Omega 3 recommendation please

[BettySwallocks]

The world of supplements is a minefield.
I cannot eat oily fish
I need Omega 3 in my system
I've been advised to have a minimum of 500 epa but this is all I know

Looking for help in the world of MN please?

Boots have a vegan Omega 3 supplement, derived from flaxseed oil. I take this (when I remember), as I dislike the fishy aftertaste of fish-based supplements.

Flaxseed oil is NOT a good source of EPA/DHA since it only provides ALA, which the body cannot convert efficiently if at all into EPA/DHA.
You need an algae based supplement for EPA/DHA.

Who advised you (advised you personally) and why do you think you need it?

It was suggested by my GP as I don't eat any oily fish at all. She suggested it my help with joint pain etc

Do you know of a make that might be what I am looking for? Thanks

I have recently started using Just Vitamins (after lots of on line research 🧐!!) - pleased so far - they have a range of omega 3 supplements - though I bought the krill oil ones. I also buy the omega 3 seed mix from H&B and add to my homemade muesli.

Holland & Barrett do a vegan algae-derived omega 3 supplement - www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/together-natural-algae-dha-omega-3-softgels-60010638

@banhmi That product has a lowish content, you want ideally 500 mg of combined EPA/DHA per capsule and then based on your Omega 3 levels you know how many grams (yes grams, so 1 or 2 gr) you need per day. If you take a low dosage supplement you will have to take a lot of capsules with all the added ingredients such as in this case sunflower oil. Good quality Omega 3 supplements are expensive. Try DEVA Vegan 500 mg once you have finished your current ones.

@BettySwallocks if you really want to do it the right way, you should test your omega 3 levels first. The test is not covered by the NHS but your GP can prescribe it. An easier and cheaper way is to use Omegaquant , they send you a home kit, you prick your finger, let a drop fall onto a special paper, send back and they send you a very comprehensive report. On their website, there are also Omega 3 calculator where you put your current levels, your desired levels and it calculates your ideal dosage.
omegaquant.com/omega-3-index-calculator/

Omega Eye is good.

I hope you feel better soon ,OP

Omega 3 is rich contain in sea food items, lots of people are intaking sea foods for increase omega 3 in their body. If you don't want to take omega 3, then you can try to some vitamin's food items.

It would take an awful lot of seaweed to get 500 mg of EPA and I would worry about iodine toxicity.

The typical serving of seaweed is 5gr which will give 40 mg of EPA and will provide 1000 to 3000 ug of iodine which is already the safe limit of iodine per day.

50 gr of seaweed would be 400 mg of EPA (so 100 mg short of the OP's needs) and 10.000 to 30.000 ug iodine.

The OP has stated she cannot eat oily fish. Too bad because it takes just a very small 85 gr of salmon to reach more than 500 mg of EPA.

The only way is supplementing. If the OP cannot tolerate oily fish it also means, she needs to supplement with an algae-based supplement.

I have these ones and they're good

At least I think they are! It's a minefield I agree

Thank you all for your help. Very helpful and food for thought ( not oily fish tho)