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The Best Omega-3 Fish Oil Supplements Of 2024
Heart, brain, cholesterol, & joints—learn how omega-3 fish oil can support them all. Find out which fish oil supplements made it to the top of our list.
Advertiser Disclosure
In the world of health supplements, omega-3 fish oil reigns supreme. Its success isn't a mystery either. Nutritional experts and health care professionals have been preaching about omega-3s for decades, and for good reason—it has a ton of health benefits!
Your Top Omega-3 Questions Answered
What are Omega-3s?
Omega-3s are fatty acids found in seafood and plants. These fats are essential nutrients that support important functions in your body like heart health, cognitive function, and more!
Why are Omega-3s good for you?
Supports healthy blood pressure
Encourages cognitive function
Helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels
Omega-3 fatty acids are considered “good fats” that have a ton of health benefits. Adding a fish oil supplement to your daily routine provides essential nutrients, helping to support heart, skin, and brain health.
What do I look for in an Omega-3 supplement?
Contains EPA and DHA
Sourced from smaller, fatty fish
A good omega-3 supplement contains both EPA and DHA, and is sourced from smaller, fatty fish (like anchovies) that contain fewer toxins than their larger counterparts (salmon, cod).
Benefits of Omega-3 Fish Oil
Heart Health
Decades ago, researchers discovered that in communities where fish consumption was high, health flourished. Researchers have since linked this to omega-3 consumption. 1
Additional research suggests that omega-3 can help to maintain healthy cholesterol levels. For example, getting more EPA and DHA—two types of omega-3 fatty acids—has been shown to help with this maintenance. 2, 3
Maintain Healthy Cholesterol
Fish oil is shown to help maintain healthy cholesterol levels that are already within the normal range.
Everyday Oxidative Stress
Omega-3 fatty acids have properties that allow them to help fight against everyday oxidative stress within the body.
Brain Function
One study links higher omega-3 intake to decreased age-related mental decline. 8 Some research shows that people who consume more omega-3s may have a lower risk of developing problems with cognitive function, although research is limited. 9
Joint Support
EPA and DHA found in fish oil supplements are known to help with inflammation associated with exercise exertion, while promoting joint lubrication.
Unfortunately, the market has become inundated with omega-3 fish oils of varying quality and from dubious sources. While it's easy to assume a one-size-fits-all mentality, the truth is that even something as simple as the kind of fish—anchovy, salmon, or cod—can have a dramatic effect on the quality and effectiveness of the ingredients in your supplement.
So, at Smarter Reviews we've analyzed dozens of the top-selling omega-3 fish oil supplements on the market.
Based on our analysis, we put together a simple guide to show you what to look for and what to avoid in a top-notch supplement. Plus, we share our top 5 favorite picks of 2023.
Choosing the Best Omega-3 Supplement For You
Really, it all starts with the fish. Anchovies and other small, fatty fish, lower on the food chain accumulate fewer toxins than larger species like salmon and tend to result in a purer product. But that's just the beginning of the discussion.
The best omega-3 fish oil supplements are always processed and manufactured by reputable companies using naturally-occurring and sustainable sources and tested thoroughly for unnecessary or undesirable contaminants within the ingredients.
Unfortunately, many brands don't live up to these standards, and shoppers don't realize they're buying a substandard product. With that in mind, we listed some common mistakes made when purchasing an omega-3 supplement.
What To Look For In A Quality Fish Oil
EPA and DHA
It's important to check your fish oil's specific EPA and DHA levels. EPA and DHA are the most potent types of omega-3 fatty acids. When it comes to health benefits—heart, brain, immune function, etc.—these two do most of the heavy lifting.
Most experts recommend between 600–1000 mg of EPA and 400-800 mg DHA for healthy adults.
GMP Compliant
Companies that follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) adhere to strict safety and handling protocols to ensure batch-to-batch consistency. Most trusted brands clearly label GMP compliance on their bottle or website.
Lemon Oil
Lemon oil helps neutralize the strong odor that comes from fish oil, the culprit behind the infamous "fish burp." Avoid the fishy aftertaste by finding a product that includes lemon flavoring or lemon oil in its formula.
What Dosage Should I Take?
Higher dosages of omega-3s (EPA and DHA) have better improvements in joint, cardiovascular, and mental health. That means, while a supplement should have a high fish oil dosage, it's important to look for a ratio of DHA and EPA, as well.
For best results, we recommend at least 600 mg of EPA and at least 400 mg of DHA daily for adults.
What to Avoid
As our oceans become more polluted, certain heavy metals are starting to contaminate our fish supply. When larger fish eat other, smaller fish, they accumulate higher levels of contamination. Since small, fatty fish like anchovies and sardines are lower on the marine food chain, they don't contain the following pollutants often found in larger fish like salmon.
Mercury
Experts warn that long-term exposure to this highly reactive metal may cause health concerns.
PCBs
PCBs—or polychlorinated biphenyls—are a group of manufactured organic chemicals. PCBs account for 209 individually chlorinated chemicals. PCBs typically have a higher concentration in fish.
Misleading Labels
"Fish oil" and "omega-3s" are often used interchangeably, however, they're not exactly the same. While all fish oils contain EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids, their exact concentrations vary by product.
For example, a supplement with 1,200 mg of fish oil might seem like a lot, but it tells you nothing about the omega-3 content. Look for products that specifically label the EPA and DHA omega-3 content (~600mg EPA and ~400mg DHA).
Here's a side-by-side comparison of how our products, OmegaWell and Omega-3, stack up against the competition.
Below are the top 5 products to support healthy blood pressure, healthy cholesterol, and cognitive function based on the criteria above.
1. OmegaWell
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Total Ranking
9.6/10
A+
Overall Grade
PROS
- 2000 mg of fish oil per serving
- 800 mg EPA, 600 mg DHA
- Naturally-sourced formula with no fillers
- Natural lemon oil
- Third-party tested and certified by GMP
- 365-day return policy
- Made in the USA with globally sourced ingredients
CONS
- Exclusively sold in the US and Canada
- Only available online
The Bottom Line
OmegaWell by Live Conscious comes in at number 1 on our list thanks to its high-quality, powerhouse formula.
OmegaWell's formula contains 2,000 mg of fish oil per serving, including 800 mg of EPA and 600 mg of DHA. Plus, it's third-party tested, sustainably sourced, and coated in a subtle lemon flavor to prevent "fish burps."
Live Conscious also offers an outstanding 365-day money-back guarantee, which tells us they stand behind their product.
*Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.
Learn More2. Omega-3 Fish Oil
Total Ranking
9.1/10
A-
Overall Grade
PROS
- 2000 mg of fish oil per serving
- 800 mg EPA and 600 mg DHA
- Sustainably sourced
- Third-party tested and G.M.P. certified
- Natural lemon oil
- Made in the USA with globally sourced ingredients
- 365-day, money-back guarantee
CONS
- Sold exclusively online
The Bottom Line
Omega-3 by Essential Elements is another example of a fish oil supplement done right. Each serving is loaded with a large dose of high-quality fish oil, including 1400 mg of EPA and DHA omega-3s. Plus, all ingredients are packed into easy-swallow, lemon-flavored softgels (so no more "fish burps").
Essential Elements' Omega-3 uses sustainably sourced fish oil and is made in the USA with globally sourced ingredients under Good Manufacturing Practices. Likewise, they offer a solid 365-day money-back guarantee!
*Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.
Learn More3. Omega XL
Total Ranking
8.7/10
B+
Overall Grade
PROS
- Made from sustainably farmed mussels
- 90-day return policy
CONS
- Only 300mg of Omega-3s
- Unspecified EPA/DHA amounts
- Conditional money-back guarantee
The Bottom Line
OmegaXL ranks high enough on our list to reach a decent #3 spot, however, it should be noted that OmegaXL is a mussel-sourced omega-3 product. It contains a 300 mg proprietary blend and the amounts of EPA and DHA contained are oddly not specified.
Smarter Shoppers found that the product offered only 40 mg of "fish" oil, which is far too low to be ultimately effective. It is also not derived from the highest-quality fish oil sources available. There were many negative reviews on Amazon to see. They do offer a 90-day money-back guarantee, albeit a very conditional one that does not include shipping cost.
*Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.
Learn More4. Omega-3 Fish Oil
Total Ranking
8.4/10
B
Overall Grade
PROS
- 690 mg EPA
- GMP Compliant
CONS
- Only 260 mg DHA
- Fishy burps
The Bottom Line
Omega-3 Fish Oil by Sports Research is a solid choice for #4 fish oil supplement, even though there were some obvious drawbacks.
Smarter Shoppers loved that there was a high concentration of EPA but did notice it has a lower dose of DHA than some of the other options on this list.
Sports Research gets some points for being GMP compliant and third-party tested.
However, some reviewers mentioned the pills were too large to swallow and were sometimes left with fishy burps.
*Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.
Learn More5. Ultimate Omega
Total Ranking
8.2/10
B-
Overall Grade
PROS
- Well-known brand name
- 650 mg EPA and 450 mg DHA
- Third-party tested
- Sustainably sourced
- Lemon flavoring
CONS
- Contains unnecessary additives/ingredients
- Only 30-day return policy
The Bottom Line
With its time-tested formula, Nordic Naturals' Ultimate Omega complex felt like a #5 on our list. Each serving contains 650 mg of EPA and 450 mg of DHA omega-3s.
Their formula is also non-GMO, sustainably sourced, and third-party tested for purity and potency. There's a lot to like about this formula, unfortunately, it also includes some unnecessary additives like gelatin and glycerin-based capsules.
Additionally, Nordic Naturals' 30-day return policy fell short of our expectations, especially compared with our other choices.
*Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.
Learn MoreDisclaimer:
Smarter Reviews is owned and operated by the same company that owns certain products featured on this website, including the products ranked number one.
In addition, we receive compensation from certain companies whose products are featured on this website when you purchase a product using the links on this website.
Go back to pageOur Main Sources
Sources used for research purposes. Smarter-Reviews.com are not officially affiliated with these sites.
What You Will Learn:
Estimated Read Time 5 Minutes
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- https://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/FFA_summary_rec_conclusion.pdf?ua=1
