What Is Mivolis Omega-3 1000?
Mivolis Omega-3 1000 is a budget fish oil supplement sold at dm drugstores across Europe. Each soft gel capsule contains 1000 mg of fish oil, with approximately 180 mg EPA and 120 mg DHA — totaling about 300 mg of active omega-3 per capsule. The rest is other fats, gelatin shell, and glycerol.
At roughly €4-6 for 60 capsules, it's one of the cheapest omega-3 options on the market. But cheap and effective aren't the same thing. Let's look at what you're actually getting.
TL;DR
- Each capsule delivers ~300 mg EPA+DHA out of 1000 mg total fish oil (30% concentration)
- You'd need 3-4 capsules daily to reach the commonly recommended 1000 mg EPA+DHA
- Standard ethyl ester form — lower bioavailability than triglyceride or re-esterified TG forms (Dyerberg et al., 2010)
- Acceptable for basic maintenance if you're on a tight budget and don't mind swallowing multiple capsules
- For heart health, joint support, or athletic recovery, a concentrated fish oil (60-80% omega-3) is more practical
What's Inside: Composition Breakdown
| Component | Per Capsule | Per 3 Capsules |
|---|---|---|
| Fish oil | 1000 mg | 3000 mg |
| EPA | ~180 mg | ~540 mg |
| DHA | ~120 mg | ~360 mg |
| Total EPA+DHA | ~300 mg | ~900 mg |
| Other fats | ~700 mg | ~2100 mg |
The 30% EPA+DHA concentration is standard for basic fish oil. It means 70% of what you swallow is non-omega-3 fat — not harmful, but not what you're paying for either.
How Much Do You Actually Need?
Recommended EPA+DHA intake depends on your goal:
| Goal | EPA+DHA Needed | Mivolis Capsules/Day | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| General health | 250-500 mg/day | 1-2 | EFSA recommended intake |
| Heart health | 1000 mg/day | 3-4 | Mozaffarian & Wu, 2011 |
| Triglyceride reduction | 2000-4000 mg/day | 7-13 | Skulas-Ray et al., 2019 |
| Anti-inflammatory (joints) | 2000-3000 mg/day | 7-10 | Goldberg & Katz, 2007 |
| Athletic recovery | 1000-2000 mg/day | 3-7 | Philpott et al., 2019 |
For basic health maintenance, 1-2 capsules per day is reasonable. But the moment your needs go beyond baseline, you're swallowing a lot of capsules — and a lot of unnecessary fat with them.
Mivolis vs Concentrated Fish Oils
| Feature | Mivolis Omega-3 1000 | Concentrated (60-80%) | rTG Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| EPA+DHA per capsule | ~300 mg | ~600-800 mg | ~900-1000 mg |
| Capsules for 1000 mg EPA+DHA | 3-4 | 1-2 | 1 |
| Omega-3 concentration | 30% | 60-80% | 80-90% |
| Form | Ethyl ester (EE) | Usually EE | Re-esterified TG |
| Bioavailability | Baseline | Baseline | ~70% higher (Dyerberg et al., 2010) |
| Price per 1000 mg EPA+DHA | ~€0.25-0.35 | ~€0.30-0.50 | ~€0.50-0.80 |
| Available at dm | Yes | Some | Rarely |
The price-per-gram of actual omega-3 is where concentrated products often win. You pay more per bottle but less per effective dose, and you swallow fewer capsules.
Bioavailability: Does the Form Matter?
Yes, significantly. Fish oil comes in three main forms:
Natural triglyceride (TG) — the form found in whole fish. Good absorption.
Ethyl ester (EE) — created during concentration/purification. This is what most budget supplements use, including Mivolis. Absorption is 20-50% lower than TG when taken without food, though the gap narrows substantially when taken with a fat-containing meal (Dyerberg et al., 2010).
Re-esterified triglyceride (rTG) — ethyl esters converted back to TG form. Best absorption, ~70% higher than EE on an empty stomach. More expensive to produce.
Practical takeaway: If you use Mivolis or any ethyl ester fish oil, always take it with a meal that contains fat (eggs, avocado, cheese, olive oil). This largely compensates for the lower bioavailability. A study by Lawson & Hughes (1988) found that absorption of EE fish oil increased 3x when taken with a high-fat meal vs. on an empty stomach.
Quality and Purity Concerns
Mivolis doesn't prominently display TOTOX values or third-party purity certifications on its packaging. For a budget product, this is common but not ideal.
Key quality markers to look for in any fish oil:
1. TOTOX value (total oxidation) — should be below 26 per GOED standard; lower is better
2. Heavy metals — mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic testing
3. PCBs and dioxins — persistent pollutants from contaminated water
4. Freshness — rancid fish oil may do more harm than good (Albert et al., 2015)
A simple home test: bite into a capsule. Fresh fish oil tastes mildly fishy; rancid oil is strongly unpleasant and may cause fishy burps.
Who Should Consider Mivolis Omega-3 1000?
Good fit:
- Budget-conscious consumers who want basic omega-3 coverage
- People who already eat fish 1-2 times per week and just need a small top-up
- Anyone starting omega-3 supplementation and wanting to test tolerance before investing in premium products
Not ideal:
- People needing therapeutic doses (heart disease, high triglycerides, joint inflammation) — too many capsules required
- Athletes wanting optimal recovery — concentrated forms are more practical
- Anyone who gets fishy burps easily — ethyl ester forms and lower purity increase this risk
Common Mistakes
1. Taking it on an empty stomach — EE fish oil absorbs poorly without dietary fat. Take with meals (Lawson & Hughes, 1988)
2. Assuming 1000 mg fish oil = 1000 mg omega-3 — only 300 mg per capsule is actual EPA+DHA
3. Storing at room temperature for months — fish oil oxidizes. Keep in the fridge once opened, and use within 3 months
4. Combining with blood thinners without telling your doctor — omega-3 at doses above 3000 mg/day may increase bleeding time
5. Expecting overnight results — omega-3 incorporates into cell membranes over weeks. Most studies show effects at 8-12 weeks (Calder, 2017)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mivolis Omega-3 1000 good quality?
It's acceptable entry-level quality. The 30% EPA+DHA concentration is standard for unprocessed fish oil. However, without published TOTOX values or IFOS certification, you have less assurance of freshness and purity compared to brands that display these openly. For the price point, it's a fair trade-off.
Can I take Mivolis if I'm pregnant?
Omega-3 (particularly DHA) is important during pregnancy for fetal brain development. However, consult your doctor first — fish oil quality and mercury content matter more during pregnancy. Your doctor may prefer a specific prenatal omega-3 with guaranteed purity testing.
Is one capsule per day enough?
For very basic coverage alongside a diet that includes some fish, one capsule (~300 mg EPA+DHA) may be sufficient. EFSA considers 250 mg/day the minimum for general cardiovascular maintenance. But for any specific health goal, you'll likely need 2-4 capsules daily.
Are there vegan alternatives?
Yes. Algae-based omega-3 supplements provide DHA (and some EPA) without fish. They're typically more expensive per gram of omega-3 but are the only option for strict vegans. See our algae omega-3 guide for details.
Can I take Mivolis with my multivitamin?
Yes, no significant interactions. In fact, taking fish oil alongside fat-soluble vitamins (D, E, K, A) in your multivitamin may improve absorption of both.
For more omega-3 comparisons, see our best omega-3 supplements guide, fish oil capsule guide, and omega-3 dosage article.
References
1. Dyerberg J, Madsen P, Moller JM, Aardestrup I, Schmidt EB. (2010). Bioavailability of marine n-3 fatty acid formulations. Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids, 83(3), 137-141.
2. Mozaffarian D, Wu JH. (2011). Omega-3 fatty acids and cardiovascular disease. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 58(20), 2047-2067.
3. Skulas-Ray AC, Wilson PWF, Harris WS, et al. (2019). Omega-3 Fatty Acids for the Management of Hypertriglyceridemia. Circulation, 140(12), e673-e691.
4. Goldberg RJ, Katz J. (2007). A meta-analysis of the analgesic effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation for inflammatory joint pain. Pain, 129(1-2), 210-223.
5. Calder PC. (2017). Omega-3 fatty acids and inflammatory processes. Biochemical Society Transactions, 45(5), 1105-1115.
6. Albert BB, Cameron-Smith D, Hofman PL, Cutfield WS. (2015). Oxidation of marine omega-3 supplements and human health. BioMed Research International, 2015, 143109.
7. Lawson LD, Hughes BG. (1988). Absorption of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid from fish oil triacylglycerols or fish oil ethyl esters co-ingested with a high-fat meal. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 156(2), 960-963.
8. Philpott JD, Witard OC, Galloway SDR. (2019). Applications of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation for sport performance. Research in Sports Medicine, 27(2), 219-237.
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