Product philosophy
Our product philosophy is built on two core convictions:
- Our health and wellbeing benefit from a sufficient intake of marine omega-3 fatty acids (EPA & DHA).
- Our nutrition should be kept as natural and non-processed as possible
Marine omega-3 fatty acids, in their most natural form, are found in fish. Therefore, the most natural way to consume omega-3s is to eat fish (at least if you ignore the heavy metal content of fish).
Using a fish oil is an attractive option to obtain sufficient omega-3 fatty acids. On the one hand, because you avoid ingesting heavy metals (NORSAN fish oils are purified using a unique 3-step process that removes heavy metals, pollutants and PCBs). On the other hand, through eating fish alone it is hard to reach the required intake of marine omega-3 fatty acids.
As natural as possible – among other things, this means that our oil never comes from farmed fish.
The growing fish farming industry is a real problem, and not only for nature and the biotope of the Norwegian fjords. When we eat farmed fish, we also indirectly consume what the fish ingest through the food they are given, such as chemicals and antibiotics.
In the belief that our food should be as natural as possible, we at Norsan only use wild fish from sustainable fisheries for our omega-3 oils.
What does this mean? In fish there is a natural complex of more than 50 different fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids account for no more than about 35%. The other fatty acids are mainly saturated, omega-6, omega-7, omega-9 as well as omega-11 fatty acids. Although the dosage of omega-3 plays an important role in our diet, we believe that humans benefit more from consuming this natural complex of fatty acids because triglycerides are present in their natural state.
It is tempting to use an omega-3 concentrate in product development because these concentrates contain up to 90% omega-3. But this no longer has anything to do with what is found in nature, because in a concentrate, the natural fat structure is modified.
It is not yet known whether this form of modified fat poses any health risks.
In addition, chemically modifying omega-3 fatty acids makes them more unstable and thus increases the risk of oxidation, making them ineffective.
We believe that nature provides the best answer. This is why, for example, we only use natural fish oils in our products, which are highly dosed but never concentrated.
As natural as possible – finally this means that we are concerned with the fact that during the fish oil purification process, secondary essential nutrients naturally present in the fish are removed.
Scientific work, including that of Professor Bjarne Østerrud from the University of Tromsø, has shown that extra virgin olive oil can partly replace some of the active ingredients removed during the purification process. The positive synergy between fish oil and olive oil has been confirmed in practice.
That is why NORSAN’s flagship products Omega-3 Total and Omega-3 Vegan contain extra virgin olive oil. But not just any olive oil. We source our olive oil from an olive grower in Spain who works in strict compliance with organic standards. The advantage of this olive oil is that it has a high content of polyphenols. Polyphenols have a powerful antioxidant effect that will protect the omega-3 fatty acids from oxidation, not only in the bottle, but also and especially during their transport in the body via lipoproteins.
As natural as possible – no farmed fish, no concentrates.
Quality, purity and durability
A product is only as exceptional as the raw materials used to create it. Our ambition—and our personal commitment to you—is to ensure that only the finest, most meticulously selected ingredients make it into our formulations.
Utilizing fish liver—traditionally considered a co-product—has proven essential for producing high-quality cod liver oil (similar to traditional cod liver oil). This is why we offer a premium Arctic Cod Liver Oil (Omega-3 Arktis). We maintain a strict policy against using oils derived from any other types of fish scraps or industrial waste.
Fish and fish stocks are a limited and valuable resource. That is why we consider it our duty to focus on sustainable fishing and the responsible use of marine resources in the manufacture of our products. Our ethical duty is not limited to obtaining independent sustainability labels. NORSAN greatly appreciates being able to harvest the treasures of the sea and considers it its duty to behave and act responsibly.ln.
The best quality fish oil is obtained by using whole fish. Our flagship product, Omega-3 Total, is obtained from small fish such as anchovies, mackerel and sardines. Our raw materials are sourced from suppliers with whom we have longstanding and close partnerships. This relationship of mutual trust allows us to be involved from the very beginning of the supply process.
Generally, fish oils can be extracted from various processing remains that were not used for other products. We are fundamentally skeptical of this practice, as we are convinced that a premium fish oil should be derived from the whole fish. The only exception is the use of fish liver, which has long been the proven standard for producing high-quality Arctic Cod Liver Oil (traditionally known as cod liver oil).
Algae oil as an alternative to fish oil
Algae oil is an exciting new source of marine Omega-3 (EPA and DHA) that offers several key advantages over traditional fish oil:
Our algae are cultivated in a controlled environment using pure, filtered seawater. This ensures the oil is naturally free from heavy metals and other environmental pollutants.
By utilizing organic materials like glucose for growth, we offer a highly sustainable and eco-friendly source of essential EPA and DHA Omega-3 fatty acids.
No animals or fishes need to die; Algae oil is vegan food.
From these advantages NORSAN included in 2017 a high quality algae oil in our offering Omega-3 Vegan products.
A fair price
We believe that pricing should be transparent and accessible. While it is true that high-quality raw materials require a greater investment, NORSAN strives to keep our prices at a fair and reasonable level.
Our mission is to enable as many people as possible to achieve an optimal Omega-3 supply—and for that to happen, the price must make sense for you.
Current Pricing per Gram of Omega-3 Here are the prices per gram of Omega-3 for NORSAN’s three main oils (as of August 2022):
| Omega-3 Total | € 0,54 | – Main ingredient: First quality fish oil (extracted from whole fish). – Also contains organic extra virgin olive oil and vitamin D3. |
| Omega-3 Vegan | € 0,73 | – Main ingredient: Cultured algea oil. – Also contains organic extra virgin olive oil and vegan vitamin D3. |
| Omega-3 Arktis | € 0,35 | – Composed of 100% cod liver oil from the northern coast of Norway. |
Easy-to-use and effective
NORSAN products must be easy-to-use and effective. We strive to use as few ingredients as possible in each of our products. In fact, ideally we would have liked there to be only one ingredient: 100% fish oil or 100% algea oil. Our Omega-3 Arktis product, for example, is composed of 100% cod liver oil, however for anti-oxidation purposes, we need to add some vitamin e.
Personalized and Optimal Dosage
Opinions and recommendations regarding the right daily dose of omega-3 are divergent, ranging from about 0.3 grams (the equivalent of two regular capsules) to 4 or 5 grams per day. The right dosage actually depends on several individual factors such as dietary habits, the body’s capacity for absorption, weight, etc. This means that there is no right or wrong dosage, because the right or wrong dosage always depends on individual factors.
Blood tests can simply measure its omega-3 index and detect an omega-3 deficiency and provide the basis of suggested dose.
Analyses carried out on more than 10,000 of our clients have shown that it takes at least 2 grams of omega-3 fatty acids per day to regulate an omega-3 deficiency.
The measurement and analysis of fatty acids makes it possible to verify the effectiveness of the different sources of omega-3 and fatty acids.
Why is flax seed oil alone not enough to regulate an omega-3 deficiency?
Flax seed oil contains more than 50% vegetable omega-3 in the form of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). But it is mainly the long-chain marine omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA that are beneficial to health. And only a small amount of ALA can be converted into EPA and DHA in the body. Analyses confirm that the consumption of flax seed oil is insufficient to regulate a deficiency in omega-3 EPA and DHA.
Why you won’t find Krill Oil at NORSAN
Krill oil is a high-quality Omega-3 source with potent antioxidant properties. However, to achieve an effective therapeutic dosage of approximately 2 grams of Omega-3 per day, the production costs are exceptionally high. This would result in a consumer price of €200–€300 per month.
Often, krill oil is recommended in much lower doses to keep the price attractive; however, this compromises its overall effectiveness. Because of this imbalance between cost and potency, krill oil does not align with the NORSAN product philosophy of providing effective, accessible nutrition.
