Dave

From a cost perspective, the more concentrated the DHA/EPA levels, the better the bargain (you won’t have to take as many capsules to get the same health benefits.) In terms of brands — there are a number of brands you can choose from, and they will vary in price - although quality differences are generally overstated.

In general, the differences between fish oils are more marketing hype than reality. While there is a lot of talk about “fish oil purity” (especially from the fish oil manufacturers themselves) studies have found that most major brands contain very few contaminants (PCBs, mercury, etc.) This is the primary concern for most people.

In fact, a study published in the January 2005 “Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine” found that fish oil supplements were safer than eating fish from the perspective of toxic substances.

The study looked at five major fish oil brands (Omega Brite, Kirkland, Natrol Sundown, and CVS) and found that all of them had levels of mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls, and organochlorine [OC] pesticides below the detectable limits. Furthermore, a study of 50 brands of fish oil supplements conducted by ConsumerLab.com found all of them to be free of PCBs, mercury and lead.

Bottom line is that brand and marketing claims are just that. Choose the fish oil supplement with the highest DHA and EPA and go with that. Your local pharmacy, health food store or GNC will have plenty of varieties. There is nothing particularly magical about Norwegian Fish Oil (Indeed, most fish oil will come from cold water regions like Norway, Iceland, and Denmark — the rest comes from Peru and Chile), so go with the brand that is the most cost-effective from a DHA/EPA concentration perspective.

Best of luck and stop by again!

Matt

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