Fish Oil vs Krill Oil
USANA products do not currently contain krill oil.
Both krill oil and fish oil are sources of omega-3 fatty acids and are used in dietary supplements. While they share this common role, they differ in source, composition, concentration, and cost, which can influence how they are evaluated.
- Fish oil comes from oily fish (anchovies, sardines, etc.) and mainly provides EPA and DHA.
- Krill oil comes from small Antarctic crustaceans and contains EPA, DHA, and an antioxidant (astaxanthin).
- Both provide similar health benefits, including triglyceride reduction.
Although some arguments in favor of krill oil may sound persuasive, it does not measure up to a top-quality purified and concentrated fish oil. Fish oil offers the advantage of higher EPA and DHA levels per capsule at a much lower cost than to Krill oil.
Krill oil is much lower in DHA (9%) than USANA’s BiOmega product (23.5%), yet it is significantly more expensive to produce.
Based on purity, potency, concentration, availability, and cost, using fish oil as the omega-3 source in BiOmega is a great choice.
Frequently Asked Question
Question:
Is krill oil significantly more bioavailable than fish oil?
Answer:
Although krill oil contains phospholipids, studies show only minor differences in absorption in comparison with fish oil and no meaningful clinical advantage.
Available evidence suggests only minor differences in absorption between krill oil and fish oil, with no statistically significant clinical advantage for krill oil. Any observed differences may be related more to free fatty acid content than to phospholipids.
One study suggested krill oil might raise blood omega-3 levels more effectively than fish oil, but the comparison used fish oil diluted with corn oil, which likely affected absorption. Results may have differed if a balanced fish oil such as BiOmega had been used. Overall, claims that krill oil is more bioavailable or provides superior benefits are not strongly supported by the evidence.
Question:
Is krill oil or fish oil better for supporting health?
Answer:
Fish oil has stronger and more consistent scientific evidence supporting its role in cardiovascular health. Well-designed clinical studies comparing krill oil and fish oil side-by-side are rare and have not clearly shown advantages of one over the other as such.
As a source of omega-3 fatty acids, krill can theoretically be beneficial for our health; however, there is no overwhelming proof that it is any better than fish oil. Quite the opposite. There is substantial evidence that fish oil is good for our health, while evidence for krill oil is scant.
PubMed, the US National Library of Medicine run by the National Institutes of Health, currently (as of 2 June 2026) lists 8,982 studies related to human health and fish oil, while only 145 studies are related to human health and krill oil.
Question:
Have USANA scientists looked into developing a krill oil supplement?
Answer:
Creating a better product than our current BiOmega would depend on optimizing formulation quality and delivering effective levels of EPA and DHA at a reasonable price. Purity and contamination concerns around fish oil are based on the extraction and formulation process, which could potentially apply to krill oil as well.
Until there is strong, consistent, and compelling scientific research supporting krill oil’s benefits, USANA remains confident in the quality and effectiveness of fish oil, which has ample proof for supporting good health.
Question:
What about the astaxanthin in krill oil?
Answer:
Krill oil contains astaxanthin, a red carotenoid antioxidant that helps neutralize free radicals. Astaxanthin offers antioxidant support similar to that of other well-known carotenoids, such as lycopene, beta carotene, and zeaxanthin. Omega-3 supplements containing astaxanthin may provide trace antioxidant support.
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