Omega-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients your body needs to obtain from food sources because it can’t make them on its own.
The three main types of omega-3 fatty acids are EPA, DHA, and ALA. EPA and DHA are mainly found in fish, while ALA is found in plants. The body converts ALA into EPA and DHA, but the conversion rate varies per person and it can be as low as 1% for some people.
The best way to get omega-3 fatty acids is by eating fish about twice a week. The next best option is taking an omega-3 fish oil supplement.
Fish oil supplements vary in quality and potency. Some low-quality products may contain oxidized fats, heavy metals, and other harmful toxins.
In this post, I’d like to focus on fish oil brands that earn the approval of Reddit users, are reputable elsewhere, and are tested for purity.
Best Omega-3 Fish Oil Supplements to Buy in 2024
The following are some of the best fish oil supplement brands according to Reddit recommendations and my own personal opinion.
1. Sports Research
Sports Research often comes out on top in many Reddit discussions as the best overall omega-3 fish oil brand. It’s a good quality supplement without fishy aftertaste or burps.
Choose the Triple Strength fish oil supplement by Sports Research because this one is third-party tested by IFOS. It regularly passes quality tests for oxidation levels, heavy metals, and label accuracy. It’s sourced from wild-caught Alaska pollock and it’s MSC certified for sustainable sourcing.
2. Viva Naturals
Viva Naturals is also a quality brand that makes high-potency omega-3 fish oil in the triglyceride (re-esterified) form, which is better absorbed than the cheaper ethyl ester form.
Viva Naturals is third-party tested and certified by IFOS and Labdoor. It’s a little more expensive than Sports Research, but still an affordable choice considering the quality of the ingredients, the concentration of EPA and DHA, and the third-party certifications.
3. Nordic Naturals
Nordic Naturals is another top-notch brand of omega-3 fish oil that many Reddit users vouch for. It is pure and fresh and doesn’t have a fishy aftertaste. The softgels come in lemon flavor and have a lemony smell.
On the downside, Nordic Naturals is more expensive than other brands and I’ve seen some rare complaints about quality issues, such as the softgels arriving stuck together and an unusual fishy smell. Both of these issues can be a result of poor storage/shipping conditions, such as exposure to heat.
4. Carlson
Carlson fish oil gets a lot of upvotes on Reddit as well, and it’s one of the IFOS certified brands. They make a few different formulations of omega-3 fish oil in lemon-flavored softgels and liquid form.
The amount of omega-3s per serving varies between their different formulas, with some offering as much as 2000 mg per serving. The price is reasonable for the quality you get.
5. OmegaVia
OmegaVia has the prettiest bottle design (IMO), but it’s more than just a pretty face! It’s a high quality omega-3 supplement with a high dosage of EPA and DHA per capsule.
Their fish oil supplements are manufactured in the USA, but they source the raw fish oil from different countries (Norway, Peru, and Chile). They also make a vegan omega-3 supplement with French algal oil. Both are IFOS certified.
Conclusion: What’s The Best Fish Oil Supplement According to Reddit?
All in all, Sports Research, Viva Naturals, and Carlson are three of the top fish oil supplements that Reddit users trust the most as of 2024. Nordic Naturals is also a top-quality brand Reddit users vouch for, although it’s not IFOS certified like the other three brands.
I personally recommend Sports Research. It has quality ingredients, it doesn’t have a fishy aftertaste, and it’s affordable.
