I bought NativePath Antarctic Krill Oil because I wanted to add an omega-3 supplement to my routine without dealing with the fishy taste and burps I usually associate with fish oil. Krill oil sounded like a cleaner alternative, and the fact that this one also contains astaxanthin made it more interesting to me.
I ended up liking some things about it, but I also found myself questioning whether I was getting enough omega-3 from each softgel to justify the price. After taking it consistently, I had a much more complicated opinion of it than I expected.
Key Takeaways
- The softgels are genuinely small and easy to take, with none of the fishy aftertaste I was worried about.
- I liked the simple ingredient list and the addition of astaxanthin.
- The amount of EPA and DHA per softgel is fairly low compared with the 500 mg total krill oil.
- At the regular price, I think there are cheaper ways to get omega-3s.
What Is NativePath Antarctic Krill Oil?
NativePath Antarctic Krill Oil is an omega-3 supplement made from wild-caught Antarctic krill. Each softgel contains 500 mg of krill oil, with 85 mg of omega-3s in the form of EPA and DHA, plus 200 mcg of astaxanthin. The company recommends taking one or two softgels a day with a meal.
The formula itself is pretty simple. The listed ingredients are krill oil, phospholipids and astaxanthin, with gelatin, glycerol and water making up the other ingredients. It also contains crustacean shellfish, which is something anyone with a shellfish allergy needs to notice before taking it.
The main reason I noticed this product in the first place was that krill oil is supposed to give you omega-3s without the unpleasant fishy experience that can come with regular fish oil. That was exactly what I was looking for.
Why I Tried NativePath Antarctic Krill Oil
I wanted an omega-3 supplement that I could actually stick with. I have tried supplements before that looked great on paper but became annoying once I had to take them every day, whether because the pills were huge, they tasted awful, or they left some weird aftertaste.
The small softgel was what sold me on this one. I also liked that it wasn’t a huge ingredient list full of things I had never heard of. I was mainly interested in the omega-3 content, but the astaxanthin was an added bonus.
My Experience With NativePath Antarctic Krill Oil
The first thing I noticed was the size of the softgel. It is genuinely small, which made taking it much easier than some of the giant fish-oil capsules I’ve come across. I usually took it with a meal, as recommended, and I didn’t have any problem swallowing it.
And the lack of fishy aftertaste was a definite win for me. That was probably the part of the product I appreciated most because I went into this expecting some kind of unpleasant seafood situation after taking it. Instead, it was basically just another small supplement to swallow and move on with my day.
I also liked that I wasn’t taking several different capsules just to get a complicated formula. The ingredient list is short, and I like that about it. There is something reassuring about being able to look at the label and immediately understand what the main ingredients are.
As for the actual effects, this is where my experience became less exciting. I didn’t notice a change in my energy, mood, joints or general well-being after starting it. I also wouldn’t be able to tell you that I suddenly felt healthier because I was taking krill oil. It was much more of a routine supplement for me than something where I could point to a specific day and say, “Yes, this is working.”
That doesn’t mean I think the capsules are useless. It just means I didn’t personally experience the kind of obvious difference that would make me rush out and buy another bottle regardless of the price. And then I looked more closely at the EPA and DHA amount.
The EPA and DHA Content Is What Gave Me Pause
This was the part that made me stop and actually read the label properly. NativePath says each softgel contains 500 mg of krill oil, but only 85 mg of that is omega-3 in the form of EPA and DHA.
Those numbers sound very different when you put them next to each other. When I first saw “500 mg krill oil,” my brain naturally registered that as a fairly substantial amount. But the number that matters when I’m specifically looking at an omega-3 supplement is how much EPA and DHA I’m actually getting.
At one softgel a day, that’s 85 mg of EPA and DHA. Even at two softgels, which is the upper end of NativePath’s suggested daily amount, that’s 170 mg. That doesn’t automatically make the product bad, but it changed how I viewed the bottle. I wouldn’t look at this and think I was getting 500 mg of EPA and DHA just because the front of the product says 500 mg krill oil.
For me, that distinction matters because I bought it specifically as an omega-3 supplement.
I Actually Like the Ingredient List
One thing I do like about NativePath Antarctic Krill Oil is how uncomplicated the formula is. The main ingredients are krill oil, phospholipids and astaxanthin. There aren’t a dozen random vitamins thrown into the capsule to make the label look more impressive.
The astaxanthin was particularly interesting to me because it occurs naturally in krill and is responsible for the reddish color associated with krill oil. NativePath includes 200 mcg per softgel.
I wouldn’t buy the product specifically because of all the antioxidant comparisons NativePath makes in its marketing. I was much more interested in the fact that astaxanthin is actually part of the krill oil formula rather than something added as a long list of extra ingredients.
What I Loved
- The softgels are small and easy to swallow.
- I didn’t get the fishy aftertaste I was worried about.
- The ingredient list is simple.
- It contains astaxanthin naturally alongside the krill oil.
- Taking it with a meal was easy to fit into my routine.
What I Didn’t Love
- The actual EPA and DHA amount is much lower than the 500 mg krill-oil number initially suggests.
- I didn’t notice any dramatic personal benefit from taking it.
- The regular price is not particularly cheap.
- You have to pay attention to the shellfish allergen.
- The amount of omega-3 per softgel made me question whether this was the most efficient way for me to supplement omega-3s.
Is NativePath Antarctic Krill Oil Worth the Price?
This is where I have mixed feelings. NativePath currently lists the 30-serving bottle at $57, although the company also runs promotional offers where the price can be considerably lower. At the regular $57 price, I would expect to be very impressed with the amount of EPA and DHA I’m getting. Instead, I’m looking at 85 mg per softgel.
The softgels are convenient, the formula is simple, and I appreciate not having to deal with fishy burps. But convenience alone isn’t enough for me to justify paying that much for a supplement when the actual EPA and DHA content is relatively modest.
If I found it heavily discounted, I would be much less bothered by that. At full price, though, I think the numbers deserve a closer look before buying.
Who I Think Will Love It
I think NativePath Antarctic Krill Oil makes the most sense for someone who specifically wants krill oil rather than regular fish oil and wants a small, easy-to-swallow softgel without the fishy aftertaste.
I also think it suits someone who likes simple formulas and doesn’t want a supplement loaded with unnecessary extras.
Who Should Skip It
I would skip it if you:
- Are mainly looking for a high amount of EPA and DHA per capsule.
- Are trying to get the most omega-3 for your money.
- Have a crustacean shellfish allergy.
- Expect to notice an obvious difference in how you feel from taking it.
- Don’t want to pay a premium for krill oil.
Alternatives
- Sports Research Triple Strength Omega-3 Fish Oil
- Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega
- NOW Foods Neptune Krill Oil
- Viva Naturals Omega-3 Fish Oil
Conclusion
I actually liked taking NativePath Antarctic Krill Oil more than I expected. The softgels are small, there was no unpleasant fishy aftertaste, and the formula is simple enough that I didn’t feel like I was swallowing a chemistry experiment every morning.
My problem is the amount of EPA and DHA. Once I looked past the 500 mg krill-oil number and saw that each softgel provides 85 mg of EPA and DHA, I started questioning whether I was getting enough omega-3 for what I was paying. I didn’t experience any dramatic personal benefits that made that concern disappear either.
So this isn’t a product I disliked. I just don’t think the price and omega-3 content make it an obvious choice for me.
Would I Buy It Again?
Probably not at the regular price. If I found it at a significant discount, I could see myself buying it again because I liked the softgels and the lack of fishy aftertaste. But if I’m spending around $57 for a 30-serving bottle, I would rather look for an option that gives me more EPA and DHA for the money.
Would I Recommend It?
I would recommend comparing the EPA and DHA numbers before buying it rather than buying it simply because it says “500 mg krill oil” on the label.
If you specifically want krill oil, want small softgels and hate fishy aftertaste, it may be worth considering. If your main goal is getting a substantial amount of EPA and DHA, there are other options I would look at first.
Also read my similar review of the Milamend Hormone Balance Powder for PCOS