December 2005

Comparing fish oil supplements from different manufacturers is often confusing and in some cases nearly impossible. Inconsistencies in labeling and analytical methodologies are partly responsible for the discrepancies in EPA/DHA potency represented on labels. Some products report omega-3 as a percentage of the oil, while others list the milligram weight of the fatty acid compound present. However, because different compounds have different EPA and DHA yields, the actual fatty acid content is overstated in both cases. In an effort to correct this problem, the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), an industry organization, has recently proposed voluntary guidelines for labeling uniformity. In brief, CRN recommends that omega-3 fatty acid products report actual EPA and DHA content as free fatty acid equivalents. Similar to reporting “elemental” content of mineral compounds, expressing the actual weight of EPA and DHA in omega-3 compounds would allow for meaningful comparision by consumers regardless of the product form.

All ProThera fish oil products are labeled according to CRN guidelines by reporting EPA/DHA as free fatty acid equivalents. Since most products on the market still report the higher compound weights, we have provided a comparison chart below to show how the different reporting methods apply to our products.