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Fitness

How do I Choose the Best Fish Oil Pills?

By Linda Harris
Updated May 17, 2024
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Fish oil is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acid. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for brain function and normal health and development, and recent research has shown that omega-3 fatty acids might reduce inflammation and lower risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, high cholesterol and arthritis. For people who do not have access to fresh fish or do not like eating fish, fish oil pills can be a good source of the omega-3 fatty acids they need in their diet. There are four basic things to consider when buying fish oil pills: the sources and types of fish oil contained in the pills, how much you need to take, the type of fish oil pills available and the price.

The three active ingredients in fish oil are docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA). These three ingredients can be found in varying amounts, depending largely on the source of the fish oil. If you are looking for the most omega-3 content in your fish oil pills, look for the pill with the highest amount of DHA. The quality of the fish oil pills depends upon the source of the oil and its method of processing. Fish oil that is molecularly distilled is the purest and safest mercury-free fish oil available.

How much to take depends on the reason you are taking a fish oil supplement. The American Heart Association has recommended at least 500 milligrams of EPA and DHA a day for healthy people, about 1,000 milligrams a day for heart disease patients and perhaps double that amount for lowering triglycerides.

The type of pill to take is entirely a personal choice. Fish oil pills are widely available in tablet and softgel form. Tablets generally are less expensive than softgels. Tablets can be hard to swallow and take longer to digest, but they are known to keep their potency in the bottle for a longer period.

Softgels are easier to swallow than tablets and are digested more quickly. Softgels are available with an enteric coating, which lessens the fishy odor and aftertaste sometimes experienced with fish oil pills. The nutrition benefit is the same, no matter which type of pill you finally choose.

Price should not be the only consideration when choosing fish oil pills. The cost of fish oil pills can vary greatly. By taking the time to compare labels and look for high DHA, you can be sure to get the most value for your money.

WiseGEEK is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
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Discussion Comments

By burcidi — On Dec 05, 2013

I use triple strength, deep sea fish oil vitamins. They're more potent, they have more EPA and DHA in them. My supplements have 600-800mg of EPA and DHA per dose whereas a regular fish oil supplement only has around 180mg per dose.

The bottle does cost more, but if you calculate how many regular fish oil capsules you have to take to get the same benefits, it's not that expensive.

By discographer — On Dec 05, 2013

@SarahGen-- I use a molecularly distilled fish oil supplement. This distilling processes separates all the harmful molecules from fish oil like toxins and hard metals. And it's done at low temperatures without heating. I think that it's the best type of fish oil supplement because there is no mercury in these.

But if you get one, make sure that the supplement contains natural vitamins instead of synthetic. Some molecularly distilled fish oil capsules have synthetic vitamin A, vitamin D or E in them. Those are not good.

By SarahGen — On Dec 05, 2013

I saw a type of fish oil capsules at the health store the other day. The label said that the fish oil was molecularly distilled. Is this a good type of fish oil? Has anyone used it?

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