How to read DHA and EPA on an algae omega-3 label
A large number beside “algal oil” tells you the weight of the oil. To compare two products, turn the package around and find the individual amounts of DHA and EPA.
Start with the serving size
Write down how many capsules the nutrition panel covers. One company may give amounts for two capsules while another gives them for one. Keep the same basis all the way through the comparison.
Add only the listed fatty acids
For example, an imaginary two-capsule serving lists 500 mg of oil, including 200 mg DHA and 100 mg EPA. That gives 300 mg of DHA plus EPA per serving, or 150 mg per capsule. Adding the 500 mg again would count the oil twice.
When EPA has no number
Mark EPA as “amount not listed” on your comparison sheet. Subtracting DHA from total oil cannot tell you the EPA content. Look for a clear photo of the full panel or ask the manufacturer for its breakdown.
Product details · Together Health · NIH Office of Dietary Supplements
Related reading
Together Health plant-based supplements: a closer look at two labels