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I did a lot of research into what good krill oil should comprise and compared different brands based on their nutritional content. What initially attracted me to Everest Nutrition krill oil was the dosages of pure omega-3s per serving. Some other manufacturers include omega-6s which are actually overabundant in our diets and must be balanced with extra omega-3 fats. Here are the important things one needs to look for when choosing a krill oil supplement:
Concentration of omega-3 fatty acids: Everest Nutrition compares favorably with 165mg of EPA and 95mg DHA. Some other brands I looked at were Mercola: 100mg EPA, 55mg DHA, NKO: 150mg EPA, 90mg DHA, and MegaRed: 45mg EPA, 27mg DHA
Phospholipids: These are absolutely crucial and a high quality krill oil supplement should contain 500mg. These are fats naturally found in our bodies, therefore absorption is more effective as the body does not need to put in the extra effort to take up and utilize the essential fatty acids. Thus, you get more benefit from what you take when there is an abundance of phospholipids. Everest Nutrition contains 500mg of phospholipids; Mercola has 400mg, NKO: 400mg, MegaRed does not list phospholipids on their label.
Astaxanthin content: This powerful antioxidant gives krill oil a real advantage over fish oils. It is also expensive so only the very best brands of krill oil will have decent astaxanthin content. Everest Nutrition krill oil has the highest astaxanthin content out of all the krill oil supplements that I researched. Here is how they compare: Everest Nutiriton: 1.6mg, Mercola: 1mg, NKO: 1.5mg, Megared: contains no astaxanthin.
Based on this information, I chose to purchase Everest Nutrition krill oil because of the higher ingredient content as compared to other brands, and I am so glad I did! The difference this krill oil made in my health, well-being, and quality of life is nothing like what I anticipated. It truly surpassed all my expectations and I can confidently recommend it as the best value for krill oil on the market.
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I have researched krill oil on the web quite a bit. One particularly informative site describes the difference between true krill oil and phony krill oil -. Note that this site does not even mention the Everest brand. However, the information presented there corroborates the contents of Everest as being legit. In selecting the krill oil, my emphasis was on the supplement contents and not the capsules. I tried source Naturals NKO and their capsules were a little sloppier than Everest's, but didn't really bother me. However, I switched to Everest because of its higher Astaxanthin content. So far as I can tell, this is the best krill oil for the money. Some have had issues with the capsules, but they are not a problem for me and I don't want to pay extra for fancier pills.
If you are going to choose krill oil based on the capsules then Everest is adequate. If you want to choose a krill oil supplement by its content, then Everest stacks up favorably against any other brand out there.
Everest Nutrition Krill Oil 1250 mg
Omega-3 Fatty Acids 300 mg
Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) 165 mg
Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) 95 mg
Phospholipids 500 mg
Esterified Astaxanthin 1.6 mg
Update 9-19-2013:
Three Comments:
1. I wrote this review about a year about two years ago. Since that time, there have been a number of reviews trumpeting the use of a per-capsule content comparison for krill oil that have been reposted across several Krill brands. This type of analysis is invalid and these well-meaning but misguided reviews should be rejected out of hand. Its fairly obvious that capsule size and shape will vary among manufacturers. There is a reason that supplements list their contents per serving and define what a serving is. Krill oil, like most supplements, is priced by the serving/dosage. Furthermore, the labeled contents applies to one serving of the product. A krill oil comparison based on capsule content is analogous to comparing a liquid supplement based on "spoonful" content. A capsule (like a spoon) is of arbitrary, non-standard size and therefore cannot be used as a basis for comparison. Do not allow your judgement to be clouded by these capsule content reviews. Fair comparisons of price and content can only accurately be done on a per-serving basis. You should only trust "per-serving" based reviews. There is a reason that the FDA requires per-serving (not per-capsule) information be listed on a supplement label.
2. A second fallacy apparent in some reviews is that Krill Oil can be compared side-by-side with Fish Oil and "whoever has the most Omega-3's wins" . This approach is invalid as Krill Oil does not claim to have more Omega-3's than fish oil. The claim of the Krill Oil industry is that that krill oil works as effectively as Omega-3s from fish oil, yet at a much lower dose. Fish Oil versus Krill Oil is not a case of "whoever has the most Omega-3's wins." If you accept the claims of Krill Oil's bioavailability (less is more), then Krill oil is a viable alternative or addition to your supplement regimen.
3. The contents of Viva/Everest Krill oil have been verified by ConsumerLab dot com. To my knowledge, this is the only Krill oil that has been verified by Consumer Lab.
Update 9-23-2013: Consumer Lab issued an updated report on 9/21/2013. Everest/Viva is now one of seven Krill Oil brands verified by CL.
4. Update 9-23-2013: The per-serving price of this product has increased since my original review. While I still regard this as a high quality product, I now use Nutrigold b/c of a better price per serving.*****
This is a side-by-side comparison between ten brands of krill oil: Nutrigold Krill Oil Gold (1000 mgs), Nutrigold Krill Oil Gold (500 mgs), Now Foods Neptune Krill Oil (1000 mgs), Now Foods Neptune Krill Oil (500 mgs), Schiff Mega Red Extra Strength Omega-3 Krill Oil, Schiff MegaRed Omega-3 Krill Oil, Viva Labs Krill Oil, Jarrow Formulas Neptune Krill Oil, Source Naturals NKO Neptune Krill Oil, and Source Naturals Arctic Pure Krill Oil, and a brand of omega-3 fish oil, Nutrigold Triple Strength Omega-3 Gold Fish Oil.
OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS: Omega-3 fatty acids are what make krill oil and fish oil so beneficial. There are three major components of omega-3 fatty acids in these products: EPA (which is good for your heart, circulatory system, lowering triglycerides, depression and mood orientation, and is a powerful anti-inflammatory for soothing joint pains), DHA (which is good for your mental acuity, or if you are pregnant, nursing an infant, or for children), and "other." Other omega-3s, like DPA and SDA, are types of fatty acids which are easily converted to EPA in the body. In most fish oils, the amount of these other fatty acids is low, but in highly concentrated oils, it can be a significant amount. The important components are EPA and DHA.
KRILL OIL VS FISH OIL: Krill oil is an omega-3 nutrient and is an alternative source of omega-3 than fish oil. Some folks prefer krill oil over fish oil because they believe it has increased bioavailability and better absorption than fish oil, and contains the additional nutrients, Astaxanthin and Phospholipids. In fact, this is correct. Krill oil has better bioavailability and absorption than fish oil and contains Astaxanthin and Phospholipids, neither of which are contained in fish oil. However, from the perspective of potency, krill oil contains less omega-3 fatty acids per gel cap than a high grade fish oil gel cap such as Nutrigold Triple Strength Omega-3 Gold Fish Oil. So, in order to obtain the same omega-3 benefits from krill oil that you do from a high grade fish oil, you need to take more krill oil gel caps, despite the fact that krill oil is more bioavailable and better absorbed than fish oil. This translates into additional cost.
ASTAXANTHIN: Astaxanthin is a powerful anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory. It is a red-pink substance found in various seafoods such as salmon, trout, krill, lobster and cooked shrimp. It is responsible for the red color of salmon meat, cooked shellfish and flamingo feathers. It is present in krill oil but not in fish oil.
The presence of astaxanthin in krill oil, combined with other naturally occurring antioxidants in the oil (Vitamins E and A), provides protection against oxidation of the oil, making it stable for a long time. It also protects the body against free radical attacks which can cause aging of the cells. Antioxidants are usually added in fish oil to prevent the oil from oxidizing as they do not have any on their own.
PHOSPHOLIPIDS: Phospholipids facilitate the absorption of omega-3 into your system. It, too, is present in krill oil but not in fish oil. In krill oil, the omega-3 fatty acids are attached to phospholipids whereas the omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil are attached to triglycerides. The phospholipids contribute to better absorption and utilization of the EPA & DHA by the cells, making krill oil more bio-effective than fish oil.
SOURCE OF KRILL OIL AND FISH OIL: Unlike fish oil, which comes primarily from fish such as anchovies, sardines, mackerel, cod, pollock and whiting, krill oil comes from krill, a crustacean that looks somewhat like a small shrimp.
ALERGIC REACTION TO KRILL OIL: Since krill is a crustacean, many folks may have an allergic reaction to krill oil. If you are allergic to shellfish, you need to be aware of this.
BREAKDOWN: Below is a breakdown of these supplements.
Nutrigold Krill Oil Gold (1000 mgs) (See, Nutrigold Krill Gold Neptune Krill Oil (Double Strength NKO), 1000 mg, 60 softgels)
Not certified Kosher or Halal
$28.95 for 60 1000 mg gel caps on Amazon
$29.95 for 60 1000 mg gel caps from Nutrigold
Recommended Serving: one gel cap
Cost per gel cap = $.48 (using Amazon's cost)
One 1000 mg gel cap contains a total of:
EPA = 125 mgs
DHA = 78 mgs
EPA/DHA ratio = 1.5 to 1
Other Omega-3 = 47 mgs
Total Omega-3 = 250 mgs
Percentage Omega-3 per gel cap = 25%
No soy
No GMOs
Contains cholesterol
Mercury free
Not enteric coated
Not vegetarian
Phospholipids = 470 mgs
Astaxanthin = 840 mcgs
IKOS Rating = ***** (five stars, top rating)
Phone Number: (800) 476-3542
Manufactured in the U.S.A.
Ingredients: shellfish (krill), softgel (fish gelatin, vegetable glycerin, and purified water)
Nutrigold Krill Oil Gold (500 mgs) (See, Nutrigold Krill Gold Neptune Krill Oil (Clinically-proven NKO), 500 mg, 120 softgels)
Not certified Kosher or Halal
$29.64 for 120 500 mg gel caps on Amazon
$34.95 for 120 500 mg gel caps from Nutrigold
Recommended Serving: two gel caps
Cost per gel cap = $.25 (using Amazon's cost)
One 500 mg gel cap contains a total of:
EPA = 70 mgs
DHA = 42.5 mgs
EPA/DHA ratio = 1.5 to 1
Other Omega-3 = 27.5 mgs
Total Omega-3 = 140 mgs
Percentage Omega-3 per gel cap = 28%
No soy
No GMOs
Contains cholesterol
Mercury free
Not enteric coated
Not vegetarian
Phospholipids = 240 mgs
Astaxanthin = .68 mgs
IKOS Rating = ***** (five stars, top rating)
Phone Number: (800) 476-3542
Manufactured in the U.S.A.
Ingredients: shellfish (krill), softgel (kosher gelatin, non-GMO vegetable glycerin, purified water)
Now Foods Neptune Krill Oil (1000 mgs) (See, Now Foods Neptune Krill Oil 1000mg Soft-gels, 60-Count)
Not certified Kosher or Halal
$28.95 for 60 1000 mg gel caps on Amazon
Recommended Serving: one gel cap
Cost per gel cap = $.48 (using Amazon's cost)
One 1000 mg gel cap contains a total of:
EPA = 120 mgs
DHA = 70 mgs
EPA/DHA ratio = 1.5 to 1
Other Omega-3 = 40 mgs
Total Omega-3 = 230 mgs
Percentage Omega-3 per gel cap = 23%
No soy
No GMOs
No cholesterol
Mercury free
Enteric coated
Not vegetarian
Phospholipids = 390 mgs
Astaxanthin = .75 mgs
IKOS Rating = Not rated
Phone Number: (888) 669-3663
Manufactured in the U.S.A.
Ingredients: shellfish (krill), softgel capsule (gelatin, glycerin, enteric coating, water) and glycerin
Now Foods Neptune Krill Oil (500 mgs) (See, NOW Foods Neptune Krill Oil 500mg, 120 Softgels,)
Not certified Kosher or Halal
$29.55 for 120 500 mg gel caps on Amazon
Recommended Serving: one gel cap
Cost per gel cap = $.25 (using Amazon's cost)
One 500 mg gel cap contains a total of:
EPA = 70 mgs
DHA = 40 mgs
EPA/DHA ratio = 1.5 to 1
Other Omega-3 = 5 mgs
Total Omega-3 = 115 mgs
Percentage Omega-3 per gel cap = 23%
No soy
No GMOs
No cholesterol
Mercury free
Enteric coated
Not vegetarian
Phospholipids = 195 mgs
Astaxanthin = .50 mgs
IKOS Rating = Not rated
Phone Number: (888) 669-3663
Manufactured in the U.S.A.
Ingredients: shellfish (krill), softgel capsule (gelatin, glycerin, enteric coating, water) and glycerin
Schiff Mega Red Extra Strength Omega-3 Krill Oil (See, Schiff MegaRed Extra Strength Omega-3 Krill Oil 500 mg 80 Softgels)
Not certified Kosher or Halal
$25.38 for 80 500 mg gel caps on Amazon
$23.59 for 80 500 mg gel caps from Costco
Recommended Serving: one gel cap
Cost per gel cap = $.32 (using Amazon's cost)
One 500 mg gel cap contains a total of:
EPA = 64 mgs
DHA = 30 mgs
EPA/DHA ratio = 2 to 1
Other Omega-3 = 21 mgs
Total Omega-3 = 115 mgs
Percentage Omega-3 per gel cap = 23%
No soy
Contains GMOs
Contains cholesterol
Molecularly distilled
Mercury free
Not enteric coated
Not vegetarian
Phospholipids = 167 mgs
Astaxanthin = 25 mcgs (.025 mgs) *
IKOS Rating = Not rated
Phone Number: (800) 526-6251
Manufactured in the U.S.A.
Ingredients: shellfish (krill), gelatin, and glycerin
Schiff MegaRed Omega-3 Krill Oil (See, Schiff MegaRed Omega-3 Krill Oil 300 mg 90 Softgels)
Not certified Kosher or Halal
$22.99 for 90 500 mg gel caps on Amazon
Recommended Serving: one gel cap
Cost per gel cap = $.26 (using Amazon's cost)
One 300 mg gel cap contains a total of:
EPA = 50 mgs
DHA = 24 mgs
EPA/DHA ratio = 2 to 1
Other Omega-3 = 16 mgs
Total Omega-3 = 90 mgs
Percentage Omega-3 per gel cap = 30%
No soy
Contains GMOs
Contains cholesterol
Molecularly distilled
Mercury free
Not enteric coated
Not vegetarian
Phospholipids = 130 mgs
Astaxanthin = None
IKOS Rating = Not rated
Phone Number: (800) 526-6251
Manufactured in the U.S.A.
Ingredients: shellfish (krill), gelatin, glycerin ethyl vanillin, water, and sorbitol
Viva Labs Krill Oil (See, Viva Labs Krill Oil (Formerly Everest Nutrition): 100% Pure Cold Pressed Antarctic Krill Oil Highest Levels of Omega-3s in the Industry, 1250mg/serving, 60 Capliques)
Not certified Kosher or Halal
$25.00 for 60 625 mg capliques on Amazon
$29.95 for 60 625 mg capliques from Everest
Recommended Serving: two capliques
Cost per caplique = $.42 (using Amazon's cost)
One 625 mg caplique contains a total of:
EPA = 82.5 mgs
DHA = 47.5 mgs
EPA/DHA ratio = 2 to 1
Other Omega-3 = 20 mgs
Total Omega-3 = 150 mgs
Percentage Omega-3 per caplique = 24%
No soy
No GMOs
Contains cholesterol
Molecularly distilled
Mercury free
Not enteric coated
Not vegetarian
Phospholipids = 250 mgs
Astaxanthin = .80 mgs
IKOS Rating = Not rated
Phone Number: (800) 290-7831
Manufactured in the U.S.A.
Ingredients: shellfish (krill), hypromeltose and water
Jarrow Formulas Neptune Krill Oil (See, Jarrow Formulas Neptune Krill Oil, 30 Capsules)
Not certified Kosher or Halal
$10.79 for 30 500 mg gel caps from Amazon
Recommended Serving: two gel caps
Cost per gel cap = $.36 (using Amazon's cost)
One 500 mg gel cap contains a total of:
EPA = 57.5 mgs
DHA = 32.5 mgs
EPA/DHA ratio = 2 to 1
Other Omega-3 = 25 mgs
Total Omega-3 = 115 mgs
Percentage Omega-3 per gel cap = 23%
No soy
Contains GMOs
No cholesterol
Mercury free
Not enteric coated
Not vegetarian
Phospholipids = 200 mgs
Astaxanthin = 25 mcgs (.025 mgs)
IKOS Rating = Not rated
Phone Number: (310) 204-6936
Manufactured in the U.S.A.
Ingredients: shellfish (krill), softgel consists of gelatin, glycerin, purified water, maltitol and natural flavor
Source Naturals NKO Neptune Krill Oil (See, Longevity Neptune Krill Oil NKO 500Mg 60 Softgel)
Not certified Kosher or Halal
$20.56 for 120 500 mg gel caps from Amazon
Recommended Serving: two gel caps
Cost per gel cap = $.17
One 500 mg gel cap contains a total of:
EPA = 75 mgs
DHA = 45 mgs
EPA/DHA ratio = 2 to 1
Other Omega-3 = 30 mgs
Total Omega-3 = 150 mgs
Percentage Omega-3 per gel cap = 30%
No soy
No GMOs
Contains cholesterol
Mercury free
Not enteric coated
Not vegetarian
Phospholipids = 190 mgs
Astaxanthin = .75 mgs
IKOS Rating = Not rated
Phone Number: (800) 777-5677
Manufactured in the U.S.A.
Ingredients: shellfish (krill), gelatin, glycerin, purified water, and natural lemon oil
Source Naturals Arctic Pure Krill Oil (See, Source Naturals ArcticPure Krill Oil 500mg, 60 Softgels)
Not certified Kosher or Halal
$17.70 for 120 500 mg gel caps from Amazon
Recommended Serving: two gel caps
Cost per gel cap = $.15
One 500 mg gel cap contains a total of:
EPA = 75 mgs
DHA = 45 mgs
EPA/DHA ratio = 2 to 1
Other Omega-3 = 30 mgs
Total Omega-3 = 150 mgs
Percentage Omega-3 per gel cap =30%
Contains soy
No GMOs
Contains cholesterol
Mercury free
Not enteric coated
Not vegetarian
Phospholipids = 190 mgs
Astaxanthin = .75 mgs
IKOS Rating = Not rated
Phone Number: (800) 777-5677
Manufactured in the U.S.A.
Ingredients: shellfish (krill), medium chain triglycerides, gelatin, glycerin, purified water, natural lemon oil, and d-alpha tocopherol
Nutrigold Triple Strength Fish Oil Omega-3 Gold
Ethyl Esters form
Not certified Kosher or Halal
$34.95 for 180 1250 mg gel caps on Amazon
$34.95 for 180 1250 mg gel caps from Nutrigold
Recommended Serving: 1 gel cap
Cost per gel cap = $.20 (using Amazon's cost)
One 1250 mg gel cap contains a total of:
EPA = 750 mgs
DHA = 250 mgs
EPA/DHA ratio = 3 to 1
Other Omega-3 = 60 mgs
Total Omega-3 = 1060 mgs
Percentage Omega-3 per gel cap = 85%
Soy allergen free
No GMOs
Cholesterol free
Molecularly distilled
Mercury free
Not enteric coated
Not vegetarian
IFOS Rating = ***** (five stars, top rating)
Phone Number: (800) 476-3542
Manufactured in the U.S.A.
Ingredients: pharmaceutical grade purified fish oil, softgel capsule (bovine gelatin, vegetable glycerin, purified water), and natural mixed tocopherols
IKOS: The International Krill Oil Standards Program ("IKOS") is a third-party testing and accreditation program for omega-3 krill oil products. Nutrigold Krill Oil Gold (500 mgs) and Nutrigold Krill Oil Gold (1000 mgs) are listed as five star krill oil products, which is the highest rating attainable, whereas the other krill oil products are not IKOS rated or listed.
While the Viva Labs product page claims that Viva Labs Krill Oil is the "first krill oil to be independently tested and certified by the International Krill Oil Standards (IKOS)", according to the IKOS website, Viva Labs Krill Oil's test results expired on March 31, 2013, which means that it is no longer certified by IKOS. However, the company has advised that it is in the process of becoming re-certified.
IFOS: The International Fish Oil Standards Program ("IFOS") (Google "IFOS consumer reports") is an independent third party omega-3 testing organization that provides batch-specific summaries of a product's IFOS testing results. The reports include a 5-star rating for each product containing greater than 60% concentration of EPA and DHA per gram of fish oil, allowing consumers to compare fish oil products based on their safety, purity and quality. Most of the highly rated omega-3 fish oil products are listed. Nutrigold Triple Strength Fish Oil Omega-3 Gold is listed as a five star omega-3 fish oil product, which is the highest rating attainable.
OMEGA-3 CONTENT: Nutrigold Krill Oil Gold (1000 mgs) contains the most omega-3 per gel cap in this comparison (250 mgs); followed by Now Foods Neptune Krill Oil (1000 mgs) (230 mgs); followed by Viva Labs Krill Oil (150 mgs), Source Naturals NKO Neptune Krill Oil (150 mgs), and Source Naturals Arctic Pure Krill Oil (150 mgs); followed by Nutrigold Krill Oil Gold (500 mgs)(140 mgs); followed by Now Foods Neptune Krill Oil (500 mgs) (115 mgs), Schiff Mega Red Extra Strength Omega-3 Krill Oil (115 mgs), and Jarrow Formulas Neptune Krill Oil (115 mgs); and followed by Schiff MegaRed Omega-3 Krill Oil, which contains the least amount of omega-3 per gel cap in this comparison (90 mgs).
Viva Labs Krill Oil contains less total omega-3 per gel cap than Nutrigold Triple Strength Fish Oil Omega-3 Gold (150 mgs vs 1060 mgs).
GMOs: Now Foods Neptune Krill Oil (1000 mgs), Now Foods Neptune Krill Oil 500 mgs), Nutrigold Krill Oil Gold (1000 mgs), Nutrigold Krill Oil Gold (500 mgs), Viva Labs Krill Oil, Source Naturals NKO Neptune Krill Oil, and Source Naturals Arctic Pure Krill Oil do not contain GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms), whereas Schiff Mega Red Extra Strength Omega-3 Krill Oil, Schiff MegaRed Omega-3 Krill Oil, and Jarrow Formulas Neptune Krill Oil contain GMOs.
SOY: None of these products contain soy, except Source Naturals Arctic Pure Krill Oil.
PHOSPHOLIPIDS: Nutrigold Krill Oil Gold (1000 mgs) contains the most Phospholipids per gel cap in this comparison (470 mgs); followed by Now Foods Krill Oil (1000 mgs)(390 mgs); followed by Viva Labs Krill Oil (250 mgs); followed by Nutrigold Krill Oil Gold (500 mgs)(240 mgs); followed by Jarrow Formulas Neptune Krill Oil (200 mgs); followed by Now Foods Neptune Krill Oil (500 mgs)(195 mgs); followed by Source Naturals NKO Neptune Krill Oil (190 mgs) and Source Naturals Arctic Pure Krill Oil (190 mgs); followed by Schiff Mega Red Extra Strength Omega-3 Krill Oil (167 mgs); and followed by Schiff MegaRed Omega-3 Krill Oil, which contains the least amount of Phospholipids per gel cap in this comparison (130 mgs).
ASTAXANTHIN: Nutrigold Krill Oil Gold (1000 mgs) contains the most Astaxanthin per gel cap in this comparison (.84 mgs); followed by Viva Labs Krill Oil (.80 mgs); followed by Now Foods Krill Oil (1000 mgs)(.75 mgs); followed by Source Naturals NKO Neptune Krill Oil (.75 mgs) and Source Naturals Arctic Pure Krill Oil (.75 mgs); followed by Nutrigold Krill Oil Gold (500 mgs)(.68 mgs); followed by Now Foods Neptune Krill Oil (500 mgs)(.50 mgs); followed by Schiff Mega Red Extra Strength Omega-3 Krill Oil (25 mcgs) and Jarrow Formulas Neptune Krill Oil (25 mcgs); and followed by Schiff MegaRed Omega-3 Krill Oil, which contains the least amount of Astaxanthin per gel cap in this comparison (None).
PRICE: Source Naturals Arctic Pure Krill Oil is the least expensive per gel cap in this comparison ($.15); followed by Source Naturals NKO Neptune Krill Oil ($.17); followed by Nutrigold Krill Oil Gold (500 mgs) ($.24); followed by Now Foods Neptune Krill Oil (500 mgs) ($.25) and Schiff MegaRed Omega-3 Krill Oil ($.25); followed by Schiff Mega Red Extra Strength Omega-3 Krill Oil ($.32); followed by Jarrow Formulas Neptune Krill Oil ($.36); followed by Viva Labs Krill Oil ($.42); followed by Nutrigold Krill Oil Gold (1000 mgs) ($.48); and followed by Now Foods Neptune Krill Oil (1000 mgs), which is the most expensive per gel cap in this comparison ($.49).
Viva Labs Krill Oil costs more per gel cap than Nutrigold Triple Strength Fish Oil Omega-3 Gold ($.42 vs $.20).
POTENTIAL ENCAPSULATION PROBLEM: Krill oil can be difficult to process and encapsulate, resulting in an unpleasant odor. At one time, Nutrigold and Viva Labs experienced some encapsulation problems with their krill oil products, but these problems have, for the most part, been addressed and eliminated. Also, Viva Labs has reduced the caplique size. However, the company claims that the reduction of the size of the capsule did not affect the amount of product in each caplique.
DISTINCTION BETWEEN SOURCE NATURALS NKO NEPTUNE KRILL OIL AND SOURCE NATURALS ARCTIC PURE KRILL OIL: These two products are the same in terms of omega-3 content, cholesterol, Phospholipids content, Astaxanthin content, and price per gel cap. Neither contains GMOs. However, Source Naturals Arctic Pure Krill Oil contains soy and Source Naturals NKO Neptune Krill Oil does not contain soy. The ingredients are also different. Source Naturals Arctic Pure Krill Oil contains shellfish (krill), medium chain triglycerides, gelatin, glycerin, purified water, natural lemon oil, and d-alpha tocopherol, whereas Source Naturals NKO Neptune Krill Oil contains shellfish (krill), gelatin, glycerin, purified water, and natural lemon oil.
OPINION: Viva Labs Krill Oil contains far less EPA and DHA than Nutrigold Triple Strength Fish Oil Omega-3 Gold Fish Oil. I would not recommend Viva Labs Krill Oil, or any other krill oil product for that matter, as a substitute for omega-3 fish oil, regardless of the fact that they contain Phospholipids and Astaxanthin, UNLESS THEY ARE TAKEN IN GREATER QUANTITIES, RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER COST.
Further, in my opinion, the amount of Astaxanthin present in krill oil is extremely small, as you need 4-12 mgs of Astaxanthin daily for it to be really beneficial. Some krill oil brands, like Schiff and Jarrow, contain abysmally small amounts of Astaxanthin, measured in micrograms (not milligrams), which, I believe, is caused by the fact that the Astaxanthin has been processed out of the product or has dissipated over time after a period of shelf life.
RECOMMENDATION: There are a few options, in my view:
1. If you're looking for a product that is very rich in omega-3 fatty acids, Nutrigold Triple Strength Fish Oil Omega-3 Gold Fish Oil would be my choice, since you want to take at least 1000 mgs of omega-3 fatty acids daily. Of course, you could take four to six Viva Labs Krill Oil, Nutrigold Krill Oil Gold (500 mgs), Schiff Mega Red Extra Strength Omega-3 Krill Oil, or Jarrow Formulas Krill Oil gel caps daily, or two to three Nutrigold Krill Oil Gold (1000 mgs) or Now Foods Neptune Krill Oil (1000 mgs) gel caps daily, to make up the difference in the reduced quantity of omega-3 fatty acids in krill oil (allowing for the increased bio-availability of krill oil over fish oil), but that can become very expensive.
2. If you decide to go with Nutrigold Triple Strength Fish Oil Omega-3 Gold Fish Oil, you don't want to forget about Astaxanthin, which is a wonderful nutrient, and Phospholipids. So, you could take an excellent Astaxanthin supplement such as Nutrex BioAstin Hawaiian Astaxanthin, and, if you wish, eat foods such as egg yolks, liver, peanuts, and raw tuna (sashimi) for Phospholipids.
3. Or, you can do as I do. I take one gel cap of Nutrigold Triple Strength Fish Oil Omega-3 Gold Fish Oil, one gel cap of Nutrigold Krill Oil Gold (1000 mgs), one 12 mg gel cap of Astaxanthin, and eat foods such as egg yolks, liver, peanuts, and raw tuna (sashimi) for Phospholipids. This gives me the best of all worlds.
RATING:
I rated I rated Nutrigold Krill Oil Gold (1000 mgs), Nutrigold Krill Oil Gold (500 mgs), Now Foods Neptune Krill Oil (1000 mgs), Now Foods Neptune Krill Oil (500 mgs), Viva Labs Krill Oil, Source Naturals NKO Neptune Krill Oil, and Source Naturals Arctic Pure Krill Oil five stars.
I rated Schiff MegaRed Extra Strength Omega-3 Krill Oil three stars because it contains only 25 mcgs of Astaxanthin, which is an extremely small amount.
I rated Jarrow Formulas Neptune Krill Oil three stars because it contains only 25 mcgs of Astaxanthin, which is an extremely small amount.
I rated Schiff MegaRed Omega-3 Krill Oil two stars, primarily because of its poor quality and because it contains no Astaxanthin.
I rated Nutrigold Triple Strength Fish Oil Omega-3 Gold five stars.
I have separately reviewed all of these products.
* 1000 micrograms (mcg) equal one milligram (mg).
Prices current as of 10/01/2013.False advertising! It actually contains only 625 mg per capsule and is NOT "the highest in the industry" as it claims. This amount per pill is important information but is mentioned only in one obscure place where it can be easily overlooked. All other information in big bold descriptions implies that this is 1,250 mg per capsule (it is NOT) and that it contains 300 mg Omega-3 per capsule (it does NOT). It is 1,250 mg per serving of 2 capsules (that's 625 mg per capsule).
Here's what they SHOW everywhere:
Krill Oil 1,250 mg
Omega-3s 300 mg
EPA 165 mg
DHA 95 mg
Phospholipids 500 mg
Astaxanthin 1.6 mg
Here's what their krill oil ACTUALLY CONTAINS per pill:
Krill Oil 625 mg
Omega-3s 150 mg
EPA 83 mg
DHA 48 mg
Phospholipids 250 mg
Astaxanthin 0.8 mg
Neptune Krill oil 1,000 mg pills actually contain 300 mg Omega-3s per capsule (which is double what these contain at 150 mg per capsule). Neptune Krill oil is truly "the highest in the industry." I am a regular supplement buyer and am very particular about what I buy. I bought Everest thinking I found 1,250 mg pills of Krill Oil that I had never seen before and too complacent to look closely because of the false and misleading statement "highest in the industry." That's a blatant lie.
DISCLAIMER: I came to write this review because Everest offered to donate $10 to charity if I wrote them a positive review for this product. This is a new kind of product review scam! It doesn't pay you but pays somebody else a charity (or at least that's what they "promise" to do). So, even if I wrote a positive review and feel good thinking I am helping contribute $10 to charity, I am fooling myself because these guys will never pay any charity anything and I would never know about it. I won't be able to prove that they didn't pay a charity either because its all based on their bogus "promise" with no proof of anything. I would have given them the benefit of doubt and written them a positive review if I had not realized I got duped by their clever marketing and ended up paying lot more for my Krill oil. At this ridiculous price of $25 per bottle for 60 pills of 625mg each, I would rather pay $18 to charity on my own for every bottle of Krill I buy and still come out on top.
THE MATH:
Spend $32 to buy 1 bottle of Neptune Krill oil 60 capsules of 1,000 mg each (price is about $32 per bottle)
Total Omega-3s you get is: 300 mg * 60 = 18,000 mg
To get the same amount of Omega-3s from Everest krill product, you have to:
Spend $50 to buy 2 bottles of Everest Krill Oil of 60 capsules each (price is $25 per bottle)
Total Omega-3s you get is: 150 mg * 120 pills = 18,000 mg
You can do the same calculations for Phospholipids and Astaxanthin and see that you get roughly DOUBLE the amount per pill when you buy Neptune Krill oil 1000 mg pills versus Everest Krill oil.
BOTTOM LINE:
I lost $18 per bottle by not buying Neptune Krill Oil that's a lot! That is the $18 I can give to charity on my own for EVERY bottle I buy instead of Everest's "promise" of giving $10 to charity only ONE-TIME for giving them a positive review (the $10 that they probably won't donate anyway). Last, but not the least, this is extremely unethical way of marketing a product especially with all kinds of false claims.
QUALITY:
The Everest product comes in a regular capsule whereas NKO comes in softgel capsules. I found them both equally easy to swallow but the Everest krill oil is slightly wet on the outer surface of some capsules because of minor leaks and stinks very bad. Every brand of Krill oil stinks bad but what else can one expect from a seafood product. Neptune has been around lot longer and their product has several patents and has undergone rigorous testing whereas I never heard of Everest before and don't know what kind of testing they have conducted on their product. Regarding how effective Everest Krill oil was, I can't tell because I used only one bottle and its hard to tell from that. Generally, I can tell you that Krill oil works and I have been taking Krill oil for 4 years regularly. The one bottle of the unknown Everest brand I bought, I did finish the entire bottle but will never buy again.To improve my omega-3 to omega-6 balance I purchased a container of fish oil (250 softgels) from a major drug store chain. The softgels were not easy to swallow and before the bottle was half finished, I found the fishy flavor afterwards too much. Next I ordered krill oil that is offered under several different brand names. No fishy burps afterwards but I had to hold my breath when opening the container and popping 2 softgels in my mouth due to the none-too-fresh fish-market smell. Then I ordered Everest krill oil from Amazon.com Everest Nutrition Krill Oil 1250 Mg 60 Softgels. The Everest krill oil eliminated all my annoyances and met my objectives. I already placed my second order and expect to continue indefinitely. The only complaint I have is that the 60-count bottle lasts just over 2 weeks; I wish they were available in a larger, more economical package...perhaps 120 count. BTW, as with all biological products, I refrigerate fish oil or krill oil to maximize freshness.
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