Omega 3 Epax Nutripure in Paris: highly concentrated EPA and DHA

An omega-3 capsule should not be judged by its total weight but by how much EPA and DHA it actually contains. Many products print “1000 mg of fish oil” in large type and 180 mg of EPA in small print: you then need six or eight capsules to reach a useful amount.

Here, three capsules provide 1,260 mg of EPA and 900 mg of DHA. The Epax oil is concentrated upstream, so each capsule holds more. EPA and DHA contribute to the normal function of the heart, and DHA contributes to the maintenance of normal brain function and normal vision; the beneficial effect is obtained with a daily intake of 250 mg, a threshold the daily serving covers comfortably.

To concentrate fish oil, the industry often turns it into ethyl esters, a synthetic form that is less well absorbed and more prone to oxidation. Epax works differently: after concentration, the oil is converted back to the triglyceride form found naturally in fish. When comparing two products, look for the word “triglyceride” on the pack.

Fish oil oxidises, and the TotOx index measures how far: the lower it is, the fresher the oil. The industry standard tolerates up to 26; Nutripure guarantees a TotOx below 7 for this product. In practice, the capsules have no odour. It is a figure we always check before listing a fish oil in our Paris 12th shop.

The oil comes from small wild fish: anchovies, sardines and mackerel. Low in the food chain and short-lived, these species accumulate far fewer heavy metals and pollutants than large predators. The fishing is certified Friend of the Sea, and contaminant analyses are run batch by batch.

Nutripure is a French brand founded in 2017 near Toulouse by the brothers Christophe and Florent Carrio. For its omega-3 it chose the patented Epax oil, and it publishes the analysis certificates on its website. The capsules are made in France, in Brittany, from Epax® oil produced in Norway. We also keep the certificates in store: ask us and we will show you the TotOx of the batch you buy.

Three capsules a day with a meal that contains a little fat: omega-3s are lipids and are much better absorbed with fat than on an empty stomach. Take all three at lunch or one at each meal; both work. The 90-capsule bottle lasts one month.

Keep the bottle tightly closed, away from light and heat; a cupboard is enough, no need for the fridge. Contains fish (fish oil and a fish gelatin shell), so it is not suitable for vegetarians; for a plant source, look at microalgae oils. If you take an anticoagulant medicine, talk to your doctor before starting.

Quantity is only half the story: the balance with omega-6, abundant in sunflower, corn and grapeseed oils and in processed foods, matters too. A ratio of around 5 to 1 is considered desirable, while Western diets often reach 15 or 20 to 1. Swapping sunflower oil for olive or rapeseed oil counts as much as a supplement. Flaxseed, walnuts and rapeseed provide ALA, of which the body converts only a small fraction into EPA and DHA. See also our omega-3 section and our antioxidants.

Herba Barona has been a food supplement shop since 2006 at 10 rue Théophile Roussel, Paris 12th, open Tuesday to Saturday, 9.30 am to 6.30 pm, near Ledru-Rollin (line 8) and Bastille (lines 1, 5, 8) metro stations.