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About Omega XL
The product we are tackling today is a joint support supplement. It is called Omega XL and it is made by a company called Great Healthworks. It is claimed that Omega XL is a quality joint supplement mainly because of its ingredients which include 30 types of fatty acids.
The company claims to have done over 30 years of research on this Omega XL and how it can combat inflammation and joint pain. It noted an 89 percent decrease in pain symptoms among 50 subjects studied.
The website also noted that some of the ingredients have been sourced from green-lipped mussels from New Zealand. These shellfish are known for having a fatty acid content similar to fish oil.
It should be noted that Omega XL is mainly a fish oil supplement. Fish oil has indeed been linked to joint health and support.
Great HealthWorks Omega XL Review – Omega 3 Supplement – Health Insiders Images
Omega XL Ingredients – The Breakdown
There are 3 main active ingredients that we are told about in the Omega XL formula. Here you will find a breakdown of these three ingredients:
- Perna Carnaliculus – According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, perna carniliculus is the name given to the green-lipped mussel, sometimes called the New Zealand Mussel. The oil from this mussel is said to be rich in fatty acids that has been shown to help lower inflammation in osteoarthritis.
- Vitamin E – Vitamin E is one of many natural antioxidants. We read in this Versus Arthritis article that it can be especially useful for helping to spur cartilage generation in individuals with osteoarthritis among animal studies. It should also be noted that current evidence from studies on humans suggests that antioxidant vitamins aren’t effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis. Evidence from trials of the effectiveness of vitamin E in treating osteoarthritis provided mixed results.
- Monosaturated Olive Oil – This ingredient is linked to lowered inflammation not only in the joints but heart as well. Olive oil has naturally occurring antioxidants that are responsible for decreasing inflammation and reducing pain according to WebMD.
How Does it Work – The Science Behind Omega XL
Although there is not a lot of clinical understanding as to how green-lipped mussel works on joints, we do know what makes it beneficial. As we see again in a Versus Arthritis article, it contains a high concentration of omega-3 fatty acids, minerals, and amino acids. All of these are pivotal for the support of joints. So why is it important to get these omega-3’s?
A separate Harvard article informs us that it is important for us to get omega-3’s in our diet because the body does not naturally produce them.
The way that omega-‘s work in the body is at the cellular level. The University of California San Diego site tells us that there are enzymes called lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase or LOX and COX (for short) that spark inflammation by generating prostaglandin. It has been observed that at the cellular level omega-3 fatty acids inhibits these enzymes, therefore stopping inflammation in its tracks and thus reducing pain.
Omega XL Pros & Cons
Pros
- Omega XL contains at least thirty types of omega fatty acids
- This product produces more bioavailable fatty acids as opposed to flaxseed oil which only contains omega 3 fatty acids which are not readily converted to the active form in the body
- This is an all-natural supplement with hand-selected ingredients
- New Zealand mussels are considered a good choice on the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch list
- It is free of common allergens gluten, corn, and dairy
Cons
- We do not know the quality of olive oil or vitamin E that is put in this product
- Consumer reports noted that when tested it had surprisingly little omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) present
- There is no mention of the specific names of the omega fatty acids
- The quantity of the omega fatty acids are not listed on the product
- The recommended dosage is high at 3-6 pills per day
- Cheapest price requires that you enroll in auto-ship
- It may be hard to cancel this product and get out of the auto-ship program
- Long-term benefits are unknown
- The company’s research claims and clinical trials are not published on their website
- No regulations on the product to tell if the ingredients are accurate
- The paid infomercials may be misleading
- The bottle says it is free of shellfish protein but we do not know how everyone will react if they have a shellfish allergy
- We do not know the quality of the seafood used for this product
- The website does not have a lot of information on usage
- May be better to just eat fish since when you consume omega 3 fatty acids from food you have a higher amount that is absorbed (90 verse 50 percent) when compared to supplements
Consumer Questions and Answers
The information for taking Omega XL is not given on the official website but we found a third-party source of information that tells us that the daily recommended dosage is at least 3 capsules.
The following pricing information comes straight from the official Omega XL website. Therefore this will be the price and the terms you will be subject to should you buy it from them directly:
- Your first bottle will cost $39.95
- There is a $4.95 shipping fee which brings your first purchase to a total of $44.90
- Your first purchase will include a second bottle of Omega XL for free
- After your first purchase, you will be enrolled in an auto ship program that will send you a new bottle every month for the price of $39.95 plus $4.95 shipping
According to WebMD, New Zealand green-lipped mussel is possibly safe for most people. It can cause some side effects including itching, gout, abdominal swelling, heartburn, diarrhea, nausea, and intestinal gas. Some rare cases have shown it may also cause liver problems.
Since Omega XL contains this these mussels, the supplement could also possibly cause the same side effects.
Those who are pregnant and breastfeeding should not take this product. WebMD states this New Zealand green-lipped mussel is possibly unsafe and may slow the development of an unborn child. There is not enough information on breastfeeding so the best option is to not take this if you are breastfeeding.
There is not any information on green-lipped mussels and drug interactions. So it is best to talk with your doctor before starting Omega XL.
Taking up to 3 grams of fish oil daily in supplement form is considered safe. More than 3 grams a day can increase chances of bleeding according to WebMD.
According to Arthritis.org fish oil has a blood-thinning effect. Taking more than 3 grams a day could be hazardous if someone is already on a blood-thinner or aspirin.
Omega XL does not state how much fish oil is in their product so you are not sure if you are getting a safe dose.
Fish oil has some side effects including loose stools, nausea, bloating, or burping. Since fish oil is contained in this product it could also occur.
There are no side-effects related to this product in healthy individuals.
If you have certain health conditions always talk to your doctor first before starting a supplement regimen.
Omega XL offers a 90-day return policy for their product. This policy can be used to get a refund within the first 90 days of your original purchase. However, there are a couple of things to keep in mind about this policy:
- It does not cover auto-shipped products that you received 90 days after your very first purchase
- It may or may not include a refund in shipping costs
Omega XL Alternatives & Comparisions
Now it’s time to take a brief look at some of the other options you have for joint pain relief in terms of price and ingredients.
| Brand | Price | Active Ingredients |
|---|---|---|
| Omega XL | $39 + shipping | Vitamin E, Green Lipped Mussel Oil and Olive Oil |
| Osteo Bi-Flex | $17.56 | Glucosamine |
| Relief Factor | $79.95-93.95 | Icariin, Turmeric, Resveratrol, Omega 3 |
| Turmeric Curcumin Plus | $23.95 | Turmeric, Curcuminoids(e. curcumin), BioPerine (Piperine) |
| ProJoint Plus | $29.95 | Glucosamine Sulfate, Boswellia Extract, Turmeric, Methionine |
| Arthrozene | $49.95 | Type 2 collagen, Boswellia, Hyaluronic acid |
Omega XL Customer Reviews & Results
The reviews for Omega XL are a bit mixed but there seem to be more positive reviews than negative. At any rate, we will go over some of the positive and negative reviews for this product so you can get a feel of what people think of it.
Positive
- Helped reduce inflammation in the knuckles which made taking off rings easier
- Helps with arthritis
- Helped reduce diarrhea and leg pain
Negative
- Showed no results after 30 days
- May get the same results from Boron supplementation
- Does not work to reduce joint pain
- Cholesterol and triglyceride levels slightly increased after use
- Product arrived clumped together and was unusable
- Can get the same results from getting cardio and weight training
- Some felt more pain after taking this supplement
- Less pills in the bottle than advertised on the label
Omega XL – Where to Buy and How to Save
This is a tough one. That’s because, at third-party retailers, it is generally more expensive than on the official Omega XL site. The catch is that if you buy from the official website at a cheaper price, you are enrolled in an auto-ship program you will have to cancel if you don’t want it shipped every month. It might be hard to get out of the autoship program.
The Bottom Line on Omega XL
On paper, Omega XL seems like a great product. It is rich in omega-3’s, it may help with joint pain and there are accounts of people seeing that it really helps with inflammation.
It seems to be a natural join product which is positive. Omega XL may have a high concentration of omega 3 fatty acids from a quality source of low mercury fish. However, there is no actual evidence of this on their website so that makes it a little skeptical.
There are some negative reviews of it but it should be noted that not all joint supplements will have a universal effect. Everyone’s body is different and will react differently to supplements.
Is There Anything Else I Should Know About Omega XL?
Omega XL contains an unknown quality of olive oil. Olive oil contains monounsaturated fats. These have been shown to be healthy enough on their own as we see in this Mayo Clinic article, but when combined with a high saturated fat diet could be too much fat in general.
Other than the unknown information about the quality and quantity of some of the ingredients it seems to be safe to use. However, if you have a health condition you should talk to your doctor before starting this supplement.
References
[2] Linus Pauling Institute: Essential Fatty Acids
[3] NAD - Omega XL Dietary Supplements - Lexology
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Unhappy with Omega XL and money back guarantee
Omega XL doesn’t work and the money back guarantee is a joke. I wasn’t told to after I wanted to cancel to get the money back guarantee you need to return all the empty containers for the refund.
March 25, 2020 8:28 pm
Omega XL - a Waste of money, Didn't get the desired results
Maybe this works for others but over the past almost month it did nothing at all for me. I have yet to experience the joint relief. $44 down the drain. I suggest choosing a different product with similar ingredients from Amazon, Walgreens or Walmart.
February 16, 2020 2:51 pm
Omega XL doesn't pay back refunds
It did not work. I was supposed to get a refund…never got it. I called them 4 times on refund. The company gave me the run-around.
November 16, 2019 4:50 am
It works differently on everybody
It really works differently on everybody as when I started it using for four months it works for my knee and after that, I feel less pain in my hip. Somehow my elbow is still not recovered totally but it works for some part of my bold. The price is expensive but it’s good if it works.
November 6, 2019 9:50 am
Omega XL review - Overall didn't help me
I think from now on I will just Purchase products that I know about, since trying these joint relief supplements are not getting me anywhere. Initially, it appeared to be a great product, but then I realized that it was probably because I was using the prescription painkiller at the same time. When I decided to take the leap and discontinue using a painkiller, by the second day my discomfort was back in full force. I still continue to use Omega XL but saw that it never helps to ease my discomfort again, and that effect was probably the result of my painkiller.
August 25, 2019 3:33 pm