Sports Research and Nordic Naturals both sell omega-3 fish oil on Amazon, and both listings show a 4.7-star rating. The clearest differences are the total dose in each listing title (1250mg for Sports Research, 1280mg for Nordic Naturals), the price per listed count and the bottle sizes on offer. Here is each one side by side, and what to check before you choose.
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What each product is and who sells it
Sports Research sells Omega-3 Fish Oil 1250mg from Wild Alaska Pollock. Its Amazon listing names the fish source in the title and offers the product in 30, 90, 180 and 240 counts.
Nordic Naturals sells Ultimate Omega, a 1280mg Omega-3 Fish Oil in a lemon flavor. Its Amazon listing offers it in 90 and 210 counts.
Both products are omega-3 fish oil, so the choice comes down to the details below: the dose as stated, bottle size, price, buyer ratings and each seller's refund terms.
Side-by-side comparison
| Item | Sports Research | Nordic Naturals |
|---|---|---|
| Product name in listing title | Omega-3 Fish Oil 1250mg from Wild Alaska Pollock | Ultimate Omega, 1280mg Omega-3 Fish Oil, Lemon |
| Dose stated in title | 1250mg | 1280mg |
| Counts offered | 30, 90, 180, 240 | 90, 210 |
| Listed price per bottle | $18.33 (30), $30.25 (90), $54.95 (180), $139.75 (240) | $32.39 (90), $60.86 (210) |
| Price per listed count (price divided by the count the listing shows) | $0.61 (30), $0.34 (90), $0.31 (180), $0.58 (240) | $0.36 (90), $0.29 (210) |
| Star rating on Amazon | 4.7 | 4.7 |
| Reviews on Amazon | 60,961 | 60,276 |
| Amazon monthly sales estimate | About 90,000 (90 count), about 10,000 (180), about 9,000 (30) | About 80,000 (90 count), about 10,000 (210) |
The prices and listing figures in this table are what each Amazon listing shows. Prices change, so check the live price at checkout.
Ingredients and dose per serving
Each listing title gives one total number: 1250mg for Sports Research and 1280mg for Nordic Naturals. That number does not tell you how much EPA and DHA each serving delivers. The Supplement Facts panel on the bottle you receive is where you check the serving size and the amounts it lists. We would read that panel closely before you decide.
Nordic Naturals' listing names lemon flavor. Sports Research's listing names Wild Alaska Pollock as the fish source. If taste or fish source matters to you, those are the differences you can see on the listings.
For help reading a product label against your care plan, see understanding labels.
Does the research show these products work?
No study linked on this page tests either of these two products. To see what research says about omega-3 fish oil, search the ingredient in PubMed, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's database of published studies. Then check three things: the study type, how many people took part, and who funded it. The Evaluating Evidence Quality page covers how to assess the strength of research findings, and the Research Funding, Conflicts of Interest page covers conflicts of interest.
Why is research important in sport?
If you searched why sports research, here is what research does in sport: it measures performance so training can be planned. A 2021 study of Nordic combined athletes followed 24 male athletes from the German national squad over five winter seasons. It found that higher test performance went with a more likely top position, and it recommended test speed at a lactate level of 4 mmol/l as a robust measure for performance diagnostics. Nordic combined is a winter sport, not a supplement, so that study shows how sport research works, not how fish oil works.
Research also checks its own tools. A 2011 study of a balance test for Nordic sit-ski athletes, with 33 participants, reported that the test was reliable and valid.
Research also moves in stages. A NIDDK mouse gut microbiota study from 2017, published in the journal Cell, reported that laboratory mice given natural microbiota showed reduced inflammation and increased survival after influenza virus infection. That work was done in mice. A result like that is a starting point, not proof for people.
Side effects and who should ask a pharmacist first
Side effects and drug interactions are the safety questions that come before price. Before you start either product, ask a pharmacist to check it against your current medicines, including any prescription drugs. Read the warnings on the bottle you receive and bring them to that conversation. If you have a health condition your doctor is managing, ask your clinician first.
Refunds, guarantees and shipping
Check each seller's returns and shipping information on the listing or at checkout before you buy. Read it before you click buy, and save your order confirmation. If the terms are unclear, contact the seller's support first and ask for the refund window in writing.
What buyers see in reviews
Both Amazon listings show 4.7 stars. Sports Research's listing shows 60,961 reviews, and Nordic Naturals' shows 60,276. Amazon's monthly sales estimates are about 90,000 for Sports Research's 90-count and about 80,000 for Nordic Naturals' 90-count. These are the listing's own figures. They show how many buyers rated each product and how often it sells. They do not measure how well a fish oil works for you.
Price per listed count and what it means per day
Per-count prices are the listed price divided by the count shown on each listing. Sports Research's 30-count is the highest per count at about 61 cents, and its 180-count is the lowest of its own sizes at about 31 cents. Nordic Naturals' 210-count is about 29 cents per count, the lowest figure on this page.
To work out your daily cost, use the label's directions. Divide the bottle price by the number of days one bottle lasts at those directions to check your own number.
Who each one suits
Sports Research may suit you if you want the fish source named in the title, or a choice of sizes from 30 to 240 counts. Its 180-count is the lowest per count among its own sizes.
Nordic Naturals may suit you if you prefer a lemon flavor, or if you want to choose between a 90-count and a 210-count. Its 210-count is the lowest per count on this page.
Neither listing settles which one works better for you. The listings do not establish which one works better.
Before you order
Settle these questions first, and the choice usually becomes clear. Here is what we would check first:
- How much EPA and DHA does one serving give, according to each bottle's Supplement Facts panel?
- How many capsules does the label say make one serving?
- Does lemon flavor matter to you, and does the named fish source matter?
- What refund window does each seller state before you buy?
- Has a pharmacist checked the product against your medicines?
If you are still deciding whether a supplement belongs in your routine at all, read about the right time to consider natural supplement first.
By the Senior Safety Desk Editorial Team
This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult your doctor or qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health routine.