Fish Oil Softgels with 1:1 EPA and DHA: How to Read the Label, Take and Store Them

The short answer: Our Fish Oil High Potency Omega-3 softgels provide 800 mg EPA and 800 mg DHA per 2-softgel serving, a 1:1 ratio, from anchovy, sardine and mackerel. Each bottle holds 60 softgels (30 servings) and should be refrigerated after opening. This guide explains how to read a fish oil label, what every ingredient is, and how to take and store the softgels.

What do EPA and DHA on a fish oil label mean?

EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) are the two long-chain omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil. Labels can list "fish oil" or "total omega-3" in big numbers, but the useful figures are EPA and DHA per serving. Ours lists both: 800 mg EPA + 800 mg DHA per 2 softgels, 1,600 mg combined.

What is in each serving?

Other ingredients: bovine gelatin, glycerine, purified water, natural lemon flavor, DeltaGold® tocotrienols, annatto (color), lipase. Contains fish (anchovy, sardine, mackerel). Gluten-free and dairy-free, made in a GMP facility in the USA.

Why anchovy, sardine and mackerel?

These are small, fast-growing fish that sit low in the ocean food chain and are caught in large schools. Their oil is the traditional raw material for fish oil supplements. Our oil is molecularly distilled and filtered before encapsulation, a purification step that concentrates EPA and DHA and removes unwanted compounds from the crude oil.

What do lipase, tocotrienols and lemon flavor do in the bottle?

• Lipase: a naturally occurring enzyme that breaks down fats, added to the formula.
• DeltaGold® tocotrienols: members of the vitamin E family, sourced from annatto, included to keep the oil stable.
• Natural lemon flavor: keeps the taste and aftertaste fresh.
• Annatto: a plant-based color.

How do you compare fish oils fairly?

How should you take and store fish oil softgels?

• Take as directed on the label, with meals.
• Refrigerate after opening and keep the cap tight.
• Fresh fish oil smells mildly of the sea and lemon; a sharp, rancid smell means it is past its best.
• If you take blood thinners or plan surgery, talk with your doctor or pharmacist before use.

Building a daily routine? See our ADK Evail vitamins A, D and K guide.

What are common fish oil buying mistakes?

• Reading "1,000 mg fish oil" as 1,000 mg of omega-3
• Ignoring the serving size
• Storing the opened bottle in a warm cupboard
• Buying a huge bottle you will not finish while it is fresh

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These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.