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Algal oil

Supplement omega-3 fatty acid heart & metabolicgeneral nutrition
Aka: algae omega-3, vegan DHA, Schizochytrium
Brands seen in Singapore: Nordic Naturals, Deva, Micro Ingredients, Nature's Way, Nature's Truth
Third-party tested: Nordic Naturals certifies other products with NSF Certified for Sport, but nothing for algal oil.Certification is granted per product, so check the tub you actually own. Not being listed is not the same as failing.
Not medical advice. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before you start, stop or change the timing of anything you take.
How to use
What it’s for
DHA (sometimes EPA) from algae rather than from fish
Take with
Absorption runs ~95%, similar to other ingested fats
Pros & cons
Pros
  • A small study matched its DHA uptake to cooked salmon
  • Microalgae make DHA; fish accumulate it from them
  • Omega-3 supplements haven't been found to carry mercury
Cons
  • Typical algal capsules give only 100–300 mg DHA
  • No ai or daily value exists for DHA specifically
  • 4 g/day raised atrial fibrillation risk in cvd trials
Sources
  1. NIH ODS — Omega-3 Fatty Acids (Health Professional) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Plant-based sources of omega-3s from algal oil usually provide around 100–300 mg DHA; some contain EPA as well … the bioavailability of DHA from algal oil is equivalent to that from cooked salmon”
  2. NIH ODS — Omega-3 Fatty Acids (Health Professional) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “DHA and EPA are present in fish, fish oils, and krill oils, but they are originally synthesized by microalgae at the base of the marine food chain, not by the fish”
  3. NIH ODS — Omega-3 Fatty Acids (Health Professional) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Although seafood contains varying levels of methyl mercury (a toxic heavy metal), omega-3 supplements have not been found to contain this contaminant because it is removed during processing and purification”
  4. NIH ODS — Omega-3 Fatty Acids (Health Professional) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “The AIs apply only to ALA because ALA is the only omega-3 that is essential. The IOM did not establish specific intake recommendations for EPA, DHA … 19–50 years 1.6 g (male) 1.1 g (female)”
  5. NIH ODS — Omega-3 Fatty Acids (Health Professional) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “The IOM did not establish a UL for any omega-3s … FDA has concluded that dietary supplements providing no more than 5 g/day EPA and DHA are safe when used as recommended”
  6. NIH ODS — Omega-3 Fatty Acids (Health Professional) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Two large clinical trials … found that taking 4 g/day of omega-3 supplements for several years slightly increased the risk of atrial fibrillation in people with CVD or at high risk of CVD”
  7. NIH ODS — Omega-3 Fatty Acids (Health Professional) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “high doses of DHA and/or EPA (900 mg/day of EPA plus 600 mg/day DHA or more for several weeks) might reduce immune function due to suppression of inflammatory responses”
  8. NIH ODS — Omega-3 Fatty Acids (Health Professional) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Fish oil might prolong clotting times, as indicated by an elevated international normalized ratio (INR), when it is taken with warfarin … patients taking these products with anticoagulants should be monitored periodically for changes in INR”
  9. NIH ODS — Omega-3 Fatty Acids (Health Professional) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “The process is efficient, with an absorption rate of about 95%, which is similar to that of other ingested fats”
  10. NIH ODS — Omega-3 Fatty Acids (Health Professional) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has established a Daily Value (DV) of 65 g for total fat but not for omega-3s”
  11. HSA — Guidelines on prohibited and restricted ingredients in health supplements and traditional medicines (Oct 2025), Annex A/B · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “The objective of this guideline is to highlight the substances of concern when used in HS and TM and is not meant to be an exhaustive list.”
  12. iHerb Singapore — Algae Omega-3 category page · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Algae Omega-3”
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Updated 2026-08-30. Every line above traces to a numbered source. Kozen-X is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. It lists what published sources have written down — nothing more. A pair not listed is unrecorded, not cleared. Before you start, stop or re-time anything, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.