Fish Oil

The marine source of EPA and DHA — and the one ingredient in this range that is not plant-based

All articles checked for accuracy against the GB NHC Register and all sources have citations with verified links to their relevant studies.

Fish oil delivers the marine omega-3s EPA and DHA — the one non-plant ingredient in the WellsparQ range. This page explains what fish oil is, how WellsparQ uses it, and why the product does not carry the authorised omega-3 claims.

This article covers what fish oil contains, why EPA and DHA are nutritionally important, how the 3-6-9 Omega Oil uses a modest fish-oil concentrate, and the regulatory position on authorised claims so readers understand why WellsparQ does not make those claims for this product.

Ingredient Snapshot

What it is

Oil extracted from the tissues of oily fish, rich in marine long‑chain omega‑3s.

Where from

Oily fish (fish oil concentrate providing EPA and DHA).

Known for

Source of the long‑chain omega‑3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

In WellsparQ

• EPA + DHA combined95 mg

For reference

• Fish oil concentrate400 mg
• — of which EPA60 mg
• — of which DHA35 mg
• EPA + DHA & normal heart function250 mg EPA+DHA ^⁵⁶
• DHA & normal brain function250 mg DHA ^⁶
• DHA & normal vision250 mg DHA ^⁶

WellsparQ is a plant-powered range, so it is worth saying at the very top: fish oil is animal-derived. It comes from fish, which makes it not suitable for vegans or vegetarians. It appears in one WellsparQ product, the 3-6-9 Omega Oil, as the marine source of the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. This page explains what fish oil is, what those fatty acids are, what the research and the regulators have concluded — and, importantly, why the amount in this formula sits well below the level at which any authorised omega-3 claim could apply.

What fish oil is

Fish oil is the oil extracted from the tissue of oily fish. Its nutritional interest lies in two long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5 n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6 n-3) ^¹². These are the "marine" omega-3s. They are chemically distinct from the plant omega-3, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) — the subject of its own article in this series — which the body can convert into EPA and DHA only slowly and inefficiently ^¹².

WellsparQ uses a fish oil concentrate: the oil is refined so that the EPA and DHA fraction is higher than in the raw oil. That is standard practice for omega-3 supplements and allows a meaningful amount of the fatty acids in a small capsule.

How WellsparQ uses it

In the 3-6-9 Omega Oil, fish oil is the omega-3 contributor sitting alongside plant oils that supply omega-6 and omega-9.

Source: WellsparQ Supplements Database. The factsheet card is measured and exact — 400 mg of concentrate, described as "the formula's source of EPA (60 mg) and DHA (35 mg) per capsule". Note the honest arithmetic: 400 mg of oil yields 95 mg of the two omega-3s, the rest being other fatty acids and the oil matrix. That transparency matters for the claims discussion below.

Suitability — stated plainly

Because it is derived from fish, fish oil is not vegan and not vegetarian, and it is an allergen consideration for anyone who avoids fish. This is the one animal-derived ingredient of note in the omega range, and WellsparQ flags it rather than blurring it. Anyone eating fully plant-based who wants marine-type omega-3 would look to an algal oil instead — the original source from which fish acquire their EPA and DHA in the first place.

What the research examines

EPA and DHA are among the most heavily studied nutrients in human nutrition. Review articles describe their roles as structural components of cell membranes — DHA is especially concentrated in the brain and the retina — and summarise a large body of work on cardiovascular, cognitive and developmental outcomes ^¹²³. It is fair to call the marine omega-3s a genuinely active area of research across the lifespan ^².

Two points of honesty belong beside that. First, the evidence is mixed and still debated: large trials and meta-analyses have reached differing conclusions, particularly on cardiovascular endpoints, and effects appear to depend on dose, the population studied and background diet ^¹³. A review that catalogues plausible mechanisms is not a guarantee of benefit for any individual. Second, the doses used in that research are typically measured in hundreds of milligrams to several grams of EPA and DHA per day — far more than the 95 mg this formula provides. Evidence generated at one dose does not transfer to a much smaller one.

Public-health guidance sits alongside the trial literature: UK advice is to eat two portions of fish a week, one of them oily, as the ordinary dietary route to these fatty acids ^⁴.

The claims picture — and why WellsparQ does not make the claim

Unlike most ingredients in this range, EPA and DHA do have authorised health claims in the retained EU Register. EFSA concluded that EPA and DHA contribute to the normal function of the heart, and that DHA contributes to the maintenance of normal brain function and normal vision ^⁵⁶. These are real, permitted claims — but each comes with a condition of use, a minimum daily intake below which the claim cannot be made:

At 95 mg of EPA+DHA (and only 35 mg DHA) per capsule, the 3-6-9 Omega Oil falls well short of every one of these thresholds^⁵⁶. WellsparQ therefore does not make the heart, brain or vision claim on this product, and none of these sits in the brand's claims set in any case. The research above is reported as research; the authorised claims are described here only to explain, transparently, why they are not being used.

Sensible use

Omega oils are high in energy and best taken with food. Anyone with a fish allergy should avoid fish oil. As with any concentrated oil, anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding, taking blood-thinning medication, or managing a health condition should speak to a GP or pharmacist before starting a supplement. Rooted in nature, backed by research — and clear about what this particular ingredient is, and is not.