NOW Omega-3 Molecularly Distilled review
EPA and DHA itemised, fish species and countries named, and about 40 cents per gram of omega-3. The front says 1,000 mg of fish oil, the label’s own directions give you 1,200 mg of EPA and DHA a day, and a 200-softgel bottle lasts 50 days, not 100.
Our take: a straightforward fish oil that gets the important numbers right
Fish oil is a category where it is easy to hide the one number that matters. This product mostly does not. The Supplement Facts panel gives EPA and DHA as separate lines, 360 mg and 240 mg per two-softgel serving, rather than merging them into one "omega-3" figure or leaving them out. The fish are named (anchovies, sardines and tuna), the countries of origin are named, the softgel is bovine gelatin and says so, and the manufacturer states that a 2022 industry test found the product met its quality limits. For a bottle that costs about 12 cents a softgel, that is a lot of disclosure.
Three things keep it at 6.4 rather than higher. The front leads with "1,000 mg per softgel", which is the weight of the oil, not the omega-3. The directions say to take two softgels twice daily, so the "100 servings" in a 200-count bottle are 50 days of use. And the claim on the front, "Cardiovascular Support", rests on evidence that the FDA itself calls "supportive but not conclusive". The large trials since have not made it more conclusive.
If you have a reason to take EPA and DHA, such as eating little oily fish or following a clinician's advice, this is an honest and inexpensive way to do it. If you are taking it because fish oil is supposed to be good for your heart, the evidence is thinner than the shelf suggests.
This is a desk review of a published label and the research behind the ingredients. Nobody here has taken this product, and we have not had it tested.
What is in the softgel, and what the label tells you
A serving is two softgels, containing 2,000 mg of fish oil concentrate, which provides 360 mg of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and 240 mg of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). The serving also carries 2 g of total fat and 20 calories. The other ingredients are the softgel itself (bovine gelatin described as BSE-free, glycerin and water) and d-alpha tocopherol from sunflower. That is vitamin E, added to protect the oil from oxidising.
The label states the fish are anchovies, sardines and tuna, and that the oil comes from Peru, Morocco, Mauritius and Malaysia. Few fish oil labels say that much about origin. The product is marked non-GMO, halal and keto-friendly, and made without dairy, eggs, gluten or soy. Because the softgel is bovine gelatin, it is not suitable for vegetarians, and because it is fish oil it is not suitable for anyone with a fish allergy.
It comes in four sizes: 30 softgels for $5.99, 100 for $12.99, 200 for $23.99 and 500 for $49.99.
Three numbers, and which one to use
A fish oil label gives you at least three figures, and they answer different questions.
1,000 mg per softgel is the weight of oil in the capsule. It is the figure on the front of the bottle and the least useful one for comparing products.
600 mg of EPA plus DHA per serving is the active content of two softgels. Only about 30 per cent of the oil's weight is EPA and DHA. The rest is other fatty acids that come along with the concentrate. This is the number to compare across brands, and the Amazon listing's title, "180 EPA / 120 DHA" per softgel, shows it more usefully than the manufacturer's own front label.
1,200 mg of EPA plus DHA per day is what you get if you follow the directions, which say "Take 2 softgels twice daily with food". That is four softgels a day: 720 mg of EPA and 480 mg of DHA. This is the number that decides both the cost and the safety discussion below.
What it actually costs
At $23.99 for 200 softgels, each softgel costs 12 cents and each gram of EPA plus DHA costs about 40 cents. The 500-count bottle brings that down to about 33 cents a gram. The 30-count bottle is the worst value at 20 cents a softgel.
What that means per day depends on how much you take:
- One serving (two softgels, 600 mg): 24 cents a day, and the 200-count bottle lasts 100 days.
- The label's full directions (four softgels, 1,200 mg): 48 cents a day, and the bottle lasts 50 days.
Either way, this is inexpensive for what it delivers. The "100 servings" on the size table is accurate, but it counts servings, not days, and the directions call for two servings a day.
The evidence behind "Cardiovascular Support"
NOW supports the front-label claim with the FDA's qualified health claim, printed on the product page: "Supportive but not conclusive research shows that consumption of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease." The FDA allows that wording because the evidence is not strong enough for an unqualified claim. It is worth reading the claim that way, not as an endorsement.
What the large trials found
The most useful single trial for a product like this is VITAL. It gave 25,871 healthy US adults aged 50 and over either 840 mg a day of EPA plus DHA or a placebo, for a median of 5.3 years. The primary result was null: no significant reduction in major cardiovascular events (heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular death combined). Secondary analyses reported a 28 per cent lower risk of heart attack, and the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements summarises that finding. Secondary endpoints in a trial whose main question came back negative generate hypotheses rather than settle them.
The 2020 Cochrane review pooled 86 trials and more than 162,000 people. It found that increasing EPA and DHA makes little or no difference to all-cause mortality or cardiovascular death. It reduces triglycerides, and may slightly reduce some cardiovascular events. That is the fairest one-sentence summary of the field: a real effect on blood fats and a small, uncertain effect on outcomes.
Blood pressure
In 2019 the FDA allowed a second qualified claim, that EPA and DHA "may help lower blood pressure" and reduce the risk of hypertension, while saying the evidence is "inconsistent and inconclusive". The claim requires at least 0.8 g of EPA plus DHA per serving. One serving of this product is 0.6 g, so NOW does not make the claim, which is correct. Four softgels a day would exceed the threshold.
What it is good for
EPA and DHA are real nutrients, and most people who eat little oily fish get very little of them. A supplement is a reasonable way to fill that gap. What the evidence does not support is the idea that fish oil is a general-purpose heart, brain or joint product for people who are already well. Our omega-3 evidence page grades those claims one by one.
Molecular distillation and purity: what the label does and does not show
"Molecularly distilled" describes a processing step that concentrates the oil and strips out contaminants such as mercury, PCBs and dioxins. The product page says the oil "is tested for potentially harmful levels of contaminants such as PCBs, dioxins, mercury and other heavy metals". Given that tuna is one of the three named source fish, that testing matters.
The page also reports that the Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s (GOED) bought the product at random in its 2022 testing programme and found it compliant with GOED's voluntary quality monograph, which sets limits on oxidation and contaminants. That is an independent check by an industry body, and it is more than many brands publish. It covers one test in one year, though, not an ongoing certificate for the bottle you receive. NOW does not publish batch-level results beside the product. We have scored it as not third-party tested in the ongoing sense this site uses, and we will change that if a current programme is shown.
One thing the label does not say is the chemical form of the oil: ethyl ester or triglyceride. Concentrates are often ethyl esters. Some studies suggest these are absorbed less well when taken without a fatty meal, and the directions to take the softgels "with food" address that. It is a minor point, but on a label this detailed, it is the one gap.
Safety: the label's full dose crosses a threshold worth knowing about
For most adults, fish oil is well tolerated. The common side effects are fishy burps, an aftertaste and mild digestive upset, and taking it with meals helps. The FDA considers up to 5 g a day of EPA plus DHA from supplements acceptable, and this product's full dose is a quarter of that.
There is one finding worth knowing, because it falls on the dose this label recommends. A 2021 meta-analysis in Circulation pooled seven randomised cardiovascular trials with 81,210 participants. It found omega-3 supplementation was associated with a 25 per cent higher risk of atrial fibrillation, an irregular heart rhythm. The risk was larger in trials using more than 1 g a day (hazard ratio 1.49) than in trials using 1 g or less (hazard ratio 1.12). The absolute risk is small, and the trial populations were older adults, many with cardiovascular risk factors. But the label's full directions give 1.2 g a day, just past that line. One serving a day, 0.6 g, falls below it.
The label's caution is brief: for adults only, and consult a physician if pregnant, nursing, taking medication or living with a medical condition. We would add that omega-3s can affect bleeding. That matters for anyone on anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs, or with surgery scheduled, and the label does not say so directly. Anyone with atrial fibrillation or a history of it should talk to their doctor before taking the full dose.
What buyers report
The Amazon listing shows 4.7 stars from 30,258 ratings, one of the largest rating samples of any product we have reviewed. On the manufacturer's site it has 4.5 stars from 8 reviews. A high rating on a very large sample tells you the product is consistent and people are not unhappy with it. It cannot tell you whether it did anything for their hearts, because nobody can feel that.
Who this is actually for
It makes sense for someone who eats little or no oily fish and wants a reliable, inexpensive source of EPA and DHA, or whose clinician has suggested one. For that person, one serving a day gives 600 mg for 24 cents. That is a little above the 250 to 500 mg a day many dietary guidelines suggest adults get from oily fish, and it keeps you under the 1 g line.
It makes less sense for someone who already eats oily fish twice a week, or who expects it to prevent heart disease on its own. It is not suitable for vegetarians, because of the bovine gelatin, or for anyone with a fish allergy. Anyone on blood thinners, with atrial fibrillation, or facing surgery should talk to a doctor before starting, and especially before taking the label's full four-softgel dose.
Sources and shopping: what to check
Before buying, decide whether you will take two softgels a day or four. That choice doubles the cost and halves how long the bottle lasts. If you settle on the full dose, the 500-count bottle at $49.99 is about 125 days at 40 cents a day and is the better buy. If you are trying it for the first time, the 100-count is a cheaper way to find out whether the burps are tolerable.
When comparing fish oils, compare EPA plus DHA per serving and per dollar, and ignore the fish oil milligrams on the front. Check the listing is for this product, "Omega-3 180 EPA / 120 DHA": NOW sells several fish oils at different strengths, and they are easy to confuse.
The Amazon button on this page is an affiliate link. It earns a commission at no extra cost to you and has not moved the 6.4 above. That score is mostly a good label at a low price, held back by a cardiovascular claim that the evidence supports only weakly.
Ingredient analysis
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)
moderate evidenceA long-chain omega-3 found mainly in oily fish. It reliably lowers triglycerides, and the prescription-strength trials use far higher doses than this. For cardiovascular outcomes the evidence is mixed. VITAL, at 840 mg a day of EPA plus DHA, found no reduction in its primary endpoint, but a lower heart-attack rate in secondary analysis. Cochrane finds little or no effect on mortality.
Full evidence on Omega-3 (EPA and DHA)DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)
moderate evidenceThe other main marine omega-3, concentrated in the brain and retina. Listed separately from EPA, which is what makes cross-brand comparison possible. The evidence for supplementing it in healthy adults for brain or eye benefits is weaker than the shelf suggests.
Full evidence on Omega-3 (EPA and DHA)Fish oil concentrate
none evidenceThe carrier weight, not an active dose. About 1,400 mg of each serving is oil other than EPA and DHA. It is the figure on the front of the bottle and the wrong one to compare products by.
Full evidence on Omega-3 (EPA and DHA)d-alpha tocopherol (vitamin E, from sunflower)
none evidenceAn antioxidant added to slow oxidation of the oil in the bottle. A preservative here, not a nutritional dose.
Softgel (bovine gelatin, glycerin, water)
none evidenceThe capsule. Bovine gelatin described as BSE-free, which makes the product unsuitable for vegetarians, although it is labelled halal.
Who it’s for. What to consider.
Who it may suit
Someone who eats little or no oily fish and wants an honest, inexpensive source of EPA and DHA — or whose clinician has suggested one — and who is content with the one-serving, 600 mg dose that sits below the 1 g-a-day line where atrial fibrillation risk rises more clearly.
Who should avoid it
Anyone with a fish allergy, and vegetarians, because the softgel is bovine gelatin. Anyone taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication, or with surgery scheduled, until a doctor has advised. Anyone with atrial fibrillation or a history of it before taking the label’s full 1.2 g daily dose. Anyone buying it expecting it to prevent heart disease on its own.
What stands out
EPA and DHA stated separately — 360 mg and 240 mg per serving — not merged into one figure or left out
Source fish (anchovies, sardines, tuna) and countries of origin (Peru, Morocco, Mauritius, Malaysia) both named
Found compliant with the GOED quality monograph in the industry body’s 2022 random-purchase testing, and contaminant testing for mercury, PCBs and dioxins stated
About 40 cents per gram of EPA plus DHA, 33 cents on the 500-count bottle
Sold in four sizes with the servings for each listed, so cost per serving is easy to work out
4.7 stars from more than 30,000 Amazon ratings
Worth considering
The front leads with 1,000 mg of fish oil per softgel; only about 30 per cent of that is EPA plus DHA
The directions say two softgels twice daily, so a 200-count bottle’s “100 servings” last 50 days
"Cardiovascular Support" rests on evidence the FDA itself calls "supportive but not conclusive", and VITAL’s primary endpoint was null
The label’s full dose of 1.2 g a day sits above the 1 g line where a 2021 meta-analysis found a clearer rise in atrial fibrillation
The caution does not mention bleeding risk with anticoagulants
No current batch-level test results are published, and the chemical form of the oil is not stated
Bovine gelatin softgel, so not suitable for vegetarians
Score breakdown
Five criteria, each out of 10, averaged to the overall score. See how we score products.
Where to buy
Sources and shopping optionsYour questions, answered.
Is 1,000 mg of fish oil the same as 1,000 mg of omega-3?
No. Each 1,000 mg softgel contains 180 mg of EPA and 120 mg of DHA, 300 mg of omega-3 in total. A two-softgel serving gives 2,000 mg of fish oil but 600 mg of EPA plus DHA. Compare fish oils on the EPA and DHA lines, never on the fish oil weight.
How many softgels should I take?
The label says two softgels twice daily with food, which is four a day and 1,200 mg of EPA plus DHA. A single serving of two softgels (600 mg) is a common and reasonable intake for someone who eats little oily fish, and it stays below the 1 g-a-day level where trial data show a clearer rise in atrial fibrillation. If you are unsure, ask a doctor or pharmacist which suits you.
How long does a 200-softgel bottle last?
Fifty days at the label’s full dose of four softgels a day, or 100 days at one two-softgel serving. The “100 servings” figure counts servings, not days. At $23.99 that is 48 cents or 24 cents a day respectively.
Does fish oil prevent heart disease?
Not convincingly for healthy people. In VITAL, 840 mg a day of EPA plus DHA did not reduce major cardiovascular events over about five years, although secondary analyses found fewer heart attacks. The 2020 Cochrane review found little or no effect on death from any cause or from heart disease. The FDA allows the heart claim only with the qualifier that the evidence is “supportive but not conclusive”.
What does molecularly distilled mean?
It is a processing step that concentrates the oil and removes contaminants such as mercury, PCBs and dioxins. NOW says the product is tested for these, and reports that it passed the GOED industry body’s random-purchase testing in 2022. That is a good sign, but it is one test in one year rather than a published certificate for the bottle you receive.
Is it safe with blood thinners?
Ask your doctor first. Omega-3s can affect bleeding, which matters with anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs and before surgery. The label only says to consult a physician if you take medication. It does not name bleeding specifically, so we do.
Is it suitable for vegetarians?
No, for two reasons. The oil comes from anchovies, sardines and tuna, and the softgel is bovine gelatin. Vegetarians and vegans who want DHA and EPA usually look at algae-based oils instead.
Which bottle size is the best value?
The 500-count at $49.99, about 10 cents a softgel and 33 cents per gram of EPA plus DHA. The 200-count is 12 cents a softgel and the 30-count is 20 cents. If you are new to fish oil, a 100-count bottle is a cheaper way to check you tolerate it before buying in bulk.
Community experiences
Reader submissions open once a page is published from the editorial database. This overview is maintained in code, so there is nothing to attach a submission to yet. If you have used this product, send it through the contact page and it will be considered when submissions open.
References
- NOW Foods. Omega-3 Fish Oil, Molecularly Distilled Softgels — the Supplement Facts panel, other ingredients, fish species and countries of origin, directions, caution text, GOED 2022 statement and prices for all four sizes, read on 23 September 2026. nowfoods.com
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Omega-3 Fatty Acids — Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Includes the VITAL design (840 mg a day EPA plus DHA, 25,871 participants) and its primary and secondary findings, and the FDA’s 5 g a day guidance for supplements. ods.od.nih.gov
- Abdelhamid AS et al. (2020). Omega-3 fatty acids for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews — 86 trials, 162,796 participants. cochranelibrary.com
- Gencer B et al. (2021). Effect of long-term marine omega-3 fatty acids supplementation on the risk of atrial fibrillation in randomized controlled trials of cardiovascular outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Circulation 144(25):1981-1990 — seven trials, 81,210 participants; HR 1.25 overall, 1.49 above 1 g a day, 1.12 at 1 g or less. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA qualified health claim for EPA and DHA and blood pressure (June 2019) — at least 0.8 g EPA plus DHA per serving, with the qualifier that the evidence is inconsistent and inconclusive. As reported at the time. nutritionaloutlook.com
- NOW Supplements, Omega-3 180 EPA / 120 DHA, 200 Softgels — Amazon.com listing, 4.7 stars from 30,258 ratings, read on 23 September 2026. amazon.com
- US Food and Drug Administration. Questions and answers on dietary supplements — supplements are not approved by the FDA for safety or effectiveness before sale. fda.gov
Page history
- Rewritten from a label overview into a full review and scored 6.4 out of 10. The page previously recorded the EPA and DHA figures without assessing the product. The panel was re-read from the manufacturer on this date and is unchanged: 360 mg EPA and 240 mg DHA per two-softgel serving. New to the page: the “two softgels twice daily” directions, which make a 200-count bottle last 50 days rather than the 100 servings previously given as its only duration; prices for all four sizes and cost per gram of EPA plus DHA; the fish species and countries of origin; the GOED 2022 test result, which corrects this page’s earlier statement that no purity information was published; and the cardiovascular and atrial fibrillation evidence. The slug is deliberately unchanged, because the old address is published and linked.
- First published as a manufacturer-label overview.