Omega 3 and salmon on a counter

NUA omega-3, explained: purity, concentration, and why EPA and DHA are separated

Omega-3 supplements vary more than almost any other category. Two bottles can both say fish oil on the front and contain wildly different amounts of the fatty acids that matter, in different chemical forms, with very different testing behind them. Nua Biological Innovations sits at the concentrated, high-purity end of that spectrum, and it does one thing most brands do not: it separates the two main omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA, into two distinct products rather than blending them into one.

This guide explains what that separation is for, what NUA's purity and concentration figures actually mean, and how to read an omega-3 label so you can judge any product, not just this one.

What makes NUA different

NUA is a Spanish laboratory that specialises in highly purified, highly concentrated marine omega-3. The starting fish oil is refined to strip out the components that are not omega-3, such as cholesterol and saturated fats, leaving an oil that is unusually rich in EPA and DHA. The result is two flagship products that carry a high concentration active fatty acid per softgel.

NuaEPA 1200 provides around 1,200 mg of EPA per softgel, at more than 93 per cent omega-3, in triglyceride form, from wild anchovy under a sustainable fishing and purification process. NuaDHA 1000 sits at a minimum of 90 per cent omega-3 per pearl, built around DHA. Both are third-party tested for purity, and certain formats carry recognised independent quality seals.

Concentration matters because it changes how many capsules you need to reach a meaningful intake. A low-concentration fish oil might need several capsules to match what one NUA softgel delivers, which affects both cost per dose and how easy the routine is to keep.

Why NUA separates EPA and DHA

Most fish oil products combine EPA and DHA in a fixed ratio decided by the manufacturer. NUA takes the opposite approach and offers them separately, so the intake can be tailored rather than fixed.

The practical effect is flexibility. Someone can take EPA on its own, DHA on its own, or both together, in the amounts that suit their routine and what a practitioner has advised. This is a formulation choice about control and personalisation, the same principle behind buying a single nutrient rather than a fixed blend. It is not a claim that one fatty acid does one job and the other does another. If you are deciding which to take, that is a conversation worth having with a qualified practitioner who can look at your whole routine.

What omega-3 is authorised to say

This is where it pays to be precise, because most omega-3 marketing online overstates what the evidence is allowed to support in a commercial setting. Under EU rules, only specific, authorised wording can be used. For EPA and DHA, the clearest authorised claim is straightforward:

EPA and DHA contribute to the normal function of the heart.

Under the EU Register, that effect is associated with a daily intake of 250 mg of EPA and DHA. 

Two further authorised claims exist for EPA and DHA, relating to the maintenance of normal blood pressure and normal blood triglyceride levels, but these apply only at substantially higher daily intakes and come with their own conditions of use. They are worth knowing about, but they are not the everyday framing for most customers.

How to read an omega-3 label

Whether you are looking at NUA or anything else, these are the things worth checking. They separate a serious omega-3 from a commodity one.

  • EPA and DHA content, not total oil. The number that matters is the milligrams of EPA and DHA per serving, not the total fish oil weight. A 1,000 mg fish oil capsule might contain only 300 mg of actual omega-3.

  • Concentration. A higher percentage of omega-3 per capsule means fewer capsules for the same intake. NUA's figures sit at the high end of what is available.

  • Chemical form. Triglyceride form is generally well absorbed and is what NUA uses. The label should tell you the form rather than leave you guessing.

  • Third-party testing. Independent testing for purity and contaminants, such as an IFOS rating, is a strong signal for a marine oil, where contaminant control genuinely matters.

  • Sourcing and sustainability. Smaller wild fish such as anchovy from managed fisheries are a more sustainable and typically cleaner starting point than larger species.

Where NUA fits at Supplement Hub

NUA is on the catalogue because it clears the bar on the things that are hard to fake: concentration, purity, form and independent testing. For anyone who wants to control their EPA and DHA intake precisely rather than accept a fixed blend, the separated format is the point.

Supplement Hub is a B-Corp certified, clinician-curated supplement retailer based in Amsterdam, serving customers across Europe with premium supplements from 150+ vetted brands.

Comparing the two flagship products


NuaEPA 1200

NuaDHA 1000

Principal omega-3

EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)

DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)

Omega-3 purity

Min 93% per softgel

Min 90% per pearl

Per softgel

~1,200 mg EPA

~1,000 mg DHA

Form

Triglyceride form

Triglyceride concentrate

Sourcing

Wild anchovy, sustainable fishing

Purified marine concentrate

Testing

Third-party tested, IFOS seal

Third-party tested

Figures describe product composition. Confirm exact stocked variants, capsule counts and certifications against the live Supplement Hub listings before publishing.

Frequently asked questions

Is this the same as other supplement brands called NUA?

No. NUA here means Nua Biological Innovations, a Spanish laboratory specialising in concentrated marine omega-3. It is not connected to other supplement brands that happen to share the NUA name.

Should I take EPA, DHA, or both?

That depends on your routine and what you are trying to do, and it is a good question for a qualified practitioner rather than a blog. NUA separates the two precisely so the choice is yours rather than fixed by a blend.

What does triglyceride form mean?

It describes the chemical form the omega-3 is in. Triglyceride form is the form found naturally in fish and is generally well absorbed. The alternative, ethyl ester form, is more processed. NUA uses triglyceride form.

How much EPA and DHA is associated with the heart claim?

Under the EU Register, the authorised claim that EPA and DHA contribute to the normal function of the heart is associated with a daily intake of 250 mg of EPA and DHA.

 

ブログに戻る