Omega XL Reviews: Should You Buy?

But does it work? The evidence is mixed.

Some people love Omega XL….others claim that Great HealthWorks, the business that makes it, is involved in less-than-ethical practices. Let’s take a closer look.

Why Omega 3’s Are So Important

First things first, though — let’s briefly cover why people take omega-3 supplements. It’s long been known that omega 3’s are some of the most essential fatty acids. They literally build up the brain and strengthen and insulate its nerves. (source)

In addition to getting enough omega 3’s, your omega 3 to omega 6 ratio is also important. Most people get way too many omega 6’s and not nearly enough omega 3’s. Take a look at their respective sources, and you’ll see why:

As we mentioned above, most people who live in ‘the West’ get way too many omega 6’s and not nearly enough omega 3’s. This imbalance can result in obesity, inflammatory problems, cardiovascular problems, and much more. You can read more about the importance of the omega 3:6 ratio here.

The solution is to minimize omega 6 intake while upping omega 3 intake. Many experts say an omega 3:6 ratio in the 1:1-1:4 range is ideal. And one of the best ways to achieve this is to take a high-quality omega-3 supplement.

Are Omega 3 supplements backed by science?

Yes….sort of.

Allow me to explain. Research indicates that improving one’s omega 3:6 ratio can improve their overall health. Yet research also indicates that omega-3 supplements aren’t as effective as simply eating seafood. Here are some other details. (source)

What is Omega XL?

Omega XL is an ultra-popular omega-3 capsule supplement derived from mussels.

The brand that produces Omega XL, Greater HealthWorks, makes some pretty big claims surrounding their product. They also market Omega XL as the ‘ultimate joint health and mobility support supplement.’ According to Greater HealthWorks, OmegaXL is “backed by over 35 years of clinical research” and “promotes joint, muscle, immune and respiratory health.”

They also claim that their green-lipped mussel extract contains over 30 different fatty acids and is over 20 times stronger than tegular fish oil. But is all this true?

The brand behind Omega XL

Great HealthWorks was founded in 2003 to deliver quality health and wellness products to consumers, making “meaningful differences in people’s lives.”

This all sounds pretty good, but there’s one glaring issue: Great HealthWorks has some pretty rough Google reviews. We’ll cover that in the upcoming reviews section.

Omega XL: Key Ingredients

Omega XL has several active ingredients. In addition to its mussel extract (rich in the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA), it also contains vitamin E and olive oil.

A 50-person study found that this New Zealand Green-Lipped Mussel extract (it’s officially called PCSO-524) may be more effective than regular fish oil.

Half of these participants took the mussel extract, while half took fish oil. 89% of the mussel group experienced reduced joint pain, while 91% of them reported improved overall quality of life. The fish oil group, on the other hand, experienced almost no improvement whatsoever.

There’s one major problem with Omega XL’s ingredients list: they’re present as part of a proprietary blend. That means we simply can’t know how much mussel extract, how much olive oil, or how much vitamin E you’ll get in each serving.

All we know is that these three ingredients amount to 300mg in total!

Here is the supplement facts label:

What do customers say about Omega XL?

Greater HealthWorks claims Omega XL has over 15,000 5-star reviews. On Amazon, it has an incredible 20,000+ reviews at an average of 4.2 stars each.

Considering that the average product gets reviewed by only 1-2% of its purchasers, it’s possible that over 2 million people have bought Omega XL on Amazon.

Among the many positive ones are truly lifechanging reports like these:

While on the internet looking for something, anything that might help, I saw a Larry King Omega XL commercial. It was rather pricey, but I was desperate. So I bought their smallest bottle. Within a week the pain in my arm wasn't as bad. After 2 weeks I hardly even noticed it anymore. I couldn't believe it. It was like a ‘MIRACLE.’

About a year & a half later, I thought my arm must have gotten better. So I stopped taking the Omega XL, as like I said, it is rather pricey. Well I have to tell you, I was not only back to where my Arm & shoulder were hurting again, it was now even worse. I knew I had to find a way to afford the Omega XL because I didn't enjoy my life at all. I am elated to tell you that my arm pain was once again almost GONE!!! I actually cried. The relief is so wonderful.”

Omega XL is even backed by the Robertson family, the duck-hunting stars of A&E’s Duck Dynasty.

While Omega XL’s reviews are mostly positive, Greater HealthWorks’ are not. On Google the company has hundreds of one-star reviews, some of them describing pretty scammy behavior:

Great Health Works is a predator, they target and steal from the elderly with dementia. They charged my mother with dementia monthly without her knowledge. Great Health Works ships their products with zero paperwork, no billing, nothing. The only way I found out about this company was by using the address on the shipping label on the outside of their box. This lack of paperwork is no doubt another underhanded strategy Great Health Works uses so that they may keep billing their unsuspecting elderly customers. When you try to call to cancel, they keep you on hold for 2 hours. If you call to place an order, the wait is only 5 minutes (how strategic). I called intending to cancel, but tried the place an order option, waited only 5 minutes, I explained to the rep I'm trying to cancel, and then again was put on hold for 2 hours. So their reps are ready right away to take your money to place an order, but cannot be found to cancel their rigged subscription which my mother never consented to. Those of us caretakers know that, to a dementia patient, they stress over finances. There is no way my mother would have consented to getting billed $100 dollars monthly for their pills.

How much does Omega XL cost?

Omega XL costs $34.99 per bottle with a subscription and $48.99 without one.

First-time customers have access to a 60-day moneyback refund, though some people claim it’s hard to get in touch with the brand and actually get their money back.

Where to buy Omega XL?

You can order on their website or on Amazon here.

If you just want to try Omega XL, order on Amazon. Look closely at their website’s ordering page, and you’ll find that buying Omega XL there automatically signs you up for a subscription:

After your first order, you will receive the suggested optimal supply of TWO 60-count bottles of OmegaXL every month, for a total of $69.98 (that’s $34.99 per bottle!) plus $6.95 shipping and handling and any applicable sales tax. You agree that we may reserve and bill the credit card used today for this Save with Monthly Auto-Ship Program purchase and for each future shipment.

While there’s no obligation to stay subscribed, canceling may be a little tricky. This likely explains all the bad reviews we mentioned earlier.

Omega XL Pros and Cons

Omega XL: My Verdict

I can’t give Omega XL the greenlight for several reasons. Its mussel-based omega-3 might be cutting edge, but it’s virtually impossible to know how many actual omega-3 fatty acids are in this product.

I also dislike how difficult it is for customers to opt-out of accidental subscriptions. Greater HealthWorks may have a premium product, but they need to pair this product with equally premium transparency.