The best fish oil supplements you can buy right now
Ry on Aug 15th 2025
Specifications
The Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega offer the best combined EPA/DHA dose for your money, packing 1,100mg into a two-capsule serving. The soft gel capsules have a slight lemon flavor (which we quite enjoyed) and no fishy aftertaste.
The capsules are on the larger side, so they're not ideal if you have trouble swallowing, but there is a liquid-only version with 2,470mg of omega-3 available to take alone or mix into your meals.
And if you're worried about how Nordic Naturals sources its oils, the company states it uses only wild-caught sardines and anchovies and its fishing methods are certified by Friends of the Sea for sustainability.
- Mental health
Fish oil supplements contain fat-soluble vitamin D, which has been linked in multiple studies to improved mental health, as seen in the Journal of Clinical Medicine. Additionally, omega-3 intake was linked to a 20% reduction in anxiety when compared to subjects taking a placebo in a randomized controlled trial reported in Brain, Behaviour, and Immunity
- Eye health
Fish oil supplements derived from fish liver (such as cod liver oil) tend to contain significant amounts of vitamin A. This vitamin is essential for eye health, and a deficiency of vitamin A in your diet can lead to night blindness, as seen in a review in Progress in Food & Nutrition Science.
- Reduces inflammation
A review in International Immunology indicates that omega-3 plays an important role in controlling inflammation within the body. Inflammation may not seem like a problem, but chronic inflammation can damage healthy cells and tissues, leading to further complex health issues.
- Heart health
According to a study published in the journal Nutrients, omega-3 can help promote 'good' cholesterol, which can protect your heart and reduce the risk of heart disease.
However, according to a Cochrane review on omega-3, there's not enough evidence to show that taking the nutrient will definitely prevent long-term cardio health issues.
Should you take fish oil or omega-3?
Fish oil supplements contain omega-3, but omega-3 supplements don’t necessarily contain fish oil. There are 3 types of omega-3: DHA and EPA come primarily from fish, while ALA comes primarily from plant sources.
Some brands of omega-3 supplements use a marine algae derivative, which makes them suitable for vegans and vegetarians, who wouldn’t be able to take a fish oil supplement due to their dietary restrictions.
When comparing omega-3 supplements with seafood, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health recommends that eating seafood might be the better option than taking an omega-3 supplement.
This is because you get other nutritional benefits, like protein, minerals, and vitamins. So, eating omega-3 foods is generally preferable to an omega-3 supplement. And the best fish oil supplements offer a more well-rounded range of vitamins then omega-3 capsules alone.
What is fish oil good for?
Fish oil supplements can be helpful in addition to a balanced diet. "Fish oil supplements provide you with omega-3 fatty acids, essential fats we can only get from your diet or capsules,"
"Our bodies don't naturally produce omega-3 fats, but research has found that high doses of omega-3s can reduce levels of triglycerides [a type of fat that can cause heart disease]. Plus, studies have found that fish oil supplements may also relieve symptoms of arthritis."
Research in the journal Nutrients indicates that consuming omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of cognitive decline, dementia, and Alzheimer's, so adding a supplement to your diet may help to boost brain health.
And if you're generally active but want to stave off long-term muscle soreness, "consuming omega-3-rich foods as they can help reduce muscle pain and inflammation in the body,"