Someone started making omega 3 supplement out of plankton (instead of fish or krill). Intrigued, our Jack decided to put it to the test and see how it stacked up against ‘regular’ high strength fish oil from a major competitor.
Here’s what happened:
What is it?
An omega 3 softgel supplement made from algae (as oppose to fish oil, which is what they’re usually made of)
Each pill provides 166.8mg of DHA and 83.4mg of EPA
How much does it cost?
£10.79 for 30 capsules, and you’re meant to take one a day
Which is about 36p per capsule
Where is it available?
Biocare.co.uk (and a few other online retailers)
Appeals to:
Health conscious animal flesh abstaining folk: looking for a more complete Omega 3 / EPA / DHA supplement. Because, sadly, Flaxseed oil doesn’t usually cut it. Disclaimer: plankton, as far as I am aware, are tiny little animals, so I’m not sure what the veggie/vegan stance on consuming them is
People who do actually eat fish: and who are particularly (and perhaps irrationally) worried about heavy metal contamination in their omega 3 supplements
In a nutshell:
A genius idea with a lot of promise that doesn’t really deliver and doesn’t really compete on a commercial level (costs too much). Very promising indeed, but it feels like the product has further to go yet.
Why should you care about plankton, I hear you ask?
Good question, dear reader…
In the sea, you can thank plankton for starting off the caloric game of pass the parcel that is, essentially, the marine food web. The end result of the this food web? The seafood that you eat. Or, if we’re thinking in terms of supplements, the fish that makes up most of the omega 3 / cod liver oil supplements that you consume (assuming you’re consuming!)
So yeah, people generally don’t pay much attention to plankton (which, contrary to popular belief, range from the size of a teeny tiny virus all the way up to the size of a large squid). And, asides from coming in all shapes and sizes, they’re also a pretty good source of omega 3 (namely DHA & EPA).
EPA & DHA, as you probably know, are essential fatty acids, which means that your body doesn’t do very well when you try to live without them.
Anyway, in line with my ongoing attempts to…
1. Eat less stuff that used to be an animal (and that had to die so I could consume it)
2. Lessen my environmental impact
I’ve been taking these as an experiment for 2 months.
And I shall now weigh in!
The Good
Vegetarian, vegan (vegetarian society approved) – nothing died, less environmental impact (I think!) – main point here
(even) lower chance of heavy metal contamination than your regular fish derived supplement
The Bad
Quite a lot more expensive than conventional fish oil supplements
Fish burps (yup) – I don’t get these with my normal fish oil supplement
Less EPA DHA per dose
They added sunflower oil :/
Comparison with fish oil
To really review this product properly, it helps to put it in context.
So, what I did compare it with ‘high strength’ fish oil from a major competitor. ‘The competitor’ is my usual fish oil, which I buy in bulk and freeze.
The Competitor
Contains more EPA & DHA: 330mg EPA & 220mg DHA per softgel
Is cheaper: £60 for 900 – about 7p a capsule
Has no added sunflower oil
Does not make the fish burps 😮
As you can see, our nameless competitor is the clear winner here.
The Verdict
Overall, this is such a good idea that, sadly, doesn’t deliver (yet?).
If you are a dyed in the wool vegan or vegetarian I would recommend you check it out as an alternative to flaxseed oil or whatever plant based source of essentially fatty acids you currently take.
However, if you’re not adverse to consuming fish, and you’re seeing results with a good, sustainably sourced fish oil supplement at the moment, then to you I say not yet.