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This is a side-by-side comparison of four EPA only nutraceutical supplements and two pharmaceutical drugs: OmegaVia EPA 500, Norwegian Gold EPA 1000 Omega Renew Life, Garden of Life Minami Nutrition Plus EPA Mind Formula, Nordic Naturals EPA Elite, Vascepa, and Lovaza. These nutraceutical supplements and the drug, Vascepa, are what are known in the field as "EPA-only" products.
EPA-ONLY PRUDUCTS: OmegaVia EPA 500 is a new EPA-only product, introduced by Innovix Pharma Inc. in August 2013. Innovix also manufactures OmegaVia Pharma-Grade Fish Oil (see, OmegaVia Pharma-Grade Fish Oil, 1300 mg Enteric Burp-Free Capsule (1105 mg Omega-3/pill) 60 Capsules). The formula for OmegaVia EPA 500 is similar to that of Vascepa, which is manufactured by Amarin Pharma Inc. Vascepa is a prescription pharmaceutical drug. These EPA-only formulations are specially geared for folks with blood lipid issues, skin disorders, mood disorders (e.g., anxiety and depression) and inflammation (e.g., arthritis, colitis, and Crohn's Disease). They are also specially geared towards the reduction of triglycerides levels. There are very few nutraceutical companies that have taken a similar approach. While they don't specifically say it, these EPA-only omega-3 fish oil supplements and the drug, Vascepa, appear to target Lovaza market, offering distinct advantages over Lovaza, such as being non-prescriptive (in the case of the nutraceuticals), much less expensive, and a significantly higher omega-3 fish oil potency. However, these EPA-only products are not ideal for pregnant women and women who are nursing a child because they do not contain DHA.
There are three major components of omega-3: 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. DHA and other omega-3 have been eliminated or significantly reduced in these products.
BREAKDOWN: Here is a breakdown of the important elements of these supplements and drugs.
OmegaVia EPA 500 (See, OmegaVia EPA 500. Pharmaceutical Grade Fish Oil. EPA-Only Formula, Enteric Odorless / Burp-Free, 120 Mini-Gels. 500 mg EPA per Pill.)
Ethyl Esters form
Prescription required: No
Not certified Kosher or Halal
$28.89 for 120 575 mg gel caps on Amazon
$28.89 for 120 575 mg gel caps from OmegaVia
Recommended Serving: 1-4 gel caps
Cost per gel cap = $.24 (using Amazon's cost)
One 575 mg gel cap contains a total of:
EPA = 500 mgs
Other Omega-3 = 0 mgs
Total Omega-3 = 500 mgs
Percentage EPA per gel cap = 87%
Percentage Omega-3 per gel cap = 87%
No soy
No GMOs
No cholesterol
Supercritical Dual-Process CO2 Technology
Mercury free
Enteric coated
Not vegetarian
IFOS Rating = ***** (five stars, top rating)
Phone Number: (800) 270-4010
Manufactured in the U.S.A.
Ingredients: pharmaceutical grade fish oil (from anchovies and sardines), bovine gelatin, glycerin, natural enteric coating, and mixed natural tocopherols
Norwegian Gold EPA 1000 Omega Renew Life (See, Renew Life NG EPA 1000 Omega Fish Gels, 30 Count)
Ethyl Esters form
Prescription required: No
Not certified Kosher or Halal
$32.95 for 30 1200 mg gel caps on Amazon
$35.99 for 30 1200 mg gel caps from Renew Life
Recommended Serving: 1-2 gel caps
Cost per gel cap = $1.10 (using Amazon's cost)
One 1200 mg gel cap contains a total of:
EPA = 1000 mgs
Other Omega-3 = 0 mgs
Total Omega-3 = 1000 mgs
Percentage EPA per gel cap = 83%
Percentage Omega-3 per gel cap = 83%
Lipase = 4 mgs (fat digesting enzyme)
No soy
No GMOs
Contains cholesterol
Molecularly distilled
Mercury free
Enteric coated
Vegetarian
IFOS Rating = ***** (five stars, top rating)
Vitamin D3 = 1000 I.U.
Phone Number: (800) 830-1800
Manufactured in Canada
Ingredients: pharmaceutical grade fish oil (from anchovies and sardines), fish gelatin, glycerin, beeswax, natural caramel color, natural orange flavor, sunflower lecithin, rosemary extract leaf and mixed vitamin E tocopherols & vitamin C (natural flavor protectors), and enteric coating
Garden of Life Minami Nutrition Plus EPA Mind Formula (See, Minami PLUSEPA 60 ct Softgels)
Ethyl Esters form
Prescription required: No
Not Certified Kosher
Certified Halal
$32.99 for 60 mg gel caps on Amazon
Recommended Serving: 1 gel cap
Cost per gel cap = $.55 (using Amazon's cost)
One 793 mg gel cap contains a total of:
EPA = 500 mgs
DHA = 3 mgs
Other Omega-3 = 27 mgs
Total Omega-3 = 530 mgs
Percentage EPA per gel cap = 63%
Percentage Omega-3 per gel cap = 67%
Contains soy
No GMOs
No cholesterol
Supercritical Dual-Process CO2 Technology
Mercury free
Not enteric coated
Not vegetarian
IFOS Rating = Not rated
Phone Number: (866) 465-0051
Manufactured and Encapsulated in Belgium
Ingredients: pharmaceutical grade supercritical deep-sea fish oil (from anchovies, sardines, mackerel, and herring), bovine gelatin, vegetable glycerin, non-GMO mixed tocopherols (antioxidant), and rosemary extract
Nordic Naturals EPA Elite (See, EPA Elite Nordic Naturals 60 Softgel)
Triglycerides form
Prescription required: No
Not certified Kosher or Halal
$42.46 for 60 1000 mg gel caps on Amazon
$49.95 for 60 1000 mg gel caps from Nordic Naturals
Recommended Serving: 2 gel caps
Cost per gel cap = $.71 (using Amazon's cost)
One 1000 mg gel cap contains a total of:
EPA = 800 mgs
Other Omega-3 = 30 mgs
Total Omega-3 = 830 mgs
Percentage EPA per gel cap = 80%
Percentage Omega-3 per gel cap = 83%
No soy
No GMOs
Contains cholesterol
Molecularly distilled
Mercury free
Not enteric coated
Not vegetarian
IFOS Rating = ***** (five stars, top rating)
Phone Number: (800) 662-2544
Encapsulated in the U.S.A.
Ingredients: pharmaceutical grade purified deep sea fish oil (from anchovies and sardines), softgel capsule (gelatin, glycerin, water, natural lemon flavor), d-alpha tocopherol, and rosemary extract (a natural preservative)
Vascepa a prescription drug
Ethyl Esters form
Prescription required: Yes
Not certified Kosher or Halal
$210.00 for 120 1000 mg gel caps (estimated)
Recommended Serving: 4 gel caps
Cost per gel cap = $1.75 (estimated)
One 1000 mg gel cap contains a total of:
EPA = 960 mgs
Other Omega-3 = 0 mgs
Total Omega-3 = 960 mgs
Percentage EPA per gel cap = 96%
Percentage Omega-3 per gel cap = 96%
No soy
No GMOs
No cholesterol
Supercritical Dual-Process CO2 Technology (its proprietary information)
Mercury free
Enteric coated
Not vegetarian
IFOS Rating = Not rated
Phone Number: (855) 827-2372
Manufactured by Amarin
Manufactured in the U.S.A.
Ingredients: pharmaceutical grade fish oil (from anchovies, sardines, mackerel, and herring), icosapent ethyl, tocopherol, gelatin, glycerin, maltitol, sorbitol, and purified water
Lovaza a prescription drug
Ethyl Esters form
Prescription required: Yes
Not certified Kosher or Halal
$260.00 for 120 1000 mg gel caps (estimated)
Recommended Serving: 4 gel caps
Cost per gel cap = $2.17 (estimated)
One 1000 mg gel cap contains a total of:
EPA = 465 mgs
DHA = 375 mgs
Other Omega-3 = 0 mgs
Total Omega-3 = 840 mgs
Percentage EPA per gel cap = 47%
Percentage Omega-3 per gel cap = 84%
Contains soy
GMOs = Unconfirmed
Cholesterol = Unconfirmed
Molecular distillation = Unconfirmed
Mercury = Unconfirmed
Not enteric coated
Not vegetarian
IFOS Rating = Not rated
Phone Number: (888) 825-5249
Manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline
Encapsulated in the U.S.A.
Ingredients: pharmaceutical grade fish oil (source unconfirmed), alpha tocopherol, soy bean oil, gelatin, glycerol, and purified water
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. Norwegian Gold EPA 1000 Omega Renew Life is listed as a five star omega-3 fish oil product, which is the highest rating attainable.
SUPERCRITICAL DUAL-PROCESS CO2 TECHNOLOGY: OmegaVia EPA 500, Garden of Life Minami Nutrition Plus EPA Mind Formula, and Vascepa are not molecularly distilled. They use a proprietary Supercritical Dual-Process CO2 Technology which concentrates omega-3s, yielding unique selectivity of one of the most biologically active omega-3 fatty acids EPA. Using less heat, less repeat processing, and natural carbon dioxide as a solvent, allows these products to reach peak concentrations approximating 100% EPA, omitting superfluous fats and fillers. 400% less heat than molecular distillation is used during the entire process, with no oxygen exposure. Natural CO2 is used as an alternative to organic solvents and protects the final product from oxidation. In my opinion, Supercritical Dual-Process CO2 Technology is superior to molecular distillation.
PRESCRIPTION: Vascepa and Lovaza are prescription drugs. None of the other supplements, which accomplish the same thing, require a prescription.
EPA CONTENT: OmegaVia EPA 500 has an EPA potency of 87%, Norwegian Gold EPA 1000 Omega Renew Life has an EPA potency of 77%, Garden of Life Minami Nutrition Plus EPA Mind Formula has an EPA potency of 63%, Nordic Naturals EPA Elite has an EPA potency of 83%, Vascepa has an EPA potency of 96%, and Lovaza has an EPA potency of 47%.
PRICE: Lovaza and Vascepa are the most expensive of the comparison ($2.17 per gel cap and $1.75 per gel cap, respectively). Of the non-prescriptive drugs, Norwegian Gold EPA 1000 Omega Renew Life is the most expensive of the comparison ($1.10 per gel cap); followed by Nordic Naturals EPA Elite ($.71 per gel cap); followed by Garden of Life Minami Nutrition Plus EPA Mind Formula ($.55 per gel cap); and followed by OmegaVia EPA 500, which is the least expensive of the comparison ($.24 per gel cap). In my view, Norwegian Gold EPA 1000 Omega Renew Life and Nordic Naturals EPA Elite are over-priced.
PILL SIZE: OmegaVia EPA 500 is at the lowest (smallest) end of the comparison (500 mgs); Vascepa, Lovaza, and Nordic Naturals EPA Elite are mid-range in the comparison (1000 mgs); and Norwegian Gold EPA 1000 Omega Renew Life is at the highest (largest) end of the comparison (1200 mgs). In terms of size, all of these gel caps are manageable for most folks.
ENTERIC COATING: OmegaVia EPA 500 has "clear enteric" coating. This is a new, proprietary process that includes the enteric coating inside the gelatin shell. Most regular enteric coatings are sprayed onto the outside of capsules, so they look frosty. This capsule is clear.
OmegaVia EPA 500 and Norwegian Gold EPA 1000 Omega Renew Life are two of the few omega-3 fish oil products that are enteric coated. Enteric coating is used to prevent fish oil capsules from being digested in the stomach, which can cause a "fishy reflux." However, this problem is limited to only low grade, poorly manufactured fish oil products. Highly purified fish oil supplements that are manufactured to maintain freshness do not generally produce this fishy reflux, especially if the product is taken with food as recommended. Further, the only people who experience fishy burps from even high quality fish oil supplements are those with sensitive GI tract issues, for whom enteric coating may provide some relief from fishy burps, but may also interfere with absorption of the key nutrients in the supplement.
There is some evidence that suggests that enteric coating is not required and may actually hinder or impede proper absorption of omega-3 fish oil. In my view, however, this body of evidence is not conclusive.
Bottom line, if you have sensitive GI tract issues and experience fishy burps from omega-3 fish oil supplements, you may want to consider an enteric coated product.
FISHY BURPS/ODOR: I have not noticed any fish burps or odor caused by Norwegian Gold EPA 1000 Omega Renew Life, although I do not have GI tract issues so I'm probably not the best one to judge this aspect.
VITAMIN D3: Norwegian Gold EPA 1000 Omega Renew Life contains 1000 I.U. of Vitamin D3. I don't believe this is terribly significant, as Vitamin D3 can be purchased for very little money, and lots of folks who take it consume more than 1000 I.U. daily. It is my opinion that Vitamin D3 is an unnecessary additive.
LIPASE: Norwegian Gold EPA 1000 Omega Renew Life contains 4 mgs of Lipase, which is a fat digesting enzyme. Most omega-3 fish oil products do not contain Lipase. However, the human body produces more than adequate amounts of Lipase and, therefore, Norwegian Gold EPA 1000 Omega Renew Life's reference to its benefits might be somewhat enthusiastic.
VEGETARIAN: Norwegian Gold EPA 1000 Omega Renew Life is the only one of these products that is vegetarian.
MEALS: Any ethyl esters based and triglycerides based omega-3 fish oils, as well as both of these prescription drugs, are best taken with a meal containing some fat, as they are more efficiently absorbed when taken with food.
THE LOVAZA COMPARISON: Norwegian Gold EPA 1000 Omega Renew Life is not inexpensive for a high grade omega-3 fish oil product. However, by comparison with the popular and well-known FDA approved prescription drug, Lovaza, which is made from omega-3 fish oil, Norwegian Gold EPA 1000 Omega Renew Life is cheap. Each Lovaza 1000 mg capsule has 840 mgs of omega-3 fish oil (465 mgs of EPA and 375 mgs of DHA). Each Norwegian Gold EPA 1000 Omega Renew Life gel cap has 1000 mgs of EPA. Lovaza costs about $260.00 for a bottle of 120 pills, or about $2.17 per pill. Norwegian Gold EPA 1000 Omega Renew Life costs about $33.99 for a bottle of 30 gel caps, or about $1.13 per gel cap. You get more EPA potency per gel cap from Norwegian Gold EPA 1000 Omega Renew Life than you do from Lovaza at a fraction of the cost, and it is non-prescriptive. All of this poses an interesting question for Lovaza users: If Norwegian Gold EPA 1000 Omega Renew Life has more EPA potency than Lovaza per gel cap at a fraction of the cost, why not use it instead of Lovaza? This is a question Lovaza users may want to ask their physicians, pharmacists or nutritionists.
LOVAZA INFORMATION UNCONFIRMED: I called GlaxoSmithKline, Lovaza's parent company, to obtain information about certain aspects of Lovaza's content, specifically about whether the product contained GMOs, cholesterol, or mercury, and whether the product was purified using molecular distillation or Supercritical Dual-Process CO2 technology. I was not able to obtain that information. I was able only to confirm the warning on the company's website that the use of Lovaza can increase LDL bad cholesterol by as much as 45%, and that it contains soy.
OPINION: There are a few things I like about Norwegian Gold EPA 1000 Omega Renew Life. It is IFOS five star rated; it contains no soy; it contains no GMOs; it is mercury free; it is molecularly distilled; it is cholesterol free; and, it is certified Halal. On the other hand, it contains cholesterol; it is not certified Kosher; and, it is very expensive for an omega-3 fish oil supplement.
RATING:
I rated OmegaVia EPA 500 five stars because it is IFOS five star certified; it has a very high EPA potency (87%); it uses Supercritical Dual-Process CO2 Technology; it contains no soy, GMOs, cholesterol, or mercury; it is enteric coated; and it is non-prescriptive. It is the only one of these EPA only products that is inexpensive for an omega-3 fish oil supplement.
I rated Norwegian Gold EPA 1000 Omega Renew Life five stars because it is IFOS five star certified; it has a high EPA potency (83%); it contains no soy, GMOs, or mercury; it is vegetarian; it is enteric coated; and it is non-prescriptive. It is extremely expensive for an omega-3 fish oil supplement.
I rated Garden of Life Minami Nutrition Plus EPA Mind Formula four stars because it is not IFOS certified; its EPA potency is low (63%); it uses Supercritical Dual-Process CO2 Technology; it contains soy but no GMOs, no cholesterol, and no mercury; it is not enteric coated; and it is non-prescriptive. It is moderately expensive for an omega-3 fish oil supplement.
I rated Nordic Naturals EPA Elite five stars because it is IFOS five star certified; it has a high EPA potency (80%); it contains no soy, GMOs, or mercury; and it is non-prescriptive. It is very expensive for an omega-3 fish oil supplement.
I rated Vascepa four stars because it is not IFOS five star certified; it has an extremely high EPA potency (96%); and it contains no soy, GMOs, or mercury. It is prescriptive and extremely expensive when compared with omega-3 fish oil supplements.
I rated Lovaza two stars because it is not IFOS certified; it has a very low EPA potency (47%) and it contains soy. It is prescriptive and extremely expensive when compared with omega-3 fish oil supplements. In addition, in my opinion, the company was evasive and demonstrated a lack of transparency in response to inquiries about the product.
I have separately reviewed all of these products.
Prices current as of 10/05/2013.
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I specifically ordered this brand and product as they were recommended by Brenda Watson. They are a little difficult to swallow due to the size, but seem to be excellent quality and I didn't experience any fishy burps. I am very happy with my purchase.
Buy Renew Life NG EPA 1000 Omega Fish Gels, 30 Count Now
