This site may contain links to affiliate websites, and we receive an affiliate commission for any purchases made by you on the affiliate website using such links. Read Our Disclosures
Kirkland Signature Fish Oil provides you with 1000 mg of fish oil, 250 mg of EPA and DHA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid and Docosahexaenoic Acid). You’re also getting 50 mg of other omega-3 fish oils in every softgel (1 per serving).
But the recommended daily amount of EPA and DHA is closer to 500 mg. So does it really represent good value for money or should you buy Dr. Tobias Optimum Omega 3, which provides you with twice as much fish oil (2,000 mg)?
In this review we’ll compare Kirkland Signature Fish Oil to two other top-rated omega-3 supplements; Dr. Tobias Optimum Omega 3, and Coromega Omega 3. This includes price, ingredients, dosages, side effects, cost per serving, and customer feedback from some of the thousands of positive reviews on Amazon.
We’ve also provided you with recommendations for the best ways to boost the health benefits provided by Kirkland Fish Oil, including supplementing with Vitamin D3.
Kirkland Signature Fish Oil Ingredients
Kirkland Signature has one of the cheapest Fish Oil supplements on the market, yet still manages to remove mercury and dioxins as part of their purification process.
The only problem is the level of EPA and DHA in each softgel is much lower than most other companies. A combined dose of 250 mg means it’s at the very bottom end of the recommendation set out by the American Heart Association’s Nutrition Committee (250 – 500 mg per day).
This is why Kirkland Signature recommends taking two capsules daily, which delivers the same total dose as Nature Made Fish Oil but at a lower price (2000 mg fish oil, 250 mg EPA, 250 mg DHA).
Is It Suitable for Vegetarians?
Unfortunately not. In this case the EPA and DHA are derived from fish oil, but you can also buy DHA in a form that’s derived from plant sources. A good example is Neuromins from Nature’s Way, but you only get 100 mg of DHA per serving.
You may also read that alpha-linoleic acid (ALA) is a good alternative to increase your intake of EPA and DHA. This is found naturally in flaxseed oil, canola oil, walnuts, and many other whole foods. If you prefer to have more control over your intake, pure ALA supplements are available.
ALA is a precursor to EPA and DHA, but the conversion rate in our bodies is very low. Numerous studies have tested the conversion levels and compared the health effects to pure DHA and EPA from fish oil. Unfortunately the results don’t look promising, and it’s not something we recommend.
Where is the Fish Oil Sourced From?
The omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA are naturally found in fish oil, but the concentration can vary depending on which type of fish the oil was derived from. This is why you’ll often see omega-3 supplements with the same dose of fish oil, but different quantities of EPA and DHA.
Kirkland Signature Fish Oil is sustainably sourced from fish in deep ocean waters that haven’t been farm-reared. Unfortunately this is derived entirely from anchovies and sardines, which have a lower concentration of omega-3 than fish like tuna, herring, or mackerel.
This is why you’re only getting 125 mg of EPA and 125 mg of DHA, despite the 1000 mg of fish oil in each capsule. In comparison, NOW Foods also has an omega-3 supplement with 1000 mg of fish oil, but because they combine the sardines and anchovies with mackerel, each serving contains 500 mg of EPA and 250 mg of DHA.
Mackerel has the highest concentration of omega-3, which is why any supplement that lists mackerel in its ingredients will also most likely carry a higher price tag. At the time of writing, NOW Foods was priced at $0.12 per serving, compared to $0.03 per serving for Kirkland Signature.
Allergen information: Contains fish (Anchovy and Sardine) and soy.
- Fish Oil Concentrate 1000 mg
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids (EPA + DHA) 250 mg
- Other Omega-3 Fatty Acids 50 mg
- Contains Fish (Anchovy, Herring, Salmon, Sardine and Sprat) and Soy
- No Artificial colors, flavors, yeast, starch or gluten
Health Benefits of Kirkland Fish Oil
For a comprehensive list of omega 3 health benefits, we recommend taking a look at our Omega-3 Buying Guide.
When is the Best Time to Take It?
Recommended Use
Take one softgel two times daily (morning and noon) with a full glass of water, preferably after a meal.
Kirkland Fish Oil vs. Dr. Tobias Omega-3
Kirkland Fish Oil vs. Coromega Omega-3
What Sizes Are Available?
With a serving size of 1 softgel, each bottle provides you with 400 servings. Based on the recommended dosage of 2 servings per day, this should last up to 200 days. Multi-buy deals are also available on sites like Amazon, where you can buy more than one bottle at once.
At the time of writing this review, the best value for money comes from the single bottle of 400 softgels. Each serving was priced at $0.03, compared to $0.05 per serving for a multi-buy that included three bottles. That’s why we always recommend calculating the average cost per serving, across all sizes, before making a final buying decision.
Who Are Kirkland Signature?
Kirkland Signature is a line of private-label products, available at Costco. For over 20 years their name has been found on a wide range of product categories, from canned foods to automotive products.
They’ve also developed a highly popular line of health supplements, which includes fish oils, calcium, glucosamine, and multivitamins. Some of the current bestsellers are Extra Strength Glucosamine HCI and Fish Oil Concentrate with Omega 3 fatty acids, each of which has over 1,400 highly rated reviews on Amazon.
Kirkland Signature supplements are USP certified. This is a verified mark awarded to dietary supplement products when they successfully meet all requirements set by the USP Dietary Supplements Verification Process.
Review Overview
The World Health Organization (WHO) has set a recommended daily intake of 2 g per day. Some experts have suggested a higher dose of 3 g/day, which is still considered safe by the FDA, but rejected by WHO after considering the sustainability of the fish supply.
The National Academy of Medicine has slightly lower recommendations of 1.6 g for men, and 1.1g for women (1.4 g if pregnant). Our omega-3 buying guide has more information on daily intake levels for different health conditions.
Is it worth buying? Kirkland Signature Fish Oil has a low level of omega-3 fatty acids, compared to other fish oil supplements. With just 250 mg of EPA and DHA per serving, it’s even lower than Nature Made Fish Oil, and well below the recommendation made by WHO.
However, it’s also one of the cheapest omega-3 supplements on the market. At the time of writing this review, 1000 mg of fish oil, with 250 mg EPA and DHA cost just $0.03. For comparison, Nordic Naturals provides you with 1000 mg fish oil, 330 mg EPA, and 220 mg DHA for $0.44 per serving, even with their largest 180-count bottle.
In summary, Kirkland Signature Fish Oil is a good choice if you’re on a budget, or simply looking to top-up diet that’s already rich in omega-3 from natural foods. However, if your diet doesn’t contain much flaxseed oil, fatty fish, walnuts, or chia seeds, you might need more fatty acids from your supplement.
Dr.Tobias Omega 3 has 1,400 mg of EPA and DHA per serving, and is a bestseller in fish oil nutritional supplements on Amazon. Viva Naturals also has a high dose, with 1,880 mg combined per serving.
USA Home Gym gives in-depth insights into gym equipment, supplements, and fitness training methods. The motivation behind USA Home Gym is to provide you with information that goes beyond what you can find in any user manual, customer review, or other online review sites.
We go to great lengths to ensure that our reviews are completely comprehensive, usually covering everything from the design features to the warranty coverage and exercise options. This is all to help guide you towards the home gym equipment that’s best suited to your goals and budget, whilst also being the highest quality option in your chosen price range.
