OmegAvail Ultra Review by Designs for Health - Dr. Bell

A 46-year-old patient came to me with classic mid-life lab work. His triglycerides were 220, his HDL was on the low side, and his hs-CRP (a marker of inflammation) was elevated at 4.2. His primary care doctor had offered a statin. He wanted to try something less aggressive first. He also reported that his mood had felt flat for about a year and his joints ached after his weekend basketball game in a way they had not before.

I started him on OmegAvail Ultra, three softgels a day with meals. Three months later his triglycerides were 135, his HDL had ticked up, his hs-CRP was 1.6, and he told me his joints felt good again. The mood lift was the surprise. He had not expected that, but the literature supports it.

Omega-3 fish oil is one of the few supplements where the evidence is genuinely strong across multiple endpoints: cardiovascular markers, inflammation, mood, brain function, and joint comfort. The catch is that most fish oils on the market are oxidized, under-dosed, or in the wrong chemical form. OmegAvail Ultra solves all three of those problems.

What this product is actually doing

Your body uses two main long-chain omega-3 fatty acids: EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). EPA is the inflammation-resolving one. DHA is the structural omega-3 that builds brain tissue and retinal cells. Together they make up about 20% of the dry weight of the brain.

The Western diet is severely short on EPA and DHA. We eat plenty of omega-6 (from vegetable oils and grain-fed animal products) and almost no omega-3 (from cold-water fish, grass-fed meat, and certain seeds). The ratio matters because omega-6 fatty acids promote inflammation and omega-3 fatty acids resolve it. When the ratio is off (10:1 or 20:1 instead of the historic 2:1), the body sits in low-grade chronic inflammation. That inflammation underlies cardiovascular disease, autoimmune conditions, depression, joint pain, and accelerated brain aging.

OmegAvail Ultra delivers 1,500 mg of EPA + DHA in three softgels. That dose is in the therapeutic range for most clinical situations. The fish oil is in the natural triglyceride (TG) form, which absorbs significantly better than the cheaper ethyl ester (EE) form that most drugstore products use. Each softgel also includes lipase, the digestive enzyme that breaks down fats, to further boost absorption. The fish itself is small (anchovy, sardine, mackerel), which means less mercury accumulation than larger fish like tuna or shark.

What is in OmegAvail Ultra

Three softgels (the daily clinical dose) contain:

• EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), 900 mg
• DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), 600 mg
• Total EPA + DHA, 1,500 mg
• Lipase enzyme blend (for fat digestion and absorption)
• Mixed tocopherols (vitamin E family) to protect the oil from oxidation

The triglyceride (TG) form is the same chemical structure that fish make naturally. Many cheap fish oils are processed into ethyl ester (EE) form to concentrate the EPA and DHA, but EE absorbs about 50% as well as TG. DFH uses re-esterified TG, which combines the higher concentration of EE processing with the better absorption of natural TG. This is the form used in most quality clinical studies.

Third-party testing confirms low oxidation values (TOTOX, peroxide values), low heavy metals (mercury, lead, cadmium), and accurate EPA/DHA content. This matters because many shelf fish oils smell fishy specifically because the oil has oxidized, which means it has lost potency and may even contribute to oxidative stress rather than reducing it.

Who tends to do well on OmegAvail Ultra

The pattern that responds best:

• Elevated triglycerides (above 150)
• Low HDL or unfavorable cholesterol ratios
• Elevated hs-CRP or other inflammation markers
• Family history of cardiovascular disease
• Mild to moderate depression and anxiety
• Adults over 40 with cognitive sluggishness or memory complaints
• Pregnancy and lactation (DHA is critical for fetal and infant brain development)
• Children and teens with attention or focus issues (under pediatrician guidance)
• Patients with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or other autoimmune inflammation
• Athletes and high training volume (recovery and joint comfort)
• Patients with dry eye, dry skin, or low-grade hormonal issues
• Anyone with a typical Western diet (low fish, high vegetable oil)
• Statin patients who want adjunct support for cholesterol and inflammation

Who should skip it

• Patients on warfarin or other anticoagulants (omega-3 has a mild blood-thinning effect; coordinate with prescriber, especially at higher doses)
• People with severe fish allergy
• Patients about to have surgery (some surgeons want fish oil paused 1-2 weeks before)
• People with severe hereditary bleeding disorders
• Anyone with active gallbladder disease (fat digestion may be impaired; talk to your prescriber)
• Patients with persistent fishy aftertaste or burps (try keeping the softgels in the freezer; if it persists, switch to a more concentrated form like OmegAvail Hi-Po)

How to take it

For general cardiovascular and anti-inflammation support: three softgels a day with a meal, ideally split (two with breakfast or lunch, one with dinner).

For elevated triglycerides specifically: three to six softgels a day (1,500 to 3,000 mg EPA+DHA) for 12 weeks, then recheck labs and adjust. Higher doses should be coordinated with your prescriber.

For active autoimmune inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis, or severe joint pain: three to four softgels a day for 8 to 12 weeks to assess response.

For mood support: two to three softgels a day. The EPA-heavy ratio in this product (900 EPA to 600 DHA) is well suited to mood research.

Always take with a meal that contains some fat. Fat-soluble nutrients absorb three to five times better with food. Cold storage (refrigerator or freezer) extends shelf life and reduces fishy burps.

What to expect

• Weeks 1 to 2: most patients do not feel a dramatic change yet. Some notice slightly better sleep or joint comfort within days.
• Weeks 3 to 6: joint stiffness eases, dry skin improves, mood often lifts slightly. Triglycerides start to drop on labs.
• Weeks 8 to 12: full reduction in triglycerides (often 20-30% in responders). Inflammation markers like hs-CRP drop. Autoimmune flare frequency decreases.
• 3 to 6 months: full integration of omega-3 into cell membranes. Brain function and cardiovascular markers stabilize at a new baseline.
• If you stop: omega-3 levels in tissue decline slowly over weeks to months. The benefits fade gradually.

Side effects

• Very well tolerated for most people.
• Fishy aftertaste or fish burps, especially on empty stomach or with oxidized product. Switch to mealtime dosing or freezer storage.
• Loose stool at high doses (over 4 grams EPA+DHA per day). Drop the dose.
• Mild blood-thinning effect at higher doses; check with prescriber if on anticoagulants
• Possible heartburn in patients with reflux; pair with a meal containing protein
• Allergic reaction in fish-allergic patients

What I do not love about it

For patients who need very high EPA doses (severe triglyceride elevation, active autoimmune flare, major depressive disorder), three softgels a day is not quite enough. They need six softgels of OmegAvail Ultra, or they need OmegAvail Hi-Po which packs more EPA + DHA per softgel and reduces the daily pill count. OmegAvail Ultra is the sweet spot for general clinical use, not for maximum-dose situations.

The capsule size is moderate. Not huge, but a patient with pill aversion will notice three softgels a day. Some prefer OmegAvail Hi-Po Liquid for that reason (one teaspoon delivers the same dose).

And while the third-party testing is excellent, fish oil quality across the industry varies wildly. If a patient is committed to fish oil and prefers a different brand, I tell them to check the third-party test results (TOTOX value under 26, peroxide value low) before buying. Cheap fish oil is sometimes worse than no fish oil.

For broader background on omega-3 and cardiovascular outcomes, the PMC meta-analysis on marine omega-3 and cardiovascular disease covers the modern evidence, and the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements fact sheet on omega-3 covers the basic dosing and absorption science.

Bottom line

OmegAvail Ultra is the go-to fish oil I recommend for patients with elevated triglycerides, low-grade inflammation, mild depression, joint stiffness, dry skin, or general cardiovascular and brain health. The triglyceride form, the lipase enzyme, and the small-fish sourcing make it well-absorbed, low in heavy metals, and clinically dosed at three softgels a day. Take with meals for at least 8 to 12 weeks to see lab and symptom changes.

Always check with a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement, especially if you take blood thinners or have a fish allergy.

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