{
  "dataset": "algal-omega-3-cost-by-brand",
  "title": "Algal Omega-3 Supplements Compared — cost per gram of disclosed EPA+DHA",
  "sourcePage": "https://verifiedsupplementdata.com/algal-omega-3/best-overall/",
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licenseUrl": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "attribution": "Verified Supplement Data (2026), Algal Omega-3 Cost Comparison",
  "dateModified": "2026-07-19",
  "methodology": "All 5 verified products disclose a total EPA+DHA (or, for one product, DHA-alone) mg figure, so cost per gram is computable for every product here — unlike krill oil, where 3 of 6 products disclose nothing. The real disclosure gap in this cluster is one layer deeper: only 1 of 5 products (Nordic Naturals) discloses the individual EPA:DHA split; the other 3 disclose only a combined total, and 1 (Garden of Life Minami) is DHA-only with zero disclosed EPA — a different value proposition, ranked separately, never blended into the combined-EPA+DHA cost comparison. costPerGram = (price / (servings x disclosed EPA+DHA or DHA mg per serving)) x 1000. Algal oil is bioequivalent to fish-derived DHA on the biomarker level (Arterburn 2008, PMID 18589030, algal-DHA capsules vs cooked salmon; Arterburn 2007, PMID 17713804) and lowers triglycerides at high doses comparably to fish oil (Maki 2014, PMID 25123060: -18.9% algal vs -22.9% fish oil, both p<0.001 vs control, not significantly different from each other) — but LDL-C rises alongside the TG benefit in nearly every algal-DHA trial (Bernstein 2012 meta-analysis of 11 RCTs, PMID 22113870: pooled +0.23 mmol/L LDL-C), and no algal-oil product has been tested in a hard cardiovascular-OUTCOME trial (VITAL, ASCEND, REDUCE-IT, and GISSI-Prevenzione all dosed fish-derived EPA/DHA). Verified algal products run $0.71-$2.29/g EPA+DHA, a real premium over concentrated fish oil, reflecting the cost of a verified vegan source rather than a hidden markup. This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA; these products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.",
  "headline": {
    "productsCompared": 5,
    "splitDisclosedCount": 1,
    "splitUndisclosedOrDhaOnlyCount": 4,
    "referenceGramMg": 1000,
    "cheapestPerGramCombinedBrand": "Sports Research",
    "cheapestPerGramCombinedCost": 0.71,
    "highestTotalMgBrand": "Sports Research",
    "highestTotalMg": 630,
    "onlySplitDisclosedBrand": "Nordic Naturals",
    "dhaOnlyBrand": "Garden of Life",
    "generalAdequateIntakeRangeMg": [
      250,
      500
    ],
    "trialTestedTriglycerideDoseMg": {
      "algal": 2400,
      "fishOilComparator": 2000
    },
    "efsaDhaAloneSafeLevelMgPerDay": 1000,
    "note": "Cost per gram is computable for all 5 products. The DHA-only product (Garden of Life Minami) is ranked separately, not blended into the combined-EPA+DHA comparison, since it is a different value proposition. Only 1 of 5 products discloses its EPA:DHA split."
  },
  "columns": [
    "brand",
    "product",
    "slug",
    "form",
    "totalOmega3MgPerServing",
    "epaDhaMgPerServing",
    "servings",
    "price",
    "costPerServing",
    "costPerGram",
    "verdict",
    "splitNote",
    "dhaOnly"
  ],
  "units": {
    "totalOmega3MgPerServing": "mg total omega-3",
    "epaDhaMgPerServing": "mg EPA+DHA (or DHA alone if dhaOnly=true)",
    "price": "USD",
    "costPerServing": "USD/serving",
    "costPerGram": "USD per gram of disclosed EPA+DHA (or DHA alone)"
  },
  "citations": [
    {
      "claim": "600mg DHA/day from algal-oil capsules vs. assayed cooked salmon, 2 weeks: DHA rose ~80% in plasma phospholipids and ~25% in erythrocytes in BOTH groups, statistically equivalent by bioequivalence analysis. Industry-associated (Martek Biosciences).",
      "source": "Arterburn LM, et al. 2008, J Am Diet Assoc",
      "pmid": "18589030"
    },
    {
      "claim": "Two algal DHA oil strains at 200/600/1,000mg DHA/day plus a DHA-fortified food all produced statistically equivalent, linear, dose-dependent plasma/erythrocyte DHA uptake, n=12/group, 28 days. Industry-associated (Martek Biosciences).",
      "source": "Arterburn LM, et al. 2007, Lipids",
      "pmid": "17713804"
    },
    {
      "claim": "Microalgal DHA+EPA oil (2.4g/day, 2.7:1 DHA:EPA) vs fish oil (2.0g/day, 0.7:1 DHA:EPA) vs control, 14 weeks, hypertriglyceridemic adults: TAG fell 18.9% (algal) vs 22.9% (fish oil), both p<0.001 vs control, NOT significantly different from each other. LDL-C rose in both active arms. Industry-associated (DSM Nutritional Products).",
      "source": "Maki KC, et al. 2014, Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids",
      "pmid": "25123060"
    },
    {
      "claim": "Meta-analysis of 11 RCTs (n=485): algal DHA (median 1.68g/day) lowered TG by pooled -0.20 mmol/L, raised HDL-C +0.07 mmol/L AND raised LDL-C +0.23 mmol/L. Academic/Harvard-affiliated, no apparent industry association.",
      "source": "Bernstein AM, et al. 2012, J Nutr",
      "pmid": "22113870"
    },
    {
      "claim": "Vegans' mean omega-3 index was 3.7%, similar to omnivore soldiers eating little fish; a low-baseline subgroup rose from 3.1% to 4.8% on 254mg/day algal EPA+DHA over 4 months — still under the 8% cardiovascular target.",
      "source": "Sarter B, et al. 2015, Clin Nutr",
      "pmid": "24679552"
    },
    {
      "claim": "EFSA retains a safe level of intake of 1g/day for supplemental DHA alone (EPA:DHA ratio <0.3), applicable to all population groups including pregnancy/lactation, explicitly naming algal oils as a covered source.",
      "source": "EFSA NDA Panel 2026, EFSA Journal",
      "pmid": "41542352"
    }
  ],
  "products": [
    {
      "brand": "Sports Research",
      "product": "Vegan Omega-3, 60 Veggie Softgels",
      "slug": "sports-research-vegan-omega-3-630mg",
      "form": "Softgel",
      "totalOmega3MgPerServing": 630,
      "epaDhaMgPerServing": 630,
      "servings": 60,
      "price": 26.95,
      "costPerServing": 0.45,
      "costPerGram": 0.71,
      "verdict": "undisclosed-split",
      "splitNote": "630mg combined EPA+DHA disclosed — the highest disclosed total in this comparison; individual EPA:DHA split not disclosed",
      "dhaOnly": false
    },
    {
      "brand": "DEVA",
      "product": "Vegan Omega-3 DHA-EPA, 500mg",
      "slug": "deva-vegan-omega-3-dha-epa-500mg",
      "form": "Softgel",
      "totalOmega3MgPerServing": 500,
      "epaDhaMgPerServing": 500,
      "servings": 60,
      "price": 31.98,
      "costPerServing": 0.53,
      "costPerGram": 1.07,
      "verdict": "undisclosed-split",
      "splitNote": "500mg combined EPA+DHA disclosed; individual EPA:DHA split not disclosed on the label, brand site, or retailer listings checked",
      "dhaOnly": false
    },
    {
      "brand": "Nordic Naturals",
      "product": "Algae Omega, 90 Softgels",
      "slug": "nordic-naturals-algae-omega-585mg",
      "form": "Softgel",
      "totalOmega3MgPerServing": 715,
      "epaDhaMgPerServing": 585,
      "servings": 45,
      "price": 32.51,
      "costPerServing": 0.72,
      "costPerGram": 1.23,
      "verdict": "disclosed-split",
      "splitNote": "~195mg EPA + ~390mg DHA disclosed (~2:1 DHA:EPA) — the only verified product in this comparison with a disclosed EPA:DHA split",
      "dhaOnly": false
    },
    {
      "brand": "Future Kind",
      "product": "Vegan Omega-3, 60 Softgels",
      "slug": "future-kind-vegan-omega-3-275mg",
      "form": "Softgel",
      "totalOmega3MgPerServing": 275,
      "epaDhaMgPerServing": 275,
      "servings": 60,
      "price": 29.99,
      "costPerServing": 0.5,
      "costPerGram": 1.82,
      "verdict": "undisclosed-split",
      "splitNote": "275mg total omega-3 disclosed (combined EPA+DHA); individual split not disclosed — the lowest total dose per serving in this comparison",
      "dhaOnly": false
    },
    {
      "brand": "Garden of Life",
      "product": "Minami Algae Omega-3, 60 Mini Softgels",
      "slug": "garden-of-life-minami-algae-omega-500mg-dha",
      "form": "Softgel",
      "totalOmega3MgPerServing": 500,
      "epaDhaMgPerServing": 500,
      "servings": 30,
      "price": 34.29,
      "costPerServing": 1.14,
      "costPerGram": 2.29,
      "verdict": "dha-only",
      "splitNote": "500mg DHA per 2-softgel serving; EPA is not disclosed — described by multiple sources as a DHA-focused/DHA-only formula. Most expensive per gram in this comparison.",
      "dhaOnly": true
    }
  ]
}