ismetsocialbrothers Krill oil and fish oil are among the most popular supplements in the world, both as sources of the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. Less well known is that a plant-based alternative delivers the same fatty acids, directly from the original source. Here is the honest comparison.
The problem with krill oil
With an estimated 400 million tonnes in the Antarctic Ocean alone, krill is one of the most abundant species on Earth, and at the same time the foundation of the food chain there: whales, seals and penguins depend on it directly. Over the past decade krill has become a gold mine for the supplement industry, with vessels fishing in the very grounds where these animals feed, bycatch included. More in why krill oil is not a good choice.
And fish oil?
Fish oil is mostly produced from the Peruvian anchovy, one of the most heavily fished species in the world and likewise a keystone of its ecosystem. Whatever the species, open sea fishing always produces bycatch, and fish can accumulate ocean contaminants such as heavy metals, dioxins and PCBs, which must be intensively purified out.
The alternative: straight to the source
Neither fish nor krill produce omega-3 themselves. The fatty acids are made by algae and only enter the animal through the food chain. Algae oil skips that detour: DHA and EPA directly from the source, from microalgae grown on land in closed, sterile tanks, without contact with the ocean and without its contaminants.
| Krill oil | Fish oil | Algae oil (Testa) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DHA and EPA | Yes | Yes | Yes, straight from the source |
| Ecosystem impact | Fishing at the base of the food chain | Overfishing and bycatch | None |
| Ocean contaminants | Possible | Must be purified out | Never get in (grown on land) |
| Phospholipids and astaxanthin | Yes | No | Yes, in Vrill (astaxanthin up to 5x higher) |
| Vegan | No | No | Yes |
FISH-FREE
Equivalent? The claims say yes
The authorised health claims apply to EPA and DHA regardless of the source: at 250 mg daily they contribute to normal heart function, and DHA contributes to the maintenance of normal brain function and normal vision. Absorption is equivalent too, as we explain in the science of absorption. And if you value krill oil’s companions, you will find them in Vrill Omega-3: 280 mg DHA and 150 mg EPA per daily dose, with phospholipids and astaxanthin, entirely without krill.
The source instead of the detour
Testa Omega-3 and Vrill: the same fatty acids as fish and krill oil, without a single animal from the sea.
Good for you. Good for the ocean.
Authorised health claims (EFSA) at a daily intake of 250 mg: EPA and DHA contribute to normal heart function; DHA contributes to the maintenance of normal brain function and normal vision. Bycatch source: Oceana.