Algae Oil vs Fish Oil Labels: EPA and DHA per Serving, Total Omega-3, Soft Gels and Source
Algae oil and fish oil supplements print the same kind of Supplement Facts panel, so you can line them up number by number. The differences show up in four places: how the total omega-3 splits into EPA and DHA, how many soft gels make a serving, what the oil and the soft gel shell are made from, and which marks the bottle carries. This guide reads those lines on three products we carry: Nordic Naturals Algae Omega, Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega Lemon and Carlson The Very Finest Fish Oil. We have not tested any of them; every figure comes from the label or the brand.
If you want the general walk-through of a fish oil panel (fish oil amount vs omega-3 amount, triglyceride vs ethyl ester form), our fish oil label guide covers it. This page sticks to what changes when the oil comes from algae.
The three panels side by side
Here are the omega-3 lines as each panel prints them. The Algae Omega figures are from the label image in the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database record; the two fish oils are from their product pages here.
| Line | Algae Omega | Ultimate Omega Lemon | Carlson liquid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serving size | 2 soft gels | 2 soft gels | 1 teaspoon (5 mL) |
| Total omega-3s | 715 mg | 1280 mg | 1600 mg |
| EPA | 195 mg | 650 mg | 800 mg |
| DHA | 390 mg | 450 mg | 500 mg |
| EPA + DHA (by our arithmetic) | 585 mg | 1,100 mg | 1,300 mg |
| Source named on the label | Algal oil (Schizochytrium sp.) | Deep sea fish oil | Norwegian fish oil |
Two things stand out. First, the totals differ a lot per serving, so a per-serving comparison is the fair one, not a front-label headline. Second, the split runs the other way. On the algae label DHA is twice EPA, by our arithmetic, while both fish oils list more EPA than DHA. If you are shopping for a specific EPA or DHA amount, read those two lines rather than the total.
Total omega-3 vs EPA and DHA
The Algae Omega panel puts a small symbol next to “Total Omega-3s” and explains it in a footnote: “Includes EPA, DHA, and Other Omega-3s.” So the 715 mg is more than EPA plus DHA. By our arithmetic, 130 mg of the total is other omega-3s. The fish oil labels work the same way, as our fish oil guide explains, so the rule is the same for both: compare EPA and DHA in mg per serving, and treat the total as the bigger, looser number.
Each omega-3 line carries a dagger in the % Daily Value column with the footnote “Daily Value not established.” That is the format 21 CFR 101.36 sets out for dietary ingredients that have no Daily Value, so a missing percentage is normal on any omega-3 panel.
Soft gel count per serving and per bottle
All three Algae Omega bottle sizes in the label database print the same serving: 2 soft gels. The records cover 60, 90 and 120 soft gel bottles, and the 90 count panel prints 45 servings per container. By our arithmetic that makes about 357 mg of total omega-3s per soft gel, 30 servings in the 60 count and 60 in the 120 count. Ultimate Omega also uses 2 soft gels per serving, at 640 mg of total omega-3s per soft gel by our arithmetic. Carlson is a liquid measured by the teaspoon, so there is no soft gel to count.
The directions match the serving: “Two soft gels daily, with food, or as directed by your health care professional.” When you compare bottles, check whether a front number is per soft gel or per serving. The Algae Omega front label says “715 mg omega-3”, and that is the two soft gel serving.
Source: microalgae vs fish
The ingredient line is where the source is named. The Algae Omega label lists “algal oil (marine algae oil [Schizochytrium sp.])” first, followed by high-oleic sunflower oil, rosemary extract, natural mixed tocopherols (antioxidant) and ascorbyl palmitate. It also says “life’sOmega is a trademark of DSM”, which names the algal oil ingredient’s brand.
The fish oils name fish. Ultimate Omega lists purified deep sea fish oil from anchovies, sardines, mackerel and herring, and the Carlson panel names Norwegian fish oil. If you are trying to avoid fish for diet or allergy reasons, the ingredient line is the line to read, not the word “omega” on the front.
Vegan wording and soft gel material
An algae oil inside a gelatin shell would not be vegan, so read the shell too. The Algae Omega label lists the soft gel capsule as modified cornstarch, glycerin, carrageenan, sorbitol, water and carob color. The front calls them “veggie soft gels”, and the bottle carries a Certified Vegan seal and the word “Vegan”.
Ultimate Omega’s soft gel is fish gelatin from tilapia, per its ingredient list. Carlson has no shell at all. For more products whose brands state vegan status, see our vegan supplements and protein powders list.
Third-party marks as printed
The Algae Omega bottle prints three marks: “3rd Party Purity Tested”, “IGEN Non-GMO Tested” and “Certified Vegan”. The purity mark does not name the lab or the program. One label record (the 120 count) adds the brand’s wording: “Every batch of Nordic Naturals algae oils is tested by a third-party certified lab for environmental toxins, including heavy metals.” The label also says “No gluten, milk derivatives, or artificial colors or flavors.”
The fish oils carry different marks: Friend of the Sea on Ultimate Omega and the IFOS seal on Carlson. Our fish oil label guide and our third-party tested supplements guide explain those programs, so we will not repeat that here.
Claims and cautions on the label
The Algae Omega front label also carries a structure/function claim marked with an asterisk, and the asterisk points to the FDA disclaimer box. We report it as the brand’s claim and do not rate it. The same goes for the line “Superior absorption”, which the label says without naming a study.
The label warning reads: “Consult with your physician before taking this product if you have a known medical condition, are taking medications (including blood thinners), or if you are allergic to iodine.” It also says to store the bottle in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight. The two fish oils are made from fish, a major food allergen. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before you start an omega-3 supplement, especially if you take medicines.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
A quick algae vs fish oil label checklist
- Serving size: how many soft gels, or how many teaspoons?
- EPA and DHA in mg per serving, read separately from the total.
- The ingredient line: algal oil or fish oil, and which species.
- The shell: plant starch or gelatin, and from what.
- Marks: what the bottle prints, and whether it names the program.
- Warnings: medications, iodine, fish allergy.
FAQ
Is algae oil the same as fish oil on the label?
The panel format is the same: total omega-3s, EPA and DHA in mg per serving. The source line and the shell differ. On the labels we read, the algae product lists more DHA than EPA and the fish oils list more EPA than DHA.
Is Nordic Naturals Algae Omega vegan?
The label carries a Certified Vegan seal and lists a soft gel made from modified cornstarch, glycerin, carrageenan, sorbitol, water and carob color.
Why is the algae total lower per serving?
Each label simply prints a different amount per serving: 715 mg for Algae Omega, 1280 mg for Ultimate Omega and 1600 mg for Carlson. Compare EPA and DHA per serving to see the gap line by line.
Where to go next
See the product pages for Nordic Naturals Algae Omega, Ultimate Omega Lemon and Carlson The Very Finest Fish Oil, learn the panel format in our supplement label guide, or browse the vitamins and supplements collection.