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Doctors, Dietitians, and Health Experts all seem to agree that supplementing omega-3 fatty acids from krill is vitally essential to our overall health. Studies have shown omega-3 can offer a vast array of health benefits ranging from joint health to memory and focus.1,2
The popularity has led to hundreds of krill oil supplements flooding the marketplace. While these supplements all promise to deliver benefits, the reality is that many fall short. Some of the most popular brands use ineffective or insufficient doses of krill oil. Many contain impurities, diluted oils, and unwanted fillers.
How To Pick A Good Omega-3 Krill Oil Supplement & Avoid The Junk
With so many options, many of us might still be unclear about what to look for in a quality omega-3 krill oil supplement. To help cut through the clutter, we have compiled months of research about which are the key ingredients that have been shown in studies benefit your joints, heart, and overall cognitive health.
This short guide will help you know what to look for and what to avoid so you can make an informed decision when it comes to your omega-3 needs. We will also list out the top 5 krill oil supplements sold today.
Let’s take a moment to understand precisely how krill oil works to improve your overall health and why it’s essential to add it to your daily routine.
2024’s Top Five Krill Oil Supplements
Our review encompassed 87 different omega-3 supplements, putting each through our rigorous ReviewScout assessment process. To determine 2024’s Top 5 Krill Oil Supplements, we look for predicted effectiveness, supporting studies, safety, pricing, return policy, and overall customer satisfaction.
Pros
- 1,600 mg Clinically Studied Pure Antarctic Krill Oil with 174 mg of EPA & 120 mg of DHA
- 550 mg of Phospholipids
- 2 mg of Astaxanthin
- Non-GMO, Gluten Free, & Antibiotic Free, No artificial ingredients or fillers
- Easy to Swallow Lemon Oil Coated Softgels
- Verified 90-day 100% money-back return policy
Cons
- Often out of stock due to high demand
Why We Chose It
Stonehenge Health’s Dynamic Krill Oil is Review Scout’s top choice. This formula uses a high-quality and clinically studied form of krill oil. We were impressed with the potency of each dose being 1,600 mg of krill oil with 550 mg of phospholipids, 174 mg of EPA, and 120 mg of DHA.
Plus, the bottle contains a QR code that gives the exact location of where the krill oil in it originated in the Antartic Ocean.
In reviewing dozens of krill oil brands, we found that most offer a minimal amount of the powerful antioxidant astaxanthin. Stonehenge Health had the highest amount of astaxanthin we came across with 2 mg, the equivalent of 2,000 mcg.
Krill oil is very susceptible to spoilage and deterioration, which is why, much like fish oil, lower quality products have a foul odor, indicating spoilage. Stonehenge Health’s Dynamic Krill Oil goes through a patented MSO™ Multi-Stage Oil Extraction Process, which ensures the highest quality and stability. This process allows their formula to have the least odor and highest phospholipid, EPA, DHA, and astaxanthin levels of all the products we reviewed.
We were able to verify that Stonehenge Health’s formula does not contain any synthetic fillers or artificial ingredients, is non-GMO, and free of gluten, soy, and preservatives. Stonehenge Health backs its products with a no-questions-asked, 90-day money-back guarantee and is one of the few brands to be endorsed by a board-certified doctor. We also like that they offer customers discounts on bundles. Click on the link below to see their current specials.
*Results are based on user-generated experiences with these products, and individual results may vary. Please refer to the manufacturer’s product website for detailed information.
#2 Captains
Krill Oil
A-
Overall Grade
#2 Captains Krill Oil
- OVERALL RATING 9.0/10
- Predicted Effectiveness 9.2/10
- Ingredient Quality 8.5/10
- Value 9.4/10
- Return Policy 8.9/10
- User Rating 8.9/10
Pros
- 1,000 mg of Antarctic Krill Oil with 155 mg of EPA & 95 mg of DHA
- 440 mg of Phospholipids
- 1.55 mg of Astaxanthin
- Non-GMO, No Gluten, artificial ingredients, or fillers
- 180-day money-back return policy
Cons
- Lower than an optimal amount of krill oil
- Very expensive for generic krill oil
- Lack of information related to manual processing
- User complaints of digestive discomfort
Why We Chose It
Captains Krill Oil is a popular brand that delivers 1,000 mg of generic krill oil and 435 mg of phospholipids. We were happy to see that this krill oil is sourced from the Antarctic Ocean. This product was the most expensive product we reviewed, costing $59.95 for a 30-day supply. This pricing surprised us, considering it has between 15-60% lower amounts of krill oil, EPA, DHA, phospholipids, and astaxanthin than the top-ranked brand on our list. We liked that Captains Krill Oil states that they manually process the krill oil and do not use chemical solvents. However, we could not verify the process and procedures used other than their marketing material, stating they use a manual method. The company does offer a generous 180-day return policy. Some users have complained about an upset stomach from taking the product. Captains Krill Oil formula comes in at a close second to the top-ranked brand on our list.
*Results are based on user-generated experiences with these products, and individual results may vary. Please refer to the manufacturer’s product website for detailed information.
#3 MegaRed Ultra Strength 1000mg Krill Oil
B
Overall Grade
#3 MegaRed Ultra Strength 1000mg Krill Oil
- OVERALL RATING 8.3/10
- Predicted Effectiveness 8.6/10
- Ingredient Quality 8.7/10
- Value 8.4/10
- Return Policy 7.6/10
- User Rating 8.4/10
Pros
- Process to remove salts and impurities
- One easy to swallow soft gel cap
Cons
- Low levels of EPA and DHA
- Only 150 mcg of Astaxanthin
- Limited 30-day return policy plus a restocking fee
Why We Chose It
MegaRed by Schiff is a popular krill oil that stakes its claim of having higher purity based upon its process of removing salts and other impurities. Their Ultra Strength 1000mg is their most potent krill oil formula, but it seems to fall short by only offering 128 mg of EPA, 60 mg of DHA, and 334 mg of phospholipids per serving. This is about half the amount that our top-rated brand provides.
*Results are based on user-generated experiences with these products, and individual results may vary. Please refer to the manufacturer’s product website for detailed information.
#4 NativePath
Antarctic Krill Oil
C+
Overall Grade
#4 NativePath Antarctic Krill Oil
- OVERALL RATING 7.9/10
- Predicted Effectiveness 7.2/10
- Ingredient Quality 7.3/10
- Value 8.9/10
- Return Policy 8.4/10
- User Rating 7.5/10
Pros
- 5000 mg of Antarctic Krill Oil with 30 mg of EPA & 20 mg of DHA
- 95 mg of Phospholipids
- 0.20 mg of Astaxanthin
Cons
- Low potency per serving
- Expensive for only 30 softgels
- Quality concerns regarding missing capsules per bottle
- Limited 90-day money-back return policy
Why We Chose It
NativePath Antarctic Krill Oil contains 500 mg of generic krill oil and 95 mg of phospholipids. We liked that this brand claims that their product is wild-caught and sustainable. However, all krill oil coming from the Antarctic Ocean would be wild-caught and sustainable. Our biggest issue with this formula is that it lacks potency. At only 500 mg per serving, it falls very short of our daily recommended intake of 1,600 mg of pure krill oil. You would need to take three servings of NativePath’s product to come close to one serving offered by the number one rated brand on our list. NativePath provides a 90-day refund period, but that is only for unopened bottles, which is not much of a guarantee if you find that you’re unhappy with the results.
*Results are based on user-generated experiences with these products, and individual results may vary. Please refer to the manufacturer’s product website for detailed information.
#5 OmegaXL by Great Health Works
D+
Overall Grade
#5 OmegaXL by Great Health Works
- OVERALL RATING 6.9/10
- Predicted Effectiveness 6.5/10
- Ingredient Quality 8.2/10
- Value 6.4/10
- Return Policy 6.8/10
- User Rating 6.7/10
Pros
- Patented omega-3 green-lipped mussel
- Contains natural olive oil and vitamin E
Cons
- Require 8 capsules daily to match the amount used in studies
- Triglyceride bound omega-3 has much lower absorption
- Many consumer complaints regarding difficulty canceling the required monthly auto-ship program.
Why We Chose It
Made famous by their paid celebrity endorser, Larry King, Omega XL uses a patented green lipid mussel as its source of omega-3. A dive into the clinical research reveals that a daily serving of Omega XL has 2 capsules, which only contains a meager 32 mg of EPA and 39 mg of DHA. Compare that to the top-rated brand, which has 225 mg of EPA and 135 mg of EPA. The part that makes omega-3 essential is the EPA and DHA fatty acids. You would need to take 7 servings of Omega XL to match the EPA found in any of our top 3 rated brands. Add to the fact that they have many consumer complaints, and a limited return policy puts Omega XL at the bottom of our top 5 list.
*Results are based on user-generated experiences with these products, and individual results may vary. Please refer to the manufacturer’s product website for detailed information.
Citations
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