Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega Review: Is This Fish Oil Supplement Right for You?
Nordic Naturals
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You may have heard that foods high in omega-3 essential fatty acids, like salmon and flax seeds, are an important part of a heart-healthy diet. That’s because omega-3 fats provide a host of essential health benefits that include anti-inflammation and prevention against chronic conditions, like heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis. They can also do wonders for brain health and brain development, making these fatty acids important during pregnancy as well. While there’s no hard data on exactly how much omega-3 a person needs daily for optimal wellness, many people still turn to omega-3 supplements for their heart and brain benefits.
These supplements can come in the form of liquid fish oil, gummies and soft gels–and some brands, like the popular Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega, offer fish oil supplements in all three forms. Our Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega Review will dive into the purported “#1 fish oil brand in the USA,” as stated on its packaging, and whether or not this fish oil supplement holds up to its claims. We’ll share the pros and cons of the product, its key ingredients, what you need to know about taking a fish oil supplement and how omega-3 fatty acids affect the body.
This content is meant to be informative, but should not be taken as medical advice. It is not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention or treatment of health problems. Always speak with your doctor before starting any new supplement or exercise regimen.
What Is Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega?
Nordic Naturals
Specs:
- Price: $27.95 to $79.94, depending on form and size
- Flavor: Lemon and tropical fruit
- Type: Liquid, soft gels and gummies
- Calories: 24 (liquid), 20 (soft gels) and 27 (gummies)
- Recommended uses: One-half to one teaspoon daily for liquid; two soft gels daily; two gummies daily
- Doses per container: 24 to 105, depending on form and size
- Key ingredients: Purified deep sea fish oil, natural flavor and rosemary or paprika extract
Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega is a fish oil supplement from the popular Nordic Naturals nutrition brand. It comes in three different forms—liquid fish oil, gummies and soft gels. Both the liquid and soft gels include actual fish oil, whereas the gummies use a fish oil concentrate.
The liquid and soft gels Nordic Naturals Omega-3 supplements have a lemon flavor, while the gummies come in a tropical fruit flavor. In addition to their fruity taste, these flavors serve an important purpose: They help get rid of the fishy taste that omega-3 fish oils are known to have.
As the self-reported “#1 fish oil brand in the USA,” Nordic Naturals promises that its omega-3 supplements can support heart, brain and immune health. Nordic Naturals fish oils are made out of fresh, wild-caught fish from Norway that are sustainably sourced. They’re also non-GMO verified (which means they aren’t genetically modified) and third-party tested for purity and freshness. In addition, the supplements claim to be more than 90 percent triglyceride-form omegas, which is the natural form that fish oil is found in fish. Overall, Nordic Naturals Ultimate omega supplements are made with purified deep sea fish oil from anchovies and sardines. They also use paprika and/or rosemary extract for color or as a natural preservative.
Depending on the supplement form, Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega delivers anywhere from 1,200 to 2,840 milligrams of total omega-3s. These include a mix of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, or EPA and DHA, which are different types of omega-3 fatty acids. For comparison, six ounces of wild salmon includes 1,774 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acids per serving, so each supplement serving is the equivalent of a small-to-large piece of salmon. Although many people can easily get the same amount of omega-3s through food, taking supplements can often be a more attractive choice, especially if you just don’t like fish.
According to Nordic Naturals’ product details, all fish oil supplements are gluten-free and free of milk derivatives, artificial colors and flavors. They also claim to be free of the fishy aftertaste that steers some people clear of wanting to take omega-3 fatty acid supplements in the first place. While the brand stands firmly by its claims of offering a high-quality supplement, its statements haven’t been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, so it’s important to always check with your healthcare provider before starting any supplement, including fish oil.
Currently, Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega soft gels come in five sizes that range from 60 to 210 soft gels per container, which cost anywhere from $27.95 to $79.94. Liquid fish oil comes in two sizes of four fluid ounces and eight fluid ounces, which cost $41.95 and $71.95. Gummies come in one standard size of 54 chews per container and cost $44.95. To help reduce costs, Nordic Naturals also offers a Subscribe & Save option that lets you save 10 percent per order. You can choose to have products shipped in different frequencies that range from every month to every three months.
The Pros of Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega
- Made with fresh and sustainably-sourced wild-caught fish
- Third-party tested for purity and freshness
- Test results available by scanning a QR code on the packaging
- Free of artificial colors and flavors
- Omega-3 gummies are sugar-free
- Subscribe & Save program saves you 10 percent per order
The Cons of Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega
- Gummies can be hard to pop out of packaging
- Soft gels run on the larger side
- Some users still report a fishy aftertaste
Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega Customer Reviews
Overall, Nordic Naturals customers have numerous positive things to say about the Ultimate Omega supplements. Many users claim that they’re easy on the stomach, but that it’s important to take supplements with food, as taking them on an empty stomach can cause burps, a very common side effect of omega-3 fish oils. “I have only had one day when I burped it up, but it was because I took them on an empty stomach,” says one customer reviewer named Anne. Penny, a reviewer from Georgia, echoes the sentiment. It’s “the best fish oil,” she writes. “I’ve tried so many different brands, but could never be consistent because of the aftertaste.”
Some customers also get surprising benefits that weren’t expected. “I have been taking this for years,” says a 61-year-old reviewer named Rosita. “Within days, I felt better in many ways. I was more hydrated inside, could see better, was calmer, my energy was boosted and my overall well-being improved.” Others, like a customer named Nathan, turn to the brand for its reliability. “The simplicity of this product, along with its trustworthiness, has made me a repeat customer,” he writes. Another customer named Rosie agrees. “I’ve been taking them for a long time,” she says. “I would not purchase them from anyone else. Great service and great product.”
Other customers, however, still pick up on the fishy aftertaste, despite the lemon and tropical fruit flavors. “I am tasting it for hours,” writes a reviewer nicknamed Blue. “The lemon flavor was very faint. I dread taking it every day.” Blue also says that the liquid variation of Ultimate Omega tends to be messy and runs down the side of the bottle when pouring it into a spoon. Some customers, like a reviewer named Suzanne, say the soft gel capsules (which are not mini soft gels by any means) are just too big, and have been ineffective for her. “I have not felt any results from taking these two enormous capsules every day,” she writes.
Benefits of Omega-3
Nordic Naturals
Omega-3 fish oil comes with a host of health benefits that make it such a popular option as a supplement of choice. While some fats, like saturated fats, get a bad rap for raising cholesterol and increasing the risk for heart disease, omega-3 fatty acids do quite the opposite. Omega-3 is a type of essential fat that the body can’t create on its own, but must rather get from food. This healthy fat can be found in fish (like salmon and sardines), vegetable oils, nuts (particularly walnuts), flax seeds and flax seed oil, avocados, and leafy vegetables like spinach and broccoli.
Omega-3 arguably has the most positive effect on helping people maintain a healthy heart. Omega-3 fats have the power to lower blood pressure and heart rate, improve blood vessel function and even lower triglycerides, a type of fat in your body that can increase your risk for liver or pancreas problems. Some studies even show that omega-3 can fight symptoms of depression and increase anti-inflammatory properties in the body, which is why some customers may report positive mental health benefits, like decreased anxiety, after taking Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega supplements. In addition, omega-3 fatty acids, especially those that come from marine sources like fish, are essential for brain development and can help support a healthy pregnancy.
Still, the benefits don’t end there. Omega-3 can also be highly helpful for eye health, one of the less-known positive influences that these fatty acids can have on the body. This supplement may reduce risk for dry eye and even inflammation that causes or worsens dry eyes. It can also reduce the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration and other diseases of the eye. Many people choose to take omega-3 supplements alongside vitamin D supplements, since fats in fish oil help increase vitamin D absorption. There is also an ongoing debate about whether or not taking vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acid supplements together can help prevent heart attacks, strokes and certain cancers, but research has been inconclusive so far.
All in all, the many proven health benefits of omega-3 are why so many people turn to fish oil supplements. Nordic Naturals products are a top choice in this category thanks to their minimal ingredient profile, fresh and sustainably-sourced fish, third-party testing and overall reputation as a leading nutrition brand (which we’ll dive more into soon). Plus, if you’re looking to try out a vitamin D and omega-3 combination like we mentioned above, Nordic Naturals offers an Ultimate Omega-D3 soft gels supplement that combines 1,280 milligrams of omega-3 with 1,000 international units of vitamin D3, also made with the brand’s classic lemon flavor. There’s an Ultimate Omega +CoQ10 product as well, which is a two-in-one fish oil that adds in 100 milligrams of CoQ10, a naturally-produced antioxidant with cardiovascular benefits.
Side Effects of Omega-3
While any potential side effects of omega-3 supplements are usually mild, they do happen. One of the most common side effects is burps, which are caused by the digestive breakdown of fish oil. Some people claim that burps signal a bad supplement or low-quality fish oil, but this is hard to prove. Omega-3 supplements may also cause other gastrointestinal symptoms like heartburn, nausea and diarrhea, and they can cause headaches as well. Some people may also get bad breath or an unpleasant taste, especially if their omega-3 supplement isn’t flavored. If you have more serious side effects, however, like a rapid heartbeat or difficulty breathing, it may be a sign that you have a severe allergy to fish oil and should stop taking supplements right away.
Some Reddit threads suggest a connection between taking omega-3 supplements and an increased risk for prostate cancer, but studies haven’t found any data that supports this claim. On the contrary, research suggests that higher intake of fish can actually decrease the risk of prostate-cancer-related death. There are also some people that turn to cod liver oil or krill oil instead of standard omega-3 fish oils. Cod liver oil contains Vitamins A and D, in addition to omega-3s, while some believe that krill oil (also high in omega-3s) is better absorbed by the body. These fish oils can cause similar digestive upset, burps, headaches and heartburn.
The Brand
Nordic Naturals is a nutrition powerhouse from Norway that’s hailed as one of the world’s leading supplement brands. In fact, the company was founded on an issue related to fish oil. When Nordic Naturals’ founder and CEO Joar Opheim, who grew up in the Arctic region of Norway, completed his MBA in California, he realized high-quality cod liver oil was hard to find. Filling this gap inspired Opheim to launch the brand in 1995, and its omega-3 fish oils have been a top-selling product since Nordic Naturals was founded. In addition to its Ultimate Omega line, Nordic Naturals also sells probiotics, multivitamins, collagen and even products for pets.
To help maintain customer trust and stand by their claims of safe, reliable products, Nordic Naturals offers certificates of analysis on its website that show the results of product testing. In fact, product packaging includes a QR code that you can scan with your smartphone to instantly pull up those results (including Ultimate Omega supplements). Each test result guarantees a product free from environmental toxins and contaminants. In addition, Nordic Naturals is a family-owned company free of shareholders, which also helps improve their brand reliability.
Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega FAQs
Here’s everything else there is to know about Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega.
Is Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega fish oil oxidized?
Oxidized fish oil is essentially fish oil that has gone bad, which can happen during bulk oil handling and manufacturing of soft gels. A little more than 10 years ago, Nordic Naturals was called under fire for the purity of its lemon-flavored omega-3 soft gel supplements, which tested positive for elevated levels of compounds that signaled spoilage. Still, Nordic Naturals claimed the results showed a false-positive, and a correction was since issued. According to an FAQ on the brand’s website, the gelatin in the soft gel supplements helps prevent spoilage from occurring. As to whether or not Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega fish oil has ever been oxidized, it’s tough to say for certain. If a fish oil supplement tastes rancid, it’s best to avoid taking it out of caution.
Is Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega FDA-approved?
Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega itself isn’t FDA-approved, but the brand uses FDA-approved porcine gelatin in its omega-3 gummies. However, Nordic Naturals doesn’t pretend to be FDA-approved. The brand states directly on its product packaging that its statements haven’t been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, so it’s best to use your own judgment before purchasing Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega or any other fish oil brand.
Should I refrigerate Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega?
Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega soft gels and gummies don’t need to be refrigerated, since these products are designed to be shelf-stable. The liquid fish oil, on the other hand, should be refrigerated and used within three months of opening, according to the brand’s website.
Is Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega safe for pregnancy?
Omega-3 has proven benefits for brain development, which is important for pregnancy, and Nordic Naturals offers a fish oil supplement designed specifically for pregnant women. Prenatal DHA is a fish oil supplement that contains 830 milligrams of Omega-3 and 400 international units of vitamin D3 per serving. While the original Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega should be safe for pregnancy, pregnant women may want to lean towards Prenatal DHA for additional vitamin D3. Still, it’s always best to check with your doctor before taking a supplement.
The Bottom Line
Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega offers fish oil supplements free from gluten, dairy and artificial colors and flavors. They also come in three forms of liquid, soft gels and gummies. Overall, Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega has overwhelmingly positive reviews, but it’s important to be mindful of past claims against the company for selling oxidized fish oil. Still, we believe Nordic Naturals has done an excellent job at establishing brand trust and reliability. Their website has an extensive FAQs section outlining their product handling process, while each product comes with a QR code on its packaging that you can scan for its product testing results. Plus, Nordic Naturals remains a leader in the nutrition space, and there’s a reason many customers continue to use their products. At the end of the day, we believe these supplements live up to the hype, and although some customers report a fishy taste, most enjoy the lemon and tropical fruit flavors.
Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.
