[YakAl's 3-Line Summary💊]

Omega-3 extraction methodsare supercritical and molecular distillation. If it's a molecular distillation product from a trustworthy raw material supplier, it's sufficient for general health promotion purposes.
Among the three forms TGÂ·EEÂ·rTG,, rTG, which captures both absorption rate and purity, is the best choice..
'The term 'plant-based' has two meanings mixed together. You must check the contents (oil) and capsule (shell) separately..

Hello, I'm Aiden.

In Part 1, we looked at EPA+DHA content, raw material suppliers, and price.

Once you know these three things, the product detail page will feel a bit less unfamiliar.

But our YakAl guide doesn't end there.

As you scroll down the detail page, other terms appear. Supercritical, rTG, plant-based capsules... these are areas that still need explanation.

In Part 2, we'll finish organizing the rest!

Extraction method, form, the difference between animal-based and plant-based, and rancidity and individual packaging.

Once you read both Part 1 and Part 2, you won't hesitate in front of any omega-3 product detail page!

Omega-3 Extraction Methods â Molecular Distillation vs Supercritical, What's the Difference

Omega-3 is fish oil.

To filter impurities from oil, a refining process is necessary, and the method is broadly divided into 2 types.

Molecular distillation extraction

a method of heating oil at high temperatures to evaporate impurities..

Most omega-3 products on the market are made using this method.

It's a stable and suitable method for making products with purity of 80% or less.

However, if you try to forcibly increase purity using this method, impurities like benzo[a]pyrene can be generated, so it's important to maintain limits.

Supercritical extraction

a method that uses high-pressure carbon dioxide instead of heat to extract oil..

Because it occurs at low temperatures, nutrient damage is minimal and higher-purity omega-3 can be obtained.

Since it's a costly method, products using this process often clearly mark 'supercritical extraction'on the detail page.

So is only supercritical extraction good?

Not necessarily. The molecular distillation method is also sufficiently stable at purity levels of 80% or less.

If you use a trustworthy raw material supplier, products pass international certification standards, so, examining the reliability of the raw material supplier before the extraction method is a more practically effective judgment..

Let me point out one more thing. Some omega-3s at the prescription drug level have purity over 90%, but excessively high purity can actually increase digestive burden or bleeding risk.

For general health purposes, purity of 75~80% percent is appropriate.

Choosing a high-purity product yourself without professional prescription requires caution.

TGÂ·EEÂ·rTG â Omega-3 Form Determines Absorption Rate

Even with the same omega-3, how much our body absorbs varies depending on what 'form' it is.

We compared three forms that can be confirmed on the product detail page.

Form	Description	Absorption Rate	One-Line Summary
TG	Natural fatty acid form	High	Just like wild-caught, the body recognizes it best
EE	A form that has undergone chemical treatment for high purity	Low	Mainly used in prescription drugs, somewhat difficult to digest
rTG	A form of TG refined further through a refining process	High	Combines the absorption rate of TG + the purity of EE, both advantages

Among the three, rTG formis the most balanced choice.

It maintains the high absorption rate of its natural state while increasing purity through the refining process.

If it's a product where you can confirm the omega-3 form,, it's recommended to prioritize choosing rTG form.

Animal-Based vs Plant-Based Omega-3 â Why These Two Words Are Confusing

When you see the word 'plant-based' on an omega-3 product detail page, caution is needed.

Actually, this single word contains 2 different meanings mixed together..

You must look at the contents and capsule separately.

Contents (Oil) â Where It Was Extracted From

Animal-based: omega-3 extracted from fish
Plant-based: omega-3 extracted from microalgae (plankton)

Because plant-based plankton omega-3 is extracted from the bottom of the food chain, the risk of heavy metal contamination is relatively low.

The price is also higher. If you're vegan, pregnant, or allergic to animal-based ingredients, it's good to choose a plant-origin product.

Capsule (Shell) â What It's Made From

Capsule Type	Material	Characteristics
Gelatin capsule	Animal-based	Excellent rancidity prevention effect
Plant-based capsule (HPMC, etc.))	Plant-based	No animal allergy concerns, relatively lower rancidity prevention effect
Liquid soft capsule	Premium formulation	Most expensive, excellent content protection effect

There is an advertising method to be careful about..

Products where only the capsule is plant-based and the contents are fish omega-3 are, promoted as if plant-based omega-3in some cases..

'When you see the phrase 'plant-based',, it's necessary to develop a habit of directly checking on the detail page whether it refers to the capsule or the contents..

If you've had frequent fish oil burps or stomach discomfort after taking omega-3, it may not be a product problem.

👉 It's because oil floats on water in the stomach, [Why omega-3 fishy burps occur and how to reduce them]are organized separately in a separate section, so please refer to it!

Individual PackagingÂ·PurityÂ·Rancidity â To Keep Good Omega-3 from Going Bad

Even if you choose a good omega-3, it's useless if the storage method is incorrect.

Omega-3 becomes rancid when exposed to air, light, and heat.

Rancid omega-3 is not a supplement.

It's good to think of it as oil that's harmful to your body.

Individual Packaging (PTP) vs Bulk Packaging

Products in a bottle expose all capsules to air every time you open the lid.

In contrast, individual packaging means you open one capsule at a time, so the remaining capsules are completely sealed from the outside until that moment.

If you want to reduce omega-3 rancidity, it's good to prioritize choosing individual packaging products.

오메가3 산패를 줄이고 싶다면, 개별포장 제품을 우선적으로 선택 권장. 약사 디시 추천

Misconception About Purity

It's easy to think higher purity is better.

However, around 75~80% is sufficient for general health supplementation purposes.

Vitamin E (tocopherol) can be included as a rancidity prevention ingredient.

If a product has too many unnecessary oils or other ingredients besides that, it can actually lower the omega-3 purity and make interactions more complex.

Capsule Size

Smaller capsules have the advantage of being easier to swallow.

However, as capsules become smaller, the content of active ingredients also decreases.

If you have difficulty swallowing, you can choose smaller capsules, but it's necessary to carefully check whether the daily intake standard is being met.

If you've chosen a good omega-3, when and how you take it is also important.

👉 If you're curious about the optimal timing to increase absorption rate,, [omega-3: empty stomach vs after meals, which is more effective?]check it out!

Final Summary of Omega-3 Selection Criteria

That was a long section!

Finally, let me emphasize only the key points.

Supercritical is premium for extraction method, but molecular distillation products from trustworthy raw material suppliers are also sufficient for general purposes.
For omega-3 form, choosing rTG among TGÂ·EEÂ·rTG is best.
Animal-basedÂ·plant-based requires checking the contents and capsule separately.
To reduce rancidity, choose individual packaging products.
Purity of around 75~80% is sufficient. Excessively high purity is actually a burden.

👉 If you want to directly check how these criteria are actually reflected in product evaluation,, [how Aiden evaluates omega-3] read the column together.

You can see at a glance how the content learned in Part 1 and Part 2 connects to the actual scores in YakAl product evaluation!

Until now, this has been pharmacist Aiden from YakAl.

Thank you 😄