Algae oil vs. fish oil
So you have decided to include more omega-3 fatty acids in your diet. Well done! But then you see two options: algae oil and fish oil. Which should you choose? Both consist of valuable omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, but there are differences. In this blog we tell you all about it.
Where does omega 3 naturally come from?
Omega 3 fatty acids such as EPA and DHA are not produced by fish themselves, but end up in fish through the natural food chain. This chain works as follows:
1. Plant-based phytoplankton (microalgae) produces the first small amounts of omega 3.
2. Animal zooplankton eats these microalgae and therefore contains slightly more EPA and DHA.
3. Small fish eat the plankton and thus build up higher concentrations of omega 3.
4. Larger fish species such as cod, herring and sardines ultimately store the most omega 3 in their fatty tissue.
Good to know:The algae you see in the sea contain hardly any EPA or DHA. It is the fish higher up the food chain that build up these fatty acids step by step in their tissues. That is why fish oil is naturally rich in a good profile of omega fatty acids, including omega 3.
So how does algae oil become an omega 3 source?
Years ago, scientists started selectively cultivating and breeding microalgae. One special species emerged from this: Schizochytrium. This alga can produce large amounts of DHA and sometimes also EPA. That is why virtually all algae oil worldwide is made from this species.
So the algae are not taken from the sea, but cultivated under controlled conditions in stainless steel fermenters. This closed system ensures that the algae are free from contaminants.
Why do people choose algae oil?
- 100% plant-based and suitable for vegetarians and vegans
- No environmental influences
- Neutral taste (just like Arctic Blue fish oil)
- Our algae oil even has the highest concentration of EPA and DHA you can find
- A disadvantage is that most algae oil products (in general) contain little or no EPA
Algae oil is therefore a fully plant-based source of high-quality omega-3 fatty acids DHA (and usually EPA).
How does fish oil become an omega 3 source?
In nature, the build-up of omega 3 does not take place in a fermentation cultivation system, but through a longer food chain:
plant plankton → animal plankton → small fish → larger fish
At each step, the fatty acids are further concentrated and their number expands. That is why a natural (non-concentrated) fish oil naturally contains a full-spectrum omega 3 profile: not only EPA and DHA, but also omega 7, omega 9, omega 11 and a colorful collection of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, exactly as they occur in nature. In total as many as 40 different fatty acids, of which we do not even know all the potentially beneficial effects yet.
This difference is clearly visible in Figure 1. Where algae oil mainly consists of omega-3 fatty acids and saturated fatty acids, and concentrated fish oil is mainly focused on a high concentration of EPA and DHA, natural, non-concentrated (Full Spectrum) fish oil retains the broad fatty acid profile as it is naturally present in fish.
Figure 1: Comparison of fatty acid profiles: full spectrum fish oil, concentrated fish oil & algae oil.
Why choose Arctic Blue fish oil?
- Broad natural fatty acid profile: Our full spectrum fish oil delivers a complete and natural fatty acid profile, with omega-3 fatty acids in their original balance as they naturally occur in fish.
- Pure oil sourced only from Arctic seas, also suitable for children and pregnant women
- Fresh quality, without fishy taste and with the 100% no-burp guarantee.
- Made from fillet trimmings: no fish needs to be caught especially for it
- Always MSC-certified.
With the MSC certification you have the guarantee that it is made from wild fish and that fish stocks and Arctic seas remain healthy. As you can see in Figure 2 below:
Figure 2: Read more here about the sustainability of Arctic Blue fish oil.
Conclusion, what suits you: algae oil or fish oil?
As you can see in the image above, there is a big difference between standard fish oil and MSC-certified fish oil.
Arctic Blue fish oil and algae oil are both high-quality sources of omega-3. Both provide omega-3 DHA and EPA fatty acids. The difference lies mainly in the fatty acid profile and the source (plant-based or fish). Both are sustainably made, fresh (low oxidation) and of the highest quality. Try the product finder on our website to see which product suits you best.
