Sports Research vs Nordic Naturals Omega-3: Label and Cost Comparison
Sports Research provides more EPA+DHA per softgel; Nordic’s standard Ultimate Omega provides more DHA per two-softgel serving. Those are different comparisons. For the current 90-count Sports Research label, EPA+DHA totals 950 mg in one softgel; Nordic’s 60-count Lemon label totals 1,100 mg in two. Compare the exact bottle, current price and testing access before choosing.
Neither product is fish-free or a substitute for prescription omega-3 treatment. Discuss use with your healthcare professional if you have a fish allergy, take blood thinners or have surgery planned.
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How do the exact labels compare?
Normalize softgel count before declaring one stronger. A two-softgel serving has twice as many softgels as a one-softgel serving. The following figures come from the current manufacturer label images, checked October 7, 2026. [1] [2]
Compare the reviewed products
| Criterion | Sports Research Triple Strength Omega-3 | Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Softgels | Softgels |
| Reviewed variant | Triple Strength Omega-3 · iHerb 180-softgel formula | Ultimate Omega · Lemon · 60 soft gels |
| Label serving | 1 softgel | 2 soft gels |
| Servings per reviewed pack | 180 | 30 |
| Ingredients per label serving | Fish oil 1,250 mg; omega-3 1,055 mg; EPA 690 mg; DHA 310 mg | Omega-3 1,280 mg; EPA 650 mg; DHA 450 mg |
| Other ingredients | Fish gelatin (tilapia) softgel; vegetable glycerin; purified water; tocopherols | Tilapia fish-gelatin softgel; glycerin; water; natural flavor; RRR-alpha-tocopherol; rosemary extract |
| Quality & testing | — | Label claims: public listings mention third-party purity testing, Igen Non-GMO Tested, and Friend of the Sea certification |
| Formula / pack difference | 180-softgel iHerb panel uses anchovy/sardine/mackerel and DHA 310 mg. Manufacturer 90-softgel Alaska pollock panel has DHA 260 mg. | — |
| Supplement Explained Score | ||
| Customer ratings | 4.8/5 · 48,354 ratingsiHerb · 2026-10-07 | 4.8/5 · 4,024 ratingsiHerb · 2026-10-07 |
| Sources | ||
| Review & retailer offer |
~ means approximate; — means no published value in this record. Customer ratings are the named publisher’s snapshot and may include multiple sizes or earlier formulas. The Supplement Explained Score is our source-reviewed editorial assessment out of 25, separate from customer stars. Compare the five criteria and the same intended use; the total is not a clinical ranking. Prices are dated USD offer snapshots; cost uses the reviewed pack and label serving.
Both label images describe triglyceride-form omega-3s. That does not prove one finished product gives better health outcomes than the other. Also, total omega-3 includes more than EPA+DHA, so neither total should silently replace the combined EPA+DHA column.
Important version difference: Sports Research’s separate 180-count iHerb record lists 690 mg EPA + 310 mg DHA. It is not the 90-count, 260 mg DHA manufacturer label above. The Sports Research review explains the pack, fish-source and label differences.
Which costs less for the same EPA+DHA amount?
In the checked one-time manufacturer offers, Sports Research’s 90-count bottle costs less per 1,000 mg EPA+DHA. This is a same-date comparison of two named offers, not a claim that it is always the cheapest at every retailer. Subscription prices, coupons, delivery charges and tax are excluded. [1] [2]
| Checked offer, October 7, 2026 | Price | EPA+DHA per bottle | Per label serving | Per 1,000 mg EPA+DHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sports Research, 90 softgels, SKU FG155A | $30.71 | 90 × 950 mg = 85,500 mg | $0.341 | $0.359 |
| Nordic Ultimate Omega, 60 Lemon softgels | $29.95 | 30 × 1,100 mg = 33,000 mg | $0.998 | $0.908 |
Formula: price × 1,000 ÷ (servings per bottle × EPA+DHA per serving).
The 1,000 mg unit is for price comparison, not a recommended daily dose. The cheaper normalized amount does not answer whether you need fish oil, prefer a different DHA balance or tolerate that product.
If you choose a different count, promotion or formulation, recalculate using its own label. Our fish oil label-math guide explains why “1,250 mg fish oil” is not the number to use.
How can you check each bottle’s testing information?
Sports Research has a public IFOS product directory entry with batch selection. Nordic provides a lot-number lookup for certificates of analysis. These are useful routes to evidence, but a lookup system is not proof that we examined a report for your bottle. [3] [4]
| Check | Sports Research | Nordic Naturals |
|---|---|---|
| Public route | Nutrasource IFOS product page and batch selector | Nordic Promise lot-number lookup |
| What to match | Product, nutrient panel and bottle’s batch; directory description shows 690/310 mg, unlike the current 90-count panel | Exact Ultimate Omega format and the bottle’s lot number |
| Bottle-lot result in this review | Not verified for a purchased bottle’s lot | Not verified for a purchased bottle’s lot |
A different product’s certificate does not transfer to this one. Purity and freshness evidence also does not establish treatment superiority. The fish oil quality checklist covers these distinctions.
Which fits your priorities better?
- Fewer softgels for the listed amount: compare Sports Research’s concentrated one-softgel format.
- More DHA in the full label serving: Nordic’s two-softgel serving has 450 mg, versus 260 mg in the checked Sports Research serving. Per softgel, the amounts are 225 mg and 260 mg respectively.
- Lemon flavor: Nordic’s checked variant is Lemon; personal tolerance still varies.
- Lowest checked equal-amount cost: the named Sports Research manufacturer offer is lower in this snapshot.
- Fish-free requirement: neither product answers that need.
There is no defensible single winner for every reader. The EPA/DHA balance, softgel burden, allergens and access to a matching test record can matter more than brand reputation. We have not tasted, swallowed or laboratory-tested either bottle. Brand-wide information is available in our Sports Research and Nordic Naturals reviews.
What if neither is right for you?
For a fish-free option, compare fish oil with algal oil. For the evidence behind supplementation, use the omega-3 guide. NCCIH cautions that supplements differ from prescription products; broader health claims should not be assumed from a label’s concentration alone. [5]
FAQ
Which has more omega-3 per softgel?
For these exact labels, Sports Research has 950 mg EPA+DHA per softgel, while Nordic’s standard Ultimate Omega has 550 mg per softgel. Nordic’s serving is two softgels.
Which has more DHA?
Nordic has more per full label serving: 450 mg in two softgels versus Sports Research’s 260 mg in one. Per single softgel, Nordic has 225 mg and Sports Research has 260 mg.
Does this compare Ultimate Omega 2X?
No. The Nordic product is standard Ultimate Omega, 60 Lemon softgels. Ultimate Omega 2X, liquid and gummies have different labels and should be compared separately.
Does a testing badge prove one works better?
No. A relevant record can support quality verification within its scope. It does not prove superior clinical results or individual tolerance.
References
Updated October 6, 2026: matched current label images and recalculated equal-amount costs from same-date manufacturer offers. No hands-on or laboratory testing. Editorial policy.