Fish oilHow much EPA and DHA is in a fish oil capsule?
Updated 4 Nov 2026
Short answer
A typical 1000 mg capsule holds about 180 mg of EPA and 120 mg of DHA, so about 300 mg of omega-3. Products vary widely.[1] The trial capsule in VITAL held 460 mg of EPA and 380 mg of DHA.[1]
The amount in the capsule can differ from the label. A test of 32 products in New Zealand found that 69% held less than 67% of the labelled amount. Most also exceeded limits for oxidation, the breakdown of the oil by oxygen.[2] A test of 20 omega-3 products in France found that most met the label, though six fell short on total omega-3, EPA or DHA. None of the 20 was oxidized.[3]
Sources (3)
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. ods.od.nih.gov
- Fish oil supplements in New Zealand are highly oxidised and do not meet label content of n-3 PUFA. Albert BB, Derraik JG, Cameron-Smith D, Hofman PL, Tumanov S, Villas-Boas SG, et al. Sci Rep, 2015. PMID 25604397
- Assessment of Lipid Quality in Commercial Omega-3 Supplements Sold in the French Market. Pasini F, Gómez-Caravaca AM, Blasco T, Cvejić J, Caboni MF, Verardo V Biomolecules, 2022. PMID 36291569
More about fish oil
What is fish oil?Does fish oil reduce inflammation?Is eating fish better than taking fish oil?What is fish oil used for?Should fish oil be taken with food?Does fish oil prevent heart attacks?For education; not medical advice. Talk to a doctor before you start, stop or change a supplement.