taking Glucosamine with Condroitin to ease pain in those areas and I think it does help take off the very tip of the pain but it does not prevent it. When it gets too bad I resort to anti-inflamatories but I prefer not to use them as they are rough on the stomach and not good for the heart if taken regularly.
I was wondering if you had any research on the benefits of Omega 3 vs Glucosamine in the treatment of arthritis pain. I realise that Omega 3 has other benefits, such as for the heart. I have recently purchased OmegaVia Omega 3 capsules and have just started taking them to see if I can notice any improvement. I was going to try Krill Oil but I was totally convinced by your article and thought I’d try the pharmacutical grade OmegaVia instead. Thanks in advance.
Thank you, Jack. I’m not aware of any good research that compares joint pain relief using Glucosamine versus fish oil. Ideally, I would suggest that you combine the two ingredients. Glucosamine and fish oil work well together and in very different ways. It is a case of 1+1 = 3. Glad you are trying OmegaVia – if you’re not happy with it, please contact our customer service staff for a full refund. But if you’re taking 2-3 pills per day, you should notice a decrease in inflammation. Please keep me posted on how you progress.
- Vin Kutty
Thank you so much, that did help clarify things for me!
I’ve been taking Nature Made one a day fish oil for the past 12 years and I feel great, can you tell me if Nature Made is just as affective as your pill? Thank you, AMC.
Hi Annemarie – NatureMade makes good products. Their One Per Day Fish oil has 720 mg of Omega-3 per pill and is the strongest oil they sell. It is effective and perfectly fine to continue taking this product for day to day health maintenance. However, there are two instances where a formula like this may not work:
1. Mood and depression – this product has nearly a 1:1 ratio of EPA to DHA. For depression, you need EPA in excess. The more EPA and less DHA the better for mood and depression related issues. 1:1 ratio of EPA to DHA has shown no mood benefits.
2. Triglyceride reduction – for this, you need oil that is at least 80% pure Omega-3. More on that here: http://www.omegavia.com/why-pharmaceutical-grade-fish-oil-is-better/ The NatureMade item is 60% Omega-3. You may not notice as much benefits as you’d like.
Overall, the product you’ve been using is better than 90% of the products out there, so if you are not looking to address the two conditions I outlined above, you should continue taking it.
- Vin Kutty
Hi, I wonder if there is much difference between your product and this product
Vitamin Shop Ultimate Omega 3 735epa/165dha total 995 to reduce triglycerides
and try to raise good cholesterol, in adittion to exercise
Hi Hector – the VitaminShoppe Ultimate Omega-3 is a similar product to our old formula. The VitaminShoppe product uses 70-75% pure Omega-3 oil. Our new formula uses 90% pure oil and has almost 1200 mg Omega-3 per pill – same pill size as the VitaminShoppe. IFOS results of our new formula: http://www.ifosprogram.com/files/IFOS%20Innovix%20OmegaVia%20Batch%20S2A042.pdf
For general health maintenance, there is not much difference between 70% and 90% purity. But if you want to reduce triglycerides, you will notice a significant difference. See this: http://www.omegavia.com/why-pharmaceutical-grade-fish-oil-is-better/
It takes about 50 gallons of crude fish oil to make 1 gallon of 70% Omega-3 oil. Compare that to 100 gallons of crude oil to make 1 gallon of the oil in OmegaVia. There is a significant difference in the level of purification and cost between 70% pure oil and 90% pure oil.
The VitaminShoppe product would definitely help you with inflammation and depression. But if your goal is triglyceride reduction, I would try something more potent. Hope this helps.
- Vin Kutty
Do you know if krill oil products are checked for BMAA? See http://www.ethnomedicine. org
Hi Dr. Raborn – I don’t know of any krill oil products that are tested for BMAA. I understand that this amino acid comes from cyanobacteria, probably photosynthetic. Commercial Krill used in supplements feed on algae and are harvested exclusively in the Antarctic. I would doubt that BMAA is an issue, but I can’t say that with certainty. There is a new program called IKOS – Intl Krill Oil Standards that is being developed by Nutrasource Diagnostics at the Univ of Guelph in Canada. I don’t think their program is fully defined and off the ground, but when they are, I will pose this question to them. My guess is that other than Omega-3, toxins and oxidation byproducts, they would only be looking for astaxanthin and phospholipids. Unfortunately, if BMAA is present and in quantities sufficient to cause a problem, someone needs to raise its awareness/risk before companies will start testing for it.
- Vin Kutty
Hello,
Does taking fish oil or krill oil help decrease LDL levels and or Total Cholesterol level? My triglyceride levels and HDL levels are excellent but I’m challenged by keeping the other two levels in the preferred range. Any suggestions for lowering LDL and total cholesterol?
Hi Sharon – Krill oil can reduce LDL levels nicely if you take 1 gram (1000 mg) or more per day. This takes 3-6 krill oil pills per day. Neither krill nor fish oil have much of an effect on Total Cholesterol. Total cholesterol is a fairly useless number for predicting heart health outcomes. LDL may be more useful as an indicator, but not by much. A much more meanigful marker is the ratio of Triglycerides to HDL. Divide your TG by HDL. If it is under 3, you’re OK. If you’re over 3, it’s time to reduce your sugar, starch and grain consumption. If you really want to be in charge of these numbers, get an LDL particle number, often called an NMR LipoProfile. Hope this helps.
- Vin Kutty
Thank you for the helpful information. A couple last questions to help clarify a couple things:
1. You stated that krill oil can reduce LDL levels nicely if the proper amount is taken. Do you think fish oil is just effective at reducing LDL levels also if the proper amount is taken or is krill oil still the most effective?
2. If my Triglycerides are 50 and my HDL is 76, then according to your suggested ratios and meaningful markers, my heart health outcome indicator is quite good if I’m figuring it correctly, right? At my last checkup, my LDL =159, HDL=76 (I exercise almost every day), Trig.=50, and Total cholesterol = 245. In your opinion and with your expertise, do you think these numbers indicate pretty healthy heart health? My doctor, of course, is telling me that a prescription statin drug may not be too far off. I don’t want to believe that!
3. Is a certain dose of Niacin healthy to take when trying to lower cholesterol numbers such as LDL? My doctor suggested I take 500mg every night to see if it would help withkeeping my cholesterol numbers at an okay level because she knows I’m not “sold” on the idea of statin drugs. Your thoughts?
Thanks again. Your expertise is much appreciated.
Hi Sharon – good questions. For the most part, fish oil does not change LDL that much. Actually, DHA can increase LDL by about 10-15%. Since LDL is supposed to be ‘bad’ cholesterol, this concerns some people. This is why some of the new fish oil based pharmaceutical drugs are made of pure EPA, which does not increase LDL. There is one study that says krill oil at high levels can reduce LDL much more than fish oil. The study was funded by a krill oil manufacturer. Just because the research was self-serving does not mean it is not good research. It probably is solid science…but I’d like to see a few more studies on krill oil’s effect on LDL. As of now, the best I can say is that fish oil (at least EPA Omega-3) is neutral on LDL and krill oil may reduce LDL. Here’s the paper – it’s pretty compelling. http://www.altmedrev.com/publications/9/4/420.pdf
If your triglycerides are at 50 and HDL is 76, I’m jealous!
Many doctors are obsessed with total cholesterol. In my opinion, and I’m not a doctor(!), that’s missing the mark. Total cholesterol is a fairly meaningless number. But it is easy to measure, target and control. From everything I’ve read (and I’m constantly reading) total cholesterol is not a good heart health indicator. It’s just the most popular one. Stains benefits may come, not from cholesterol reduction but from unintended anti-inflammatory properties. The best heart health indicator that I know of is your LDL particle NUMBER done via an NMR Lipoprofile. Listen to this podcast with Dr. Dayspring for more: http://www.thelivinlowcarbshow.com/shownotes/6371/585-lipidologist-dr-thomas-dayspring-explains-the-truth-about-cholesterol/
I’d listen to your doctor about Niacin. Try it. Most people have a hard time handling the skin flushing. There are some liver issues with long-term use, but have your doctor keep an eye on things.
- Vin Kutty
In the Nov/Dec issue of Life Extension magazine, there is a fascinating article about
the benefits of combining Krill oil, hyaluronic acid, and astaxanthin to reduce arthritic
joint pain and even eliminate it all together in a short (60 day) period. Can you find
any flaws in the article’s conclusions, especially the high percentage of patients who
experienced pain reduction and pain-free results? Is the product, Krill Healthy Joint
Formula, just another one pill per day wonder where in fact you would need to take
substantially more for results similar to their one pill claim? I suffer from osteo-arthritic
fingers that are getting progressively worse at a rapid rate, so I’m looking for
something to slow down and possible repair some of the destruction I have already
experienced.
Hi Don – I’m familiar with Life Extension’s Krill Healthy Joint Formula, which is a result of the study your mention. I give it to my old, arthritic dog and it seems to be helping.
I think combining krill oil with hyaluronic acid and astaxanthin is a good idea. I have not reviewed the raw data and the protocol of the study but it passes the sniff test on the surface.
Here is what I would do if I had arthritis:
1. Take this Life Extension formula
2. Take 2000 mg of concentrated Omega-3 from fish oil
3. Take 1500 mg of Glucosamine
If that does not help, increase the krill formula to 2 pills per day. I don’t know how much astaxanthin is in it…if you take too much of it, your skin can temporarily turn a slight orange, which probably won’t happen unless you take 3 or 4 per day.
Also, cut back drastically on Omega-6 from vegetable seed oils.
- Vin Kutty
Hi, Thanks for the info on fish oils . I still need some help on what brand i should
take and how much. I have chronic Rheumatoid Arthritis and i am not responding
to treatment. I have reach the end no more new drugs for me to try for another 3
years here in Australia. I have tryed fish oil before but a long time ago and didn’t feel
any better for it. I would like to try again but don’t know what brand would be best for
me or how much to take. Last time i just took what the label said too take. But after
reading what you had to say i was not taking enough. So i would be greatful for your
input on this matter. What brand do you think would be best and how much too take.
Price is a issue as i spend $150 a week on my other drugs. Thank You
Gina
Hi Gina – I’m not very familiar with all brands of fish oil available in Australia but I know Blackmores makes something called Omega Triple that is fairly strong. Make sure you get at least 4000 mg of Omega-3 per day. You may actually need twice that much to notice much benefit.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition. Many people notice dramatic improvements with dietary changes. I’d start with eliminating all vegetable based seed oils – they are too high in Omega-6. Olive oil and butter are fine. Then, I’d eliminate all wheat and flour containing foods. Obviously remove sugar from your diet. If you can limit your diet to meats, seafood, vegetables, fruits, eggs and nuts, you will notice a dramatic improvement. Look into Robb Wolf’s book on paleo diet.
I think taking fish oil may help, but it may be glossing over dietary triggers of RA.
- Vin Kutty
My hubby has Osteoarthritis and we are trying anything so he doesn’t have to have hip replacement. We are starting with diet/exerice and 2 caps of the schiff megaRed omega-3 krill oil…are we on the right path?
Hi Pam – you are on the right path. But I’d recommend a few tweaks. Add 1000 mg of EPA Omega-3 to his regimen. Concentrated fish oil is the best source of EPA. Then add a Glucosamine + MSM supplement, Perluxan (http://www.swansonvitamins.com/SWU432/ItemDetail) and you may want to consider a different krill product such as this: http://www.lef.org/Vitamins-Supplements/Item01600/Krill-Healthy-Joint-Formula.html
Diet wise, cut out all vegetable oils other than Olive and coconut oils. Cut back or eliminate sugar and wheat.
Hope this helps.
- Vin Kutty
Hi. Would you reccomend Natrol Omega-3 Krill Oil? They have 1000 mg NKO with 266 mg Omega-3. 150 mg EPA, 90 mg DHA and 420 mg phospholipid, or would you rather recommend pharmaceutical fish oil?
Hi Kalle – disclosure: I used to work for Natrol about a dozen years ago. They make fairly good products. If you can find it for a good price, yes, go for it. I suggest two capsules a day. You may also want to supplement with some concentrated fish oil as well. 266 mg of Omega-3 is not enough.
- Vin Kutty
Hi, I had two questions:
1) How would you recommend taking (dosage) omegavia with krill oil together?
2) What would you say is the best NKO brand? NOW Foods – Neptune Krill 1000?
Thank you,
Sri
Hi Sri – yes, you may take OmegaVia with Krill oil. Actually, I recommend everyone who takes krill oil to supplement with some additional Omega-3. NKO krill oil is good. So is Superba krill oil. Both NKO and Superba start off with good quality. Most manufacturers can buy these oils in bulk and encapsulate them in gelatin. How delicately the oil is handled, processed and stored by the final manufacturer is an unknown. So I can’t comment on NOW Foods’ product but I feel comfortable with the raw material that goes into the NOW foods product. Hope this helps.
- Vin Kutty
I had a heart attack 2 months ago. They placed a stent. I am 61 years old and also have type 2 diabetes, osteo arthritis, and degenerative disc disease. How much omega 3 would you recommend for me and are there additional supplements that may be beneficial to me? Thank you, Gary
Hi Gary – supplements can help and you should take some. But much bigger benefits will come from a diet and lifestyle makeover. Having said that, I’d aim for 4000 mg of Omega-3 (not 4000 mg of fish oil!). Yes, that’s a lot, but you’re no longer just taking fish oil for general health maintenance. Other than Omega-3, you should be taking:
- 5000 IU of Vitamin D3 http://www.lef.org/Vitamins-Supplements/Item00713/Vitamin-D3.html
- Magnesium http://www.lef.org/Vitamins-Supplements/Item01369/Magnesium-Caps-500-mg-100-vegetarian-capsules.html
- Vitamin K http://www.lef.org/Vitamins-Supplements/Item01224/Super-K-with-Advanced-K2-Complex.html
- Multivitamin – http://www.lef.org/Vitamins-Supplements/Item01615/Two-Per-Day-Tablets.html
Life Extension is a great place to get these supplements. Check with your doctor to make sure it’s OK to take these.
- Vin Kutty
So I jumped on this wagon today with the krill oil. After coming home and doing a bit of reading, I realized I have Wild Krill Oil. Is there a difference in “wild” or not??
Thanks
Toni
Hi Toni – welcome aboard the slightly wacky (and hyped up) world of krill oil. All krill are harvested in the wild. Virtually all krill in supplements come from Antarctica. As wild as it gets. It’s probably a marketing misfire, trying to separate their product from the herd.
- Vin Kutty
PS: would you please report back to us in a month or two and share if you are happy with the product and if you’ve seen any benefits that you were not seeing with fish oil? Thanks.
You really need to do your homework on vitamin D. I am a healthcare provider and I have seen many times vitamin D crash my patients immune system. Vitamin D is a steroid!!!! If you know anything, steroids cause immunosuppression. By telling people to take vitamin D you are helping to make them sick! Go look up (vitamin d is a steroid). stupid
It was found that neptune krill oil can be rancid by consumer lab. It is not a good brand. Azantis and aker are the good ones.
this is the first time i heard of your site, it is great! Which is best at lowering blod pressure, fish oil or krill oil and how much of either one? I started taking Nordic naturals ultimate omega fish oil capsules about 2 m0s. ago. my sister takes swansons 100% krill oil 1 cap per day and in less than 2 mos. her blood pressure dropped 30 points. we want to get my mother on either fish oil or krill oil in order to drop her blood pressure without drugs. I value your opinion. THANKS, Larry
Hi Larry – there have been no studies to my knowledge that compared krill oil vs fish oil for blood pressure. Having said that, there have been some studies that have shown 2000-3000 mg of Omega-3 per day from fish to have had a beneficial effect on blood pressure. The science behind Omega-3 and blood pressure is not as solid as it is with heart disease. We need more studies. Anything that fish oil does, krill oil does slightly better, but at an astronomical increase in cost and dosage.
My suggestion is to try fish first and see how your mom does. Then after 2-3 months add krill oil at 1 pill per day and see what the results are. If it drops a lot with the addition of krill oil, then you will have found your goal.
- Vin Kutty
What are your thoughts on taking both a lower dose of NKO Kril oil PLUS a high quality fish oil together?
Or even taking a moderate dose of both Krill oil and fish oil supplementation together.
Also, I’m looking at an enteric coated krill oil.
Hi Ben – I think that’s a good idea. Get your base Omega-3 needs from a concentrated fish oil and add a little phospholipids from a krill oil. If you rely on krill oil alone for Omega-3, you’ll come up short or you’ll have to take a lot of pills. I don’t know of an enteric coated krill oil.
- Vin Kutty
I just found out from my doctor that my cholesterol is high. He suggested to take fish oil. My husband just went to store and bought Natrol brand of Krill Oil with the NKO monogram, since you said that the market is flooded with krill oil that are less favorable, do you think this brand is ok?
Also, can I take flaxseed oil together with krill oil? Is there such a thing as overdosing on these oils? I just want to lower my cholesterol but I don’t want to take Lipitor.
Your advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks so much.
Rowena
Hi Rowena – yes, NKO brand krill oil is fine. Each Natrol krill oil has 133 mg of Omega-3 in it. You will need at least 4 of those per day to see a noticeable difference in your blood fats. Yes, it is Ok to take it with Flaxseed, although Flaxseed oil is fairly useless but it does not hurt. It is very difficult to overdose with Omega-3 but if you increase your dosage gradually, your body will tell you when you’ve taken too much – usually, you will notice some digestive distress. Then it is time to back off a bit.
- Vin Kutty
I am looking at Puitan’s Pride “NEPTUNE KRILL OIL – 500 mg”. Please give me your opinion.
Supplement Facts
Serving Size 2 Softgels
Servings Per Container 30
Amount Per Serving % Daily Value
Calories 10
Calories from Fat 10
Total Fat 1 g 2%**
Saturated Fat 0.5 g 1%**
Monounsaturated Fat 0 g ***
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.5 g ***
Neptune Krill Oil (NKO®)provides 265mg of Total Omega-3 Fatty Acids comprising of: 1,000 mg ***
Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) 142 mg ***
Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) 85 mg ***
Omega-6 Fatty Acids (Linoleic Acid) 15 mg ***
Omega-9 Fatty Acids (Oleic Acid) 65 mg ***
Phospholipids 400 mg ***
Astaxanthin 1,000 mcg ***
**Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
***Daily Value not established.
Hi Hugh – it’s made with Neptune krill oil, which makes me comfortable. They are one of the top players so it’s unlikely to be Chinese fish oil with some red coloring and a dash of krill oil.
As far as potency, there is 113 mg of EPA and DHA per pill. That’s it! 132 mg if you include all other Omega-3. That’s, well, a teeny, tiny bit. You will need at least 4 of those pills a day to start seeing noticeable benefits. 4 pills get you to about 530 mg of Omega-3. Yes, you’ll get a good dose of phospholipids, but where is the Omega-3? That’s the problem with krill oil pills. They are small and they don’t contain as much Omega-3 as they could.
I am not worried about the quality of this product. I am worried that people have a false sense of comfort when it comes to krill oil dosage. You need a lot more than what the bottle tells you!
- Vin Kutty
I just bought a bottle of New Chapter Whole Mega extra virgin wild alaskan salmon.
wild alaskan salmon 2000mg
total omega 3 fatty acids 520mg
EPA 180mg
DHA 220mg
other omega 3 fatty acids 120mg
total omega 6 fatty acids 60mg
total omega 5, 7, & 8 fatty acids 95mg
total omega 9 fatty acids 300mg
other omega fatty acids 545mg
astaxanthin 5mcg
vitamin D3 100IU
Says take 2 a day and its gluten free is this a good one to take or not 60 capsules for $25
Hi Mary – it is certainly a very good product. But I have some issues with it: there is very little Omega-3 in each capsule. The numbers above are for 2 capsules, not one. I think product labels should state what EACH pill contains. Each one of these pills contains only 260 mg of Omega-3. That’s better than nothing. You’ll need 4 or 5 of these pills per day. At 5 pills per day, your bottle of 60 pills is a 12-day supply. That’s a lot of pills and it gets pricey.
- Vin Kutty
I have a bag of Wild Pacific Salmon burgers in my freezer that I purchased at Costo. On the front of the bag, it claims there is 1360mg of Omega-3′s in each serving, which is one 1/4 pound patty. They are delicious. It seems like eating a few of these per week or even one daily would be a more effective way to get large doses of Omega-3′s than taking a bunch of pills, since you’re receiving food at the same time……or am I missing something? Cost is around a dollar per serving, but again, you have to buy food anyway. My goal for eating more Omega-3′s is relieve inflamation in my ankle/achilles tendon. I long ago drastically reduced my intake of sugar and grains to near nothing. I intend to reduce my use of commercial salad dressing as well, since I found a great and simple recipe for an olive oil based italian dressing that is really good.
Would you say that a person who has very low intake of sugar, grains, and other starches, as well as low intake of Omega 6 fats would require less Omega 3 supplementation that someone eating a standard processed America diet?
Hi Jane – eating one of those salmon patties a day will address all your Omega-3 needs and then some! Even 3 or 4 per week may be enough. It is an absolute win-win. Wild salmon is one of the healthiest things you can eat. You seem to be doing a lot of things right. Yes, if you are not eating Omega-6-rich vegetable oils, then yes, you will need less Omega-3 than someone eating a standard American diet.
- Vin Kutty
Yay! I love those patties, and my dogs enjoy them too. I’ll be lunching on these often. They are fantastic crumbled and mixed with a chopped salad.
Thanks for responding.
I was using Lovaza to lower my triglycerides but it ended up raising them. I have been using Mega Red for about a year now but it looks like I should be using a fish oil. My eye doctor wants me to take high doeses of fish oil like Lovaza (3-4 grams a day) due to macular degeneration running in my family. What should I do?
Hi AI – Lovaza reduces triglycerides nicely. Except when you have some dietary changes. See this article: http://www.omegavia.com/i-take-your-omega-3-but-my-triglycerides-still-went-up/
MegaRed will also reduce triglycerides but you will need 10-15 pills per day.
Your eye doctor is right. You need Omega-3 and some other nutrients like this: http://www.lef.org/Vitamins-Supplements/Item01686/Super-Zeaxanthin-with-Lutein-Meso-Zeaxanthin-Plus-Astaxanthin-and-C3G.html
Do not buy this: http://www.drugstore.com/preservision-eye-vitamin-areds-2-formula-soft-gels/qxp319034 as it does not have enough DHA or Omega-3.
- Vin Kutty
Thanks for the info. It makes sense to me. Everytime I went a cholestrol lowering diet all my markers went up (except my HDL which went down). I’ll go back to eating sensible human diet.
AI – a ‘healthy’ diet with lots of whole grains and low-fat foods will nicely prime you for a heart attack. Eat what our bodies are meant to eat – a pre-agricultural diet. Lots of fresh veggies, grass-fed meats, wild seafood, pastured eggs and some fruits and nuts. Some people call it a ‘paleo’ diet. I call it real food.
- Vin Kutty
Vin Kutty – you are doing great job replying to everyone. Since you are an expert on omega 3 can you clarify a difference between fish oil omega 3 and plant omega 3. How much hemp oil would I need to take to get 1000mg of EPA after body converts ALA to EPA? I am male 27.
Hi Matvey – fish/krill oil Omega-3 contain mostly EPA and DHA. Plants and seeds contain ALA Omega-3 which is a short chain Omega-3 that the body must convert to EPA and DHA. The conversion to EPA is not very good and to DHA is virtually zero. I don’t know how much ALA is in your hemp oil and I have no way of knowing how efficient your body is at converting ALA to EPA. So my GUESS is that you will need anywhere from 6 to 20 hemp oil pills per day. Basically, a lot. The only reason to avoid fish oil and take hemp oil is if you’re vegan. In which case, Omega-3 is only one of several issues to tackle. More here: http://www.omegavia.com/omega-3-options-for-vegans/
- Vin Kutty
Is krill oil mercury free? Wondering if its safe for pregnancy. Also, which fish oil do you recommend? Thanks!
Hi Jessica – krill oil made by reputable brands usually are mercury free. Krill are low on the food chain, so it’s unlikely to have mercury to begin with. However, the problem with krill oil is that you need to take A LOT OF PILLS to get the DHA you need during pregnancy. Do the math based on how much DHA is in your krill oil. I recommend about 900 mg of DHA per day during pregnancy. My guess is that’s about 20 krill oil pills a day. I suggest you go with Carlsons Super DHA gems. Take 2 of those every day.
- Vin Kutty
Hello Mr Kutty,
Took me a while to read all the posts from 2010 to right down here.
I have been sporadically taking Krill oil but from a diff vendor(Prograde) & a different brand(Azantis Krill Oil), sold as EFA Icon.
Herez it’s nutrition info :
Pure Krill Oil (Azantis) 1,000 mg
Omega-3 Fatty Acids ( as phospholipids) 420 mg
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) 150 mg
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) 90 mg
Astaxanthin 1.5 mg
Other ingredients : Softgel(Gelatin), Glycerin, Water, Lemon Oil
Serving size : 2 softgels
Your response to HUGH above on Oct 30 2012, makes me believe that phospholipids and omega-3 are 2 different thing whereas prograde describes it a Omega3 fatty acids as phospholipids. Confused now.
Found this 1 below : is it any better than prograde version above ?
http://www.soap.com/p/source-naturals-nko-neptune-krill-oil-500-mg-softgels-128378
If you don’t mind posting one of the vendors & their exact type you recommend, it will be of immense help.
Thanks,
Nikhil.
Hi Nikhil – Omega-3 and phospholipids are not the same thing. The Omega-3 in krill oil is ATTACHED to phospholipids and that makes it slightly better absorbed. Phospholipids are good for you and typically krill oils have twice as much of it than Omega-3. They provide different benefits. The real reason to take krill oil may be for the phospholipids and not Omega-3. After all, there is so little Omega-3 present.
Azantis is OK. Superba by AkerBiomarine is good. NKO was OK but they are shut down after they factory sadly exploded.
Unless you take handfuls of krill oil pils, you are not getting enough Omega-3. My suggestion is to combine it with any Pharma grade fish oil.
- Vin Kutty
Why are you downplaying the benefits of the antioxidant Astaxanthin? I always believed the more nutrients the better and I’ve read on many sources that it is a rather potent antioxidant.
Hi Chris – I like astaxanthin a lot! Matter of fact, I take an astaxanthin supplement by itself.
Let me put it this way: if you need a set of tires, would you go to the tire store and buy 4 tires or buy a brand new car for the tires? That’s how I see taking krill oil supplements for the astaxanthin. Krill oil typically has a lot of phospholipids (good stuff that you can find in eggs or in supplement form), Omega-3 (good stuff that’s much more abundant in fish oil) and astaxanthin (also good stuff that’s much more abundant elsewhere, like astaxanthin pills.)
There is very little astaxanthin in krill oil pills anymore. Used to be more if it a few years ago – nowadays, even the krill oil manufacturers will admit to not having as much as they used to. Yes, it is a potent antioxidant and it is great for your skin, but don’t rely on krill oil pills for it – get them separately. I get mine from Costco. Used to get it from LifeExtension.
- Vin Kutty
Hi. You will see an expression on a krill product’s label , ” DHA and EPA expressed”
What does “expressed” mean?
They say that Main producer is NKO.
Thanks a lot
Hi Mehmet – expressed does not mean anything when discussing krill oil. When discussing something like olive oil, expressed means removal of oil using pressure. You cannot do that with krill oil. The Omega-3 in krill oil has to be extracted using solvents like alcohol or acetone. NKO uses acetone to extract their oil from krill.
- Vin Kutty
What do you think of the product Twinlabs Cardio Krill Oil and how many of these pills should you take a day?
Hi Romy – it’s a good product but you will need 6 to 7 pills per day to start seeing benefits. Why? Each pill only has 140 mg of Omega-3. That’s more than other krill oil pills, but still miniscule! If you take one pill a day per packaging instructions, you will not notice the health benefits promised. Dosage is key.
- Vin Kutty
Enjoyed but I would like to know where I can purchase NKO in Detroit,
Mi area.
Hi Fnwilson – you should be able to get NKO or Superba krill oil (both good) at any local drug store. Just look for their logos on the package. NKO has been out of supply lately, as they had an explosion in their facility and have shut down production.
- Vin Kutty
Purity makes a big deal on the amount of Phospholipids are in each pill how much is in Omegavia?
Hi Joe – there are no phospholipids in OmegaVia. Phospholipids are not found in high purity fish oils. They are found in krill oil and several different every day foods. Purity’s krill product is a blend of krill and fish and contains 60 mg of phospholipids per pill. The Omega-3 that are bound to phospholipids will be slightly better absorbed. The rest of the Omega-3 will not be as well absorbed. So mixing krill oil with fish oil virtually the same as taking a good fish oil supplement.
The best source of phospholipids are from egg yolks and liver. Egg yolks contain about 50 mg phospholipids each – http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1342207
- Vin Kutty
hello my husband bought omega krill from dr.newton in jan 2012 to lower his cholesterol, in may 2012 he went for a heart surgery caused by high cholesterol blockage , we want to sue the dr.newton company any suggestions? ps. we live in canada and the company is in usa, should we hire us’s laweyer or canadian? thanks
Hi Jan – I am a nutritionist and a chemist who writes about Omega-3. I am not an attorney. I have no legal advice to give.
Omega-3 does not reduce cholesterol. Omega-3 reduces triglycerides, which is a risk-factor for heart disease. More here: http://www.omegavia.com/fish-oil-cholesterol/
I am really sorry to hear that your husband had to have surgery for blocked arteries. Bad diet and genetic predisposition are usually the culprits there. Who do we sue for that?
- Vin Kutty
Would you please take a look at these products and website and tell me what you think, I’ve ordered the Krill Omega-3 Super Formula for me. I also ordered the Fast Action H.A. Hyaluronic Acid Super Formula and the Ultra-Pure Omega-3 Fish Oil for my husband,because he has a shellfish allergy we both suffer from joint aches.
Hi MBT – the products from Purity are fine. Not bad and not fantastic. If you’re happy with the results and benefits, no need to change.
- Vin Kutty
Hello, I started taking two softgels of Megared krill oil (500mg each) per day in order to reduce cholesterol and triglycerides will i have better results if i take a combination of krill oil and fish oil and if yes how many pills per day is a good portion in order to see results in the following 3 to 4 months. thank you
Hi Nickolas – you need 2000 mg of krill oil Omega-3 to notice a significant drop. Or you can get it from 3000 to 4000 mg of fish oil.
Each MegaRed Extra Strength pill has 115 mg of Omega-3. So 2000 divided by 115 = 17 pills a day. Dose up!
- Vin Kutty
Thank you for your answer a last question is because krill oil is more expensive than fish oil is there any harm to my health if i take for example 4 pills of krill oil and the rest from fish oil. Is there any research stating that a combination of those two gives a good or bad result?
Hi Nickolas – no harm in mixing fish oil and krill oil at all. The body knows and recognizes both as fats and will digest both. No research on combining the two.
- Vin Kutty
Vin,
Love your website full of good information, a question I didn’t see addressed is two-fold, what is your opinion on NKO future as the new plant isn’t expects to be operational til 2015?
Isn’t acetone known to cause cancer therefore is ere an issue with using it and us later ingesting it? Thank you
Hi Russell – thank you.
NKO is eventually going to come back. I don’t know if it will be in 2015. I have been to their facility and they were always maxed out on capacity. If they don’t start making their own product by 2015, they may subcontract out their patented manufacturing to some other facility that has extraction capacity. My guess is that management has been working on this as phase 1. Phase 2 will be to reconstruct their own facility. Regardless, I suspect they will be supply-limited for some time.
Yes, acetone is a carcinogen. NKO’s patent uses acetone as extraction solvent. But in their defense, acetone is easily separated from krill oil in the purification steps. You will always have residual levels of solvent…in other words, you will have some acetone in NKO products. I don’t know how much acetone is left over in NKO oils and I don’t know if those levels pose a problem. I’m guessing that the acetone levels are inconsequential, but that’s just a guess. Aker’s Superba brand krill oil uses alcohol, not acetone, so they claim to have a safer product – don’t know if that’s a science or marketing claim. I suspect the latter.
- Vin Kutty
Thanks Vin,
It will be interesting to see if NKO wins the patent lawsuit against Aker. With the plant blowing up and acetone being so flammable and explosive, ne wonders if they won’t switch to something less volatile.
I have read that like you mentioned the company is considering outsourcing, just hope they are if they utilize a Chinese manufacturer as if the quality is suspect it will hurt all Krill providers.
I read last night about Schiff and Neptune supply issues, later lawsuits wow. Sems they will never work together again unless forced.
Is there red dye in the MegaRed Krill Oil? If so how much? I have rosacea of the face and am wondering if the red color could be affecting my face?
Hi Sandy – no there is no red dye. As much as I think krill oil is a waste of money, I also know the folks behind MegaRed well enough to say confidently that they would never add red dye to their product for whatever reason. Consider looking into a Paleo diet – it has helped a few people I know reduce Rosacea.
- Vin Kutty
My question. Is simple. How does your product compare to dr mercola’s product?
Hi Gary – simple question, not-so-simple answer.
Mercola sells Krill oil. OmegaVia is a fish oil.
Mercola has has 77 mg Omega-3 per pill. OmegaVia has 1105 mg per pill. That’s 14X more.
Mercola costs about $25. OmegaVia is about the same.
Mercola has 400 mg phospholipids. OmegaVia does not – eggs are full of healthy phospholipids, we prefer to you get it from eggs.
Mercola has 1 mg astaxanthin. OmegaVia does not. Pharma grade fish oil does not have astaxanthin. Salmon oil does. But you can get 4 mg of Astaxanthin at Costco for next to nothing.
Krill oil is good for you. It is about 1.5X to 2X better absorbed than fish oil. But it costs about 10X more. To notice a significant drop in triglycerides or other blood fats, you will need about 1000 mg of krill oil Omega-3. Given that Mercola has 77 mg per pill. That’s 13 pills a day. Each 60-count bottle will last you about 5 days. Taking 2 OmegaVia per day will give you similar benefits and the 60 capsules will last a month for the same price.
- Vin Kutty
In my opinion, the U.S. government has FAILED TOTALLY in its responsibility to regulate fraud in the nutritional supplement industry.
For example, most supplements sold as “100% Pure Krill Oil” are only partly genuine Neptune Krill Oil because they are severely diluted with fish oil and fortified with astaxanthin made from Haematococcus pluvialis.
[Puritan's Pride Red Krill Oil is a good example of "krill oil" that tastes like fish oil].
Also, many vegans have complained that their “Algal DHA” softgels taste like fish oil because they really are mostly just fish oil.
[Simply read the product reviews underneath various Algal DHA products sold by Amazon to verify this].
Also, genuine fish fat contains more DHA than EPA but fish oil softgels always contain more EPA than DHA. This indicates that some of the DHA is stolen from fish oil and used in other nutritional supplements such as “Algal DHA.”
Also, most “100% Pure Pomegranate” supplements or juices are not pure pomegranate as claimed:
http://nutritionfacts.org/video/clinical-studies-on-acai-berries/
http://www.omega-research.com/researchview.php?ID=947&catid=15
Hi Ronald – thanks for sharing.
Supplements sold as ’100% pure krill oil’ some are just that – 100% pure krill oil. Neptune is just ONE of a few krill oil manufacturers. Aker’s superba brand krill oil (Norway) is good quality. Enzymotec (Israel) also makes OK stuff. Azantis (Colorado) makes krill oil too. So krill oil pills do not necessarily have to contain neptune brand krill oil.
Are there some that are diluted with fish oil? Certainly! A lot of Chinese ‘krill’ oil probably have fish oil mixed in with astaxanthin and soy phospholipids. If you buy the cheapest krill oil on the market, you may be buying this.
If Puritan’s Pride says krill oil, it probably is all krill oil. Granted it is probably the cheapest krill oil they could find, but I would be very surprised if they were mixing it with fish oil. If krill oil smells and tastes like fish oil, that is because krill oils contain Omega-3 EPA and DHA. No matter what the marketing spin is, when (not if) krill oil turns rancid, it will stink just like rancid fish oil…if not worse. About 10 years ago, when nobody cared or knew about krill oil, I received a sample of neptune krill oil at my desk at work. I opened the bottle and cleared the entire office! It stunk like rancid fish oil. I made enemies quickly that day. My point: once rancid, krill oil stinks like rancid fish oil. Does not mean it is adulterated.
Same thing with Algae DHA. Once it goes slightly rancid, algae oil smells just like rancid fish oil. Why? They both have DHA. Rotten DHA stinks the same regardless of its source. Vegan or not! It does not mean that the algae oil is adulterated with fish oil. And most aren’t! Product reviews on Amazon are written by folks who do not know these facts. The only take-away from the Amazon reviews is that a lot of Algae DHA pills are rancid. Nothing more.
Also, not all genuine fish fat contains more DHA than EPA. Some do, like tuna and salmon. But 90% of fish oils are made from sardines, anchovies and mackerel…and these fish have more EPA than DHA. Therefore, most fish oil supplement have more EPA than DHA. DHA is not stolen from fish and added to anything else.
I have nothing to say about Pomegranate, but you can take my above statements to the bank.
- Vin Kutty
please eval FINEST NUTRITION fish oil 1400mg. its $15.00 at Walgreens and I cant afford more
Hi Sheila – if that is what you can afford, by all means, go for it. It is not a bad product at all, in terms of Omega-3 content. It has about 900 mg of Omega-3 per pill. I cant vouch for the quality or origins, but the formula and potency is better than average.
- Vin Kutty
I’d expect the pre-formed vitamin A (retinol) found in servings of liquid fish oils — e.g., Cod Liver Oil (4,501 IU / 1 tsp ) and Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon Oil (1,920 IU per 1 tsp) — to be much higher than what might be in OmegaVia (Alaskan Pollock and Whiting, 90% Pharmaceutical Grade Omega-3 content).
Specifically, how much vitamin A (if any) appears in OmegaVia?
Thanks.
(Great blog! Valuable, useful material)
Note: I’d ordered a liquid salmon oil product whose supplement facts give no indication of vitamin A, but grew uncertain after I came across another brand of liquid salmon fish oil that lists 1,440 IU per 3/4 tsp serving, while the USDA nutrient database displays zero vitamin A for Fish Oil, Salmon .
I’m wanting to minimize direct oral intake of pre-formed vitamin A, as per advice of vitamin D expert, John Cannell MD, who says he’d only recommend/prescribe pre-formed vitamin A for patients with problem in converting substrate, beta-carotene, to vitamin A.
[more "vitamin A" searchable here]
Hi Eric – OmegaVia does not have measurable amounts of Vitamin A. The raw material that we start with does have about 1000 IU per gram, but Vitamin A and EPA/DHA boiling points are pretty far off, so Vitamin A does not make it past the distillation stage. Besides, there are several other steps along the way that removes non-Omega-3 ingredients.
I generally try to INCREASE intake of Vitamin A. Unless you know for a fact that you are getting too much Vitamin A and not enough D, trying to cut down on A is not advised.
- Vin Kutty
My husbands doctor has recommended that he take a fish oil supplement to lower his triglycerides. Of course we are doing the comparison game including looking at Dr. Mercola’s Krill Oil. Researching all this led me to your article from 2011. So, since it had been a while, I wasn’t sure if there was new information you could share. Also, through researching, in addition to OmegaVia my husband has found some others that he would like to know your opinion of:
Life Extension, Super Omega-3, Natural Factors Rx (Dr Michael Murray) and OmegaRx by Dr. Barry Sears (this is the one his doctor recommended) is there a discernible difference that would make one of these the better choice and of course how do they stack up to OmegaVia? And are they still the better choice over Dr. Mercola’s Krill Oil. Thanks
Hi Theresa – let me get past the easy part about krill. Krill is slightly better absorbed. But my thoughts on krill have only solidified since 2011. I still think it is over-hyped and over-marketed. If your husband takes 1000 to 2000 mg of krill Omega-3 per day, he will notice a solid reduction in triglycerides. But that means taking a dozen pills a day and that is about 10X more expensive than any of the other options you are considering.
As for the other options, I like them all. But they are all mid-level strength products. That means 60-70% Omega-3 strength. You need 80% + Omega-3 for triglyceride reduction. See this: http://www.omegavia.com/why-pharmaceutical-grade-fish-oil-is-better/
But I still like all of them more than krill oil.
- Vin Kutty
Ugh. The Vitamin D Council website was re-designed, leaving numerous article links “broken”. Here’s some help for finding cited material there, given a date:
As example, to access the following citation…
The Vitamin D Newsletter, February 2010, “Vitamin D, Vitamin A, and Cancer”
(Top menu) Click “News”
(Left menu) Click “Archive”
Scroll down to appropriate Year…For this example…
(Left menu) Click “2003-2010″
Then, it seems easiest to use the index at the right:
PDF Archive
Email Newsletters
Look for month and title…
Feb – Vitamin D, Vitamin A, and Cancer
Hope that helps.
I’m a little confused when we’re looking at omega 3 is it the EPA and dha or omega 3 fatty acids we’re looking at I have dha 300 mg EPA 450 omega 3 750 mg per 1 soft gel Thank you
Hi Anthony – both EPA and DHA are a type of Omega-3 fats. There are a couple of others, but EPA and DHA are the ones that we care about the most due to their health properties. Looks like one of your pill has 450 mg of EPA Omega-3 and also 300 mg DHA Omega-3, for a total Omega-3 content of 750 mg. For the most part, you need to look for total Omega-3, to keep it simple.
- Vin Kutty
Your opinion please on Red Whale krill oil. Taking Red krill with goal of lowering bad cholesterol. Was switched from 6000 units fish oil after 2 years to krill oil 1000 units and 2000 units of fish oil, no particular brand ever mentioned by Dr. Last blood work highest ever. Seeking right mix or singular thing to work. Allergic to statins.
Hi Maureen – I’d pass on this product for several reasons:
1) it is not pure krill oil – it is a blend of krill and fish oil and I have no idea how much of what’s in there
2) the astaxanthin is also not from krill but from algae and I can buy algae astaxanthin for a lot less
3) I cant tell if this product uses NKO or Superba krill oils (the only ones I’m personally comfortable with) and finally
4) you can buy fish oil + krill oil + astaxanthin separately for a lot less than what this product sells for.
I’d go back to your regular fish oil you were already taking, assuming it was high potency stuff and cut back on sugars and grains.
- Vin Kutty
I have read several complaints about leakage of krill oil from their gelcaps, softgel caps, capliques etc. into the container bottles and upon opening, give off a foul smell. What, in your opinion is the best way that krill oil should be encapsulated. Now Food (Neptune) are now making an enteric coated softgel in their 1000mg. I need to have it shipped to Australia. Would enteric coated result in a delay in releasing krill oil contents into the digestive system. What is better for absorbtion – enteric coated or non-enteric coated?
Hi Ron – softgel encapsulation is the best way to do it. Leakage is a problem with ‘caplique’ type products. Enteric coating will not prevent leaking, just burping. We don’t have studies that show whether enteric coated krill oil pills help or not.
- Vin Kutty
Hi,
Thanks for all the great information. I have been taking Schiff Mega Red Extra Strenth Krill Oil for quite some time. After reading your information, I’ve uped my dosage to 4 pills a day. I’m trying to quickly use up my 2 1/2 bottle supply. I’m going to try a different brand and quanity. I’m looking at Piping Rock Red Krill Oil 1000 mg. Here is the ingredient list:
Supplement Facts
Serving Size:1 Quick Release Softgel
Servings Per Container:60
Amount
Per Serving% Daily
Value
(DV)
Calories 10
Calories from Fat 10
Total Fat 1g1%*
Krill Oil 1,000mg†
Phospholipid-Omega-3 Complex 105mg†
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) 50mg†
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) 30mg†
Omega-6 Fatty Acids 20mg†
Astaxanthin 1,000mcg†
Other Ingredients: Gelatin, Vegetable Glycerin, d-Alpha Tocopherol, Retinyl Palmitate.
Directions: For adults, take one (1) to two (2) quick release softgels daily, preferably with a meal.
I’m going to take two pills a day – one in the AM and one in the PM. Do you think that this is a good product? Is my suggested dosage OK or should I change it. Thanks for your help.
Richard
Hi Richard – between Schiff MegaRed and your new brand, I would definitely go with Schiff. MegaRed is an established and safe brand. I have no idea who Piping Rock is. This is not a close call.
4 pills a day is OK. If you want to notice benefits at your next blood test, I’d increase double it to 8 or 10 pills a day.
Thanks for your reply. I’m looking for a way to save some money while still getting all the benifits of Omega-3. Taking 8 to 10 Shiff Mega Red Extra Strength 500 mg pills a day would cost me a tremendious amount of money. Would a good Omega-3 Fish Oil be just as good as Krill Oil? Here is an ingredient list of one that I was looking at:
Supplement Facts
Serving Size:2 Quick Release Softgels
Servings Per Container:120
Amount
Per Serving% Daily
Value
(DV)
Omega 3 Fish Oil
Total Omega 3 Fatty Acids 720 mg
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) 432 mg
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) 288 mg
2400mg*
Other Ingredients: Gelatin, glycerin, purified water, natural lemon oil.
It seems to provide a lot more of the “good” components than Krill Oil with fewer pills per serving. I’m 69 years old living on Social Security, and have knee joint and lower back pain from OA. I’m just trying to save some money, but still get all the benifits that you speak of. What is your advice?
Thanks a lot,
Richard
Hi again,
I think that I answered my own question. I did a Google search on Krill Oil and Fish Oil and found that ALL the sources say that Krill Oill is better. One source, Life Extension, said that adding Astaxanthin 4 mg to doses of Krill Oil can have added benifits. Do you agree? Now that I’ve convinced myself that krill oil is better than fish oil, how much krill oil should I take for OA symptoms? The minimum but still with benifits?
Richard
Hi again,
Do you know of a brand of Krill Oil that contains high amounts of EPA and DHA so that I wouldn’t have to take so many pills as you suggest for Shiff Mega Red Extra Strength? Mega Red Extra Strength 80 capsules costs $26.24 at costco.com which is the cheapest source. I’m so confused, I don’t know what to do. I’m looking to you for advice.
Thanks,
Richard
Hi Richard – krill by definition has very little Omega-3. If you find a special brand that has high levels, then I would guess that it is a blend of fish and krill oil. Since you have OA, my advice is to find a high-EPA fish oil.
Hi Richard – I don’t agree. I explain why here: http://www.omegavia.com/category/krill/ If you can get krill oil for free, then yes, take it as much as you want. Otherwise, fish oil is a much better value. If you must take krill oil, then take MegaRed. 8 to 10 per day. back off down to 4 or 5 pills per day and see if it helps. You’ll have to find the dose that works for your level of inflammation.
Hi Dr. Kutty,
Sorry for so many messages. I’ve searched the internet for the best krill oil supplement and found a product named NutraGold NKO Neptune Krill Oil Gold 1000 mg 60 capsules, serving size 1 capsule per day. Here is the information andthe ingredients:
Krill Oil Gold’s Benefits
NKO Neptune Krill Oil is the only krill oil on the market clinically proven to benefit cardiovascular, cognitive, joint and women’s health. Other krill oils cannot use the benefits associated with the studies as their compositions and extraction procedures are not the same. Moreover, not all krill oils on the market are 100% derived from krill. NKO is a superior Krill Oil with the highest levels of EPA, DHA and Astaxanthin.
Supplement Facts
Serving Size: 1 softgel
Servings per Container: 60
—————————
Ingredient — Amount per Softgel
NKO Neptune Krill Oil — 1,000 mg
Phospholipids — 460 mg
Total Omega 3 — 300 mg
EPA — 150 mg
DHA — 90 mg
Other Omega 3 — 60 mg
Omega 9 — 65 mg
Omega 6 — 12 mg
Astaxanthin — 1.25 mg
As you can see, the amounts of the key ingredients are more and greater than Schiff Mega Red Extra Strength 500 mg capsules two per dose. The cost is only $29.95 for a 60 capsule 2 month supply. That makes it more cost effective than Shiff Mega Red. Have you ever heard of this product? Do you think it would be a good choice for me. I’m looking for relief from OA knee joint a lower bak pain. I deeply appreciate your taking the time to read my messages.
Richard
Hi Richard – yes, this product is definitely a better value than Schiff MegaRed. NKO Krill is good quality, but sadly, NKO facility blew up in an explosion last year and I dont know if they are making more product…
Is the [krill oil] phospholipid-Omega-3 bond chemical or Van de Waal ?
And if it is the latter, would it be expected to re-form if broken by heat ?
Is omegavia oil an ethyl ester derivate ?
and do you consider purified [fish oil] oil superior because DHA/EPA competes against some other component, or because DHA competes against EPA, or..
Hi Junebug – a chemist in our midst, have we? Wow.
It’s not van der waals forces. It’s actual bonds. If you heat krill oil, you will break the bond and then you have something that’s equivalent to really weak fish oil with some phospholipids. That’s why krill oil is purified using solvents like acetone or nail-polish remover (NKO brand) or alcohol (Super brand.) Acetone is easier to evaporate (separate) off the krill solute but has an iffy safety profile. Hard to know level of solvent residue in commercialized product.
OmegaVia is an ethyl ester. More here: http://www.omegavia.com/ee-fish-oil-vs-tg-fish-oil/
I consider purified fish oil superior simply because it has a very high Omega-3 content. Omega-3 content is the #1 thing I look for in a fish oil.
I would like to take fish oil instead of krill oil. I have gained some knowledge about astaxanthin and phospholipids. What dosage would you recommend to take of astaxanthin and phospholipid supplements along with fish oil? I would like to take 3000-4000mg dosage of fish oil. Do I take these supplements the same time I take the fish oil ? Do I take all of these before or after a meal? Those Costco salmon burgers sound good but do I need to take astaxanthin and phospholipids supplements with them?
Hi Betty – astaxanthin is a good antioxidant, but is not necessary. I take it if I think I’m going to be outdoors in the sun, to provide myself an internal sunscreen. If you take it every day or in large doses, you skin can turn slightly orange. Phospholipids are great and necessary, but the best source is egg yolks. You can also take phosphatidylserine or phosphatidylcholine supplements if you wish. Taking these phospholipid supplements with fish oil will not increase the absorption of fish oil. If you do decide to take these supplements, it does not matter if you take it with fish oil or not. Just take all of this with meals – that’s a lot more important. If you’re eating Salmon burgers, you can skip all these supplements for that day, assuming they are wild salmon and not farmed.
Can you please give a list of brands of fish oil (other than OmegaVia) that contain at least 80% omega-3 and can qualify as pharmaceutical grade. THANKS
Hi Betty – here you go: http://www.omegavia.com/favorite-fish-oil-brands-part-2/
Now that I have a better understanding of how DHA/EPA works, and the problems it is supposed to solve, I can see things from Vin Kutty/OmegaVia’s perspective in the Krill versus fish oil question. At http://www.lef.org (who have considerable insight in the disease process), referring to “the raging inferno”, the inflammatory process that cause atherosclerosis, they (and others) emphasize that a minimum of 2400 mg of DHA+EPA daily is needed to make a difference, and that is at a relatively early stage of the disease. That is 2.4 gram of DHA+EPA, not 2.4 gram Krill or fish oil. One gram of Krill oil (2 capsules) gives 65 mg DHA and 140 mg EPA, so it takes some capsules and it gets expensive. I do believe Krill oil (fresh, cold processed, etc.) is superior, so I take as much as I can afford (1 gram DHA+EPA), but I top it up with fish oil.
When I say Krill oil is superior, it is mainly because I think the chance of getting oil that is not rancid is higher – some low cost fish oil brands/batches really are rancid at an early stage of production – but I also want to avoid taking D-alpha-Tocopherol alone. OmegaVia pass my quality requirements, as they use a natural mix of Tocopherols. It would be better if fish oil did not need refinement because it would be on triglyceride form, but that would mean much more oil and more burping since triglycerides do not blend with the water phase in the stomach. All things considered, I see the need for a product such as OmegaVia, and thanks to Vin Kutty for valuable information about Krill oil, which is little better than fish oil if not processed right.
Last I would like to say (..Carthaginem esse delendam), that every time you buy something made in China you support pollution of the environment, sea food (fish) in particular, because China rely heavily on coal for energy, and that creates a steady plume of mercury across the pacific ocean, which is transformed to methylated mercury and accumulated in the food chain.
Thank you, Junebug! Enjoyed your comment.
You mentioned several points and my responses: yes, LifeExtension is a wonderful organization to whom I subscribe. I buy a lot of my supplements from them. The 2.4 grams is a rather random number, but I agree with the sentiment and the recommendation. Glad that you are topping off krill oil with fish oil. Good plan. I don’t agree that chances of getting oil that is not rancid is higher with krill. That’s painting all fish (and krill oil!) with the same brush. Either can be stinky and horrid. It all depends on how the raw material is handled. One of my blogs talks about my opening a krill oil sample in the office and my getting temporarily evicted from the building as a result! Agree on China, but not just from an environmental perspective, but from a quality (from a whats-in-it-for-me) perspective as well.
Hi Richard – yes, you absolutely can get the benefits of Omega-3 from fish oil instead of krill oil. The fish oil you’ve chosen is the lowest potency oil you can buy. If this is in your budget, yes, go for it. But if you can afford something a little more potent, please see if that will work for you. Remember, calories are cheap, nutrition is not. Nutrition keeps you healthy, not calories. You pay for it one way or another. You don’t need to buy something as expensive as OmegaVia, but may be something inbetween your fish oil choice and OmegaVia in potency would be better.
Hi Vin,
Thanks for all your help. To make this thread complete and for the benifit of the other readers of this web site, as per our private communication, here is the better choice fish oil supplement that I’ve decided to take:
DrVita Super Omega-3 EPA & DHA 2000 mg molecularly distilled fish oil providing 1200 mg EPA/DHA omega-3 EFAs – 120 capsules. Price $9.27 plus free shipping.
Supplement Facts:
Serving Size: 2 Capsules
Servings per Container: 60
Amount Per Serving % Daily Value
Calories 20
Calories from Fat 18
Total Fat 2 g 3%**
Cholesterol 0 mg 0%
Monounsaturated Fat 440 mg *
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.24 g *
Purified Fish Oil (molecularly distilled) 2000 mg *
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) 720 mg *
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) 480 mg *
As you can see, 2 capsules are roughly equilivant to just one OmegaVia capsule, totalling 1200 mg Omega-3 Fatty Acids.
I’ll be taking 4 capsules once each day to see if I can get relief from my OA knee joint and lower back pain. So one bottle will be a 30 day supply, and the price is just right for my low budget.
I hope this will help other readers. I’ll keep you posted as to my success with relief from the pain.
Thanks again for all of your helpful advice!
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