OmegaXL Review: Is This Omega-3 Supplement Effective?

If you have joint pain, you know how much it can interfere with your daily life.

At the same time, you may be interested in trying supplements with natural ingredients before turning to medications for pain relief.

You may have heard that omega-3 fats can help reduce inflammation and joint pain, so you’re interested in buying an omega-3 product for joint pain — like OmegaXL.

OmegaXL is a supplement for joint and muscle discomfort that derives its omega-3s from green-lipped mussel oil.

Here, we’ll review how it works, the research to support its claimed benefits, the product safety, and how it compares to other omega-3 supplements.

What Is OmegaXL?

OmegaXL is an omega-3 supplement made by Great HealthWorks intended to help with joint health.

OmegaXL is primarily marketed as a supplement to help support the joints and muscles, and is targeted toward older people.

The softgels are smaller than standard omega-3 softgels, and therefore easier to swallow.

OmegaXL contains green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus) oil from New Zealand as its omega-3 source, rather than fish oil or krill oil, which is what most omega-3 products are made with.

According to information on the OmegaXL Amazon sales page, green-lipped mussel oil is 20 times more powerful than fish oil, although I wasn’t able to find research to support this claim.

The website states that the product also contains over 30 omega fatty acids, although these aren’t detailed on the website or product label.

Some customer reviews say that the product was great for joint pain relief, while others say that it seemed to have no effect.

A Note about Omega-3s

Omega-3s are a type of essential fatty acid — a lipid (fat) that you need to get through diet or supplementation.

Omega-3 fats play an important role in heart health, cholesterol management, brain health, and regulating inflammation.

Two types of omega-3 fatty acids — eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) — are particularly important for their anti-inflammatory properties.

Additionally, DHA is important for brain development. (1, 2)

Groups that may be particularly interested in omega-3 supplements (or are instructed to take one by their healthcare provider) include people with heart disease, inflammatory diseases, cognitive issues like dementia, and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. (1)

Can OmegaXL Provide You with Relief?

The OmegaXL website makes two key claims about its active ingredient — it supports joint health and it supports muscle function and recovery.

There is evidence to support the claims made by OmegaXL for joint support and muscle support and recovery.

The problem is that OmegaXL doesn’t contain a clinically-studied dose of green-lipped mussel oil, so it’s hard to know if it would be effective.

In addition, if you were to take a larger dose of OmegaXL to get a comparable amount of green-lipped mussel oil, it would be very expensive.

Let’s take a closer look at the research to see if these claimed health benefits are truly evidence-based.

May Support Joint Health

Omega-3 fats have anti-inflammatory properties, and, therefore, may help reduce joint pain by reducing inflammation in the joints.

Several older studies have investigated the effects of green-lipped mussel oil on joint pain. However, the most recent one I was able to find was from 2013. (3)

This study found that people with a joint pain condition called osteoarthritis had significant improvements in pain, symptoms, and quality of life when taking 1200 mg of a green-lipped mussel oil extract (PCSO-524^®) for 12 weeks. (3)

They experienced significant improvements compared to those who took a comparable amount of fish oil supplements. (3)

OmegaXL contains a proprietary blend, so the total amount of mussel oil extract is not known. The total blend is 300 mg of mussel oil extract, olive oil, and vitamin E per serving. Therefore, it may not contain enough mussel oil to provide a positive effect.

May Support Muscle Function and Recovery

There have been a couple of well-designed studies on the effects of green-lipped mussel oil on muscle recovery.

In one 2015 study, researchers found that 1200 mg per day of a mussel oil blend (which equaled 800 mg olive oil, 400 mg lipid extract) significantly reduced inflammation and muscle soreness after exercise when compared to a placebo. (4)

It also protected against strength losses and joint range of motion losses after exercise. (4)

However, a small 2018 study in competitive runners noted that the same 1200 mg blend (including 400 mg of green-lipped mussel oil and 800 mg of olive oil) daily for 12 weeks had no effect on pulmonary or respiratory (lung or heart) muscle inflammation or function. (5)

Although more clinical research is needed, it appears that green-lipped mussel oil may offer muscle recovery benefits for skeletal muscles that are used during exercise but not smooth muscles like the heart or lungs.

However, OmegaXL doesn’t contain the same amount of green-lipped mussel extract used in these studies.

Side Effects and Safety

OmegaXL is unlikely to have major side effects, although some reviewers say that it can have a fishy aftertaste or cause fishy-tasting burps thanks to the mussel oil.

Additionally, since OmegaXL’s key ingredient is green-lipped mussel extract, it’s not appropriate for people with fish or shellfish allergies.

This is also the case for most other omega-3 products that are sourced from ocean animals, like fish or krill.

Omega-3 may also interact with blood thinning medications, so if you are taking one of these, you should speak with your healthcare provider. (6)

You should also speak to your healthcare provider before taking OmegaXL if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or are taking any other prescription medications.

It’s also important to know that OmegaXL isn’t third-party tested.

Since the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t have to approve supplements before they go to market, third-party testing helps ensure that the ingredients in the product match what’s on the label.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that OmegaXL is an untrustworthy product, but it is something to be aware of.

Additionally, in 2021, Great HealthWorks received a warning letter from the FDA because they were making exaggerated claims about the effectiveness of the product, representing it as a cure for inflammatory joint pain. (7)

These claims have since been removed from the product website.

Supplement Facts, Dosage, and How to Take

OmegaXL ingredients are a proprietary blend of green-lipped mussel oil, extra virgin olive oil, and vitamin E.

A standard serving size consists of 2 softgels, providing 300 mg of this proprietary blend.

However, OmegaXL recommends taking up to 4 capsules per day when you first start using the product.

Unfortunately, OmegaXL provides no information about the amount of total omega-3s, EPA, or DHA in their product. Most similar products provide a breakdown that includes the following information on the Supplement Facts label:

• Total fish, krill, or mussel oil
• Total omega-3s
• EPA
• DHA

Cost and Where to Buy

When you order on the OmegaXL website, you can purchase a 2-month supply at a time. Purchasing on their website automatically enrolls you in the auto-ship program.

• First Order 60-Day Supply: $39.95
• Future Orders 60-Day Supply: $69.98
• Shipping and Handling: $6.95 per order.

OmegaXL offers a 60-day money-back guarantee that is only applicable to your first order. To get your money back, you will need to first cancel your autoship and then mail back your unused product, including any empty bottles.

You are also responsible for paying return shipping, and you will not be refunded for the shipping and handling fee.

More information about their autoship, returns, and shipping policies can be found in the FAQs section of the OmegaXL supplement website.

You can also purchase the product on third-party retail sites like Amazon, although the money-back guarantee only applies to products purchased through the OmegaXL website.

Buy OmegaXL on Amazon

How OmegaXL Compares to Alternatives

There are several other green-lipped mussel oil supplements available to purchase. Let’s see how OmegaXL compares to three highly-rated alternatives from Amazon — Swanson Green Lipped Mussel, HAKALife GLX3, and Horbaach Green Lipped Mussel.

Swanson Green Lipped Mussel

Swanson’s Green Lipped Mussel supplement is made with 100 mg olive oil and 50 mg green li-ped mussel oil per serving. However, they don’t disclose the specific amounts of omega-3 fatty acids in the product.

All Swanson supplements are third-party tested.

On the Swanson website, you can purchase a 60-day supply for $23.69. If you subscribe, you can save 50% and get free shipping on all subscription orders over $35. Otherwise, shipping is $5.99.

The product is also available on Amazon.

Swanson offers a 30-day money-back guarantee if you return unused product that was purchased through their website. They will pay your return shipping fee as well.

HAKALife GLX3

GLX3 is a joint supplement that contains 100 mg of green-lipped mussel oil, along with olive oil and vitamin E. Like other green-lipped mussel oil products, there’s no breakdown of the omega-3 content on the label.

A 30-day supply of GLX3 costs $59.99, but you can save up to 33% if you subscribe and order a 3-month supply. This brings the price down to $39.99 per bottle. Shipping is free on all orders.

You can also purchase on Amazon.

HAKALife also offers a 90-day refund policy if you purchase through their site. If you’re not satisfied with GLX3, you can request a full refund, with no need to return the remaining product.

Horbaach Green Lipped Mussel

Horbaach offers a high-dose green-lipped mussel oil supplement, providing 750 mg of green-lipped mussel extract per serving. However, the product isn’t third-party tested.

The product costs $12.99 for a 120-day supply, and shipping is free. They don’t offer a subscription option.

You can also purchase on Amazon.

If you purchase on the Horbaach website, you are eligible for their 30-day money-back guarantee. However, you’ll need to pay return shipping.

Quick Comparison Table

The Bottom Line

OmegaXL may help reduce inflammation and joint pain, while also assisting with post-exercise recovery.

However, the supplement contains much less of these ingredients than the amounts used in research studies, so it may not be as effective.

If you’re dealing with joint or muscle discomfort, I can understand how OmegaXL may look like a great option.

However, I don’t recommend OmegaXL because the ingredient amounts are not transparent, and the product isn’t third-party tested.

Still, it may be worth trying an omega-3 green-lipped mussel oil product because there is evidence to support the use of omega-3 for joint pain.

Horbaach Green Lipped Mussel is significantly less expensive, available in the same miniature size, and provides a much higher dose of green-lipped mussel oil.