Now Foods is a well-known supplement brand and therefore we were excited to investigate their formulation of a krill oil product. There are two versions of this popular supplement that this manufacturer sells – the regular 500mg capsule and the double strength 1000mg capsule. While the 500mg capsule may be more enticing to consumers due to its lower price tag, the efficacy deemed it unworthy in our eyes. Instead, we will focus on reviewing Now Foods Neptune Krill Oil 1000mg.
Now Foods Neptune Krill Oil claims to support joint health with 100% pure oil that contains EPA and DHA, plus phospholipids as well as natural astaxanthin, a powerful free radical scavenger. However, not all krill oil supplements will provide the same benefits. Just because the label says krill oil, it doesn’t mean you will necessarily get the amazing benefits of krill oil if the supplement is not sourced and formulated correctly.
The biggest issue with krill oil supplements is their level of purity. If the krill oil you are taking isn’t 100% certified as pure by many well-established, third-party organizations, you won’t get the incredible benefits it provides. Now Foods claims that Neptune Krill Oil is free of potentially harmful levels of contaminants such as PCBs, dioxins, mercury and other heavy metals. It is certified by Friend of the Sea and it is also keto friendly, soy free and non-GMO. However, there are many other certifications which we usually look for, such as MSC and FDA registered, which are not mentioned in association with this product.
We were happy to see that this product is manufactured in the USA and has a GMP certification but it’s ultimately the formula that gets you the results, so does this product have what it takes?
Is Now Foods Neptune Krill Oil Effective?
In order to discern whether or not this supplement is effective, we must look at the amount of krill oil found in each serving. In the case of Now Foods Neptune Krill Oil, a daily serving is 2 softgels which equals 1 gram of krill oil. While this is double some products we have reviewed, it is actually half of some others. While the quantity of this krill oil is slightly disappointing, it was also important to look at the concentration of beneficial ingredients found here.
The amount of Omega-3 fatty acids is 250mg which includes 135mg of EPA and 60mg of DHA. The EPA and DHA are what has been proven to deliver the widely-touted and proven health benefits of fish oil. While these are decent daily doses, they are still about half of what is offered in the top product we have reviewed. There is also 360mcg of Astaxanthin. Astaxanthin is responsible for the powerful antioxidant activity of krill oil and is therefore very important for the potency of the product.
Is Now Foods Neptune Krill Oil Safe?
In general, this product is marketed as natural and safe. There are no mentioned side effects. The standard GMP practices would be enough in any other dietary supplement, but for krill oil it is imperative that it is 100% pure. Now Foods Neptune Krill Oil has a Friends of the Sea certification, which is excellent. However, there are no other certifications listed. There are many manufacturers that include many more certifications.
As a general rule, it is always recommended to speak to your doctor before taking any new supplement, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, have any health conditions or are taking other medications.
Summary
Now Foods Neptune Krill Oil has the right idea by formulating their product with Neptune Krill Oil to help support joint comfort, maintain blood lipid levels, and even help with healthy feminine balance. We were glad to see that Now Foods has a double strength product which is a step up from their regular 500mg krill oil supplement. However, the double strength daily dose is still lower than some of the products we have reviewed. Additionally, the specific concentrations of EPA and DHA are also lower than we would have expected for such a well-known manufacturer. The EPA and DHA are highly bioabsorbable due to their phospholipid form, but we were hoping it would have a closer amount to our Editor’s Choice #1 product.
While this product boasts 100% purity, the only certification that is listed is from Friends of the Sea. This is a very reputable certification but we would have liked to see some more.
Finally, this product can be purchased at a decent price and comes with a return policy. Unfortunately, the return policy only applies to new, unopened bottles that were purchased via the manufacturer’s website. Additionally, returns will not be accepted after 30 days.
