Question about item
500 mg DHA a day, and not a single fish involved
Optiolex Ω 3 Vegan takes its omega-3 from the microalga Schizochytrium, the organism that produces DHA and EPA in the first place. Two soft capsules a day, plant-based from the oil to the shell, made for the Optiolex range from Lannach in Styria.
Somewhere around the mid-forties, the shopping basket starts to change. Less by resolution than by habit. A bit more attention to what is actually on the plate, and the quiet admission that oily fish twice a week rarely happens. Flaxseed oil and walnuts supply omega-3 too, but as ALA, the short-chain form. The body converts only a small fraction of ALA into DHA and EPA, so a plant-based diet often runs low on exactly these two.
Algal oil solves this at the source. Schizochytrium synthesises the long-chain fatty acids itself, so the oil contains DHA and EPA in finished form and nothing needs converting. The profile leans towards DHA at a ratio of two to one, which mirrors where the body concentrates it: in the membranes of brain cells and the retina. Swallow the capsule whole so the oil reaches the stomach protected by its shell.
Optiolex is the brand of Alexander Eigl, a therapeutic masseur and nutrition coach based in Lannach, Styria. His range grew out of what he needed in his own practice, and the Roman numeral XXVI on the label marks this product's place in that line. Production follows GMP guidelines, the quality standard borrowed from pharmaceutical manufacturing. At viterna.at it sits in the range as a plant-based option for women and men who want their omega-3 covered without fish.
Take 1 capsule twice daily, unchewed, with sufficient water. For pregnant and breastfeeding women a maximum daily intake of 450 mg DHA and EPA is recommended (equivalent to 1 capsule).
Nutritional information per daily dose (2 capsules) and per capsule
| Composition | 2 capsules | 1 capsule | % NRV* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Algal oil | 1,668.0 mg | 834.0 mg | ** |
| of which omega-3 fatty acids | 917.0 mg | 458.5 mg | ** |
| of which DHA | 500.0 mg | 250.0 mg | ** |
| of which EPA | 250.0 mg | 125.0 mg | ** |
* Percentage of nutrient reference values (NRV) according to Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011. ** No NRV established.
Trade name: Food supplement with DHA and EPA
Ingredients: DHA- and EPA-rich oil from the microalga Schizochytrium sp., humectant: glycerol, coating agent: pea starch, thickener: algal carrageenan, sunflower oil, antioxidants: rosemary extract, tocopherol-rich extracts and ascorbyl palmitate.
Net quantity: 60 capsules · 71.0 g
Why does the label list omega-3 at 917 mg when DHA and EPA add up to 750 mg?
Because DHA and EPA are the two best-known omega-3 fatty acids, not the only ones. Algal oil from Schizochytrium naturally carries a share of other omega-3 forms alongside them, and the 917 mg figure counts the whole family. DHA and EPA are declared separately because those two carry the authorised health claims. They are also the lines worth comparing between products, rather than total omega-3 or total oil weight.
⚠️ Mandatory information: Food supplements are not a substitute for a balanced and varied diet and a healthy lifestyle. Do not exceed the stated recommended daily dose.
📦 Storage: Store closed, cool, dry, protected from light and out of reach of young children.
💬 Frequently asked questions
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Is algal omega-3 as good as fish oil?+The DHA molecule is identical whether it comes from an alga or from a sardine that ate the alga. What differs is the packaging around it: fish oil tends to be EPA-heavy, algal oil is DHA-heavy, and algal oil never passes through a marine food chain. If your reason for taking omega-3 is DHA, algal oil is the more direct route.
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I'm in my fifties and going through the menopause. Does this fit?+Menopause is a stage of life, not a condition this product addresses. What many women do at this stage is take stock of their everyday nutrient supply, and DHA and EPA are hard to reach without oily fish. Optiolex Ω 3 Vegan covers that gap from a plant source. It contains no plant extracts or isoflavones, so it combines without overlap with other products from the range, such as Optiolex Fem.
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How soon will I notice anything?+Probably not in a way you can feel. DHA and EPA are incorporated into cell membranes over weeks, and the authorised claims describe the maintenance of normal function rather than a noticeable change. Think of it as steady supply rather than a quick fix. If a previous omega-3 product "did nothing", check how much DHA it actually contained per capsule. 100 mg is common, which is below the 250 mg the authorised claims require; this one has 250 mg.
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One capsule or two?+The recommended intake is one capsule twice a day, which gives 500 mg DHA and 250 mg EPA and makes the jar last 30 days. One capsule alone already meets the 250 mg level for the DHA claims and stretches the jar to 60 days. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, one capsule is the upper limit.
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Will I get the fishy burps?+No fish, no fishy burps. Algal oil smells neutral to faintly grassy, and the softgel is swallowed whole with water, so the oil is not released in the mouth. If a jar ever smells sharp or stale when opened, that would be a sign the oil has oxidised; stored closed, cool and dark, it should not.
Distributor / Responsible Person (GPSR, EU 2023/988): Alexander Eigl (Optiolex) · Hauptstraße 20a · 8502 Lannach · Austria · office@optiolex.com
Manufactured to GMP guidelines for Alexander Eigl, Lannach.