Last modified on June 22nd, 2023
While it’s one of the most popular supplements, you may wonder what Omega XL reviews say about this product.
We’ve covered briefly what reviews from customers say in a detailed post about this supplement.
We encourage you to check that out, but below, we delve more in-depth into the reviews of Omega XL so you know what to expect before you buy it.
The Basics of the Omega XL
First and foremost, what exactly is the Omega-XL dietary supplement?
- It is an omega-3 fatty acid joint health supplement, but instead of using fish oil, which is common in these supplements, it uses green-lipped mussels.
- Green-lipped mussels come from New Zealand and are sustainably farmed, which is one benefit of these supplements over fish oil.
- Along with omega-3 fatty acids, green-lipped mussels have amino acids and minerals. They may have anti-inflammatory properties, and they might also help with joint cell function and structure.
- Potential health benefits of the supplement include joint pain relief and better overall joint health.
People use supplements with green-lipped mussel to help with joint pain and to support joint health when dealing with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Another reason some people use green-lipped mussel supplements is to help with asthma and ADHD in children.
Overall, green-lipped mussel supplements are thought to be well-tolerated by most people.
Some people have minor side effects like nausea or gastrointestinal upset.
Any omega-3 supplement, including Omega XL, can have a blood-thinning effect and react adversely with anticoagulants.
Talk to your doctor before taking any supplement.
Omega XL is a fairly expensive supplement, so before you buy it, you probably want to hear what the reviews say, especially from real users.
What Is Green-Lipped Mussel?
Green-lipped mussel is derived from mussels that are native to New Zealand.
The extract contains omega fatty acids, amino acids, minerals, and carbohydrates.
In lab studies, green-lipped mussels and the fatty acids they contain have been shown to have anti-inflammatory benefits, and they might play a role in maintaining the cell structure and function of joints.
These extracts appear to be relatively well-tolerated, with a few exceptions, primarily if you take anticoagulants, which they may interact with.
Why Would Omega-3s Help with Joint Pain and Arthritis?
The core concept behind the Omega XL product is that the omega-3s in the supplement can benefit you if you deal with arthritis-associated joint pain.
We know omega-3s have benefits for heart health and brain health as well as cardiovascular health.
So what about joint pain and arthritis?
Studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids can potentially reduce inflammation.
By reducing inflammation, these substances may be able to decrease symptoms of arthritis, such as morning stiffness.
Fatty acids rich in omega-3s include eicosatetraenoic acid, EPA, and docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA. There’s a third fatty acid which is alpha-linolenic acid or ALA.
EPA and DHA are the two types of fatty acids that appear particularly helpful for arthritis.
Our bodies don’t naturally produce omega-3 fatty acids, so we have to get them from our diet and supplements.
In research, omega-3 fatty acids have been found to reduce the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune inflammatory disease.
These fatty acids might help dampen the autoimmune inflammatory response.
Clinical trials have found positive effects of fatty acids for RA.
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and is most commonly associated with aging.
Osteoarthritis occurs because joint tissues start to break down.
Both EPA and DHA may help reduce inflammation and increase the lubrication of the joints.
A Brigham and Women’s Hospital study found that omega-3s convert into other compounds that are 10,000 times more potent than the original fatty acids.
The compounds include something called resolving, which helps end inflammatory responses in the body.
When someone has a healthy immune system that functions the way it should, their normal inflammatory response will repair damage and protect them.
When someone has inflammatory arthritis, their overactive immune response destroys their tissues.
The same pathway that signals inflammation to start also has an off switch, and omega-3s help activate this off-switch.
Green-Lipped Mussel vs. Fish Oil
One of the unique aspects of the Omega XL supplement is that it contains omega-3 fatty acids, but unlike many other supplements, they come from a mussel rather than from fish oil.
In research, the green-lipped mussel has been associated with significantly less pain and more joint mobility without noticeable side effects.
For example, a study published in Rhematologia, the official journal of the Institute of Rheumatology, found that all the participants taking the supplement experienced benefits.
This compares to studies of fish oil that, in some studies, haven’t been associated with significant reductions in pain or increases in joint mobility.
Some studies indicate it takes higher doses of fish oil to see any noticeable benefits compared to the green-lipped mussel.
Green-lipped mussels are also considered very eco-friendly.
Based on the research that’s currently available, one reason that green-lipped mussels may be better than fish oil is that they’re more powerful with a smaller dose.
The two appear to work in the same way.
Still, it’s possible that you need much higher doses of a fish oil supplement to achieve the same pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects that you can get with a concentrated dose of green-lipped mussel like what’s found in Omega XL.
The claim about the difference between Omega XL and taking fish oil supplements is that Omega XL is a proprietary blend.
The company says there are more free fatty acids than what would typically be found in supplements like krill oil or fish oil.
What Do Positive Reviews Say?
First, we looked at different sources of reviews, including retailers like Amazon and Walmart.
Interestingly on Amazon, when looking at reviews on Omega XL, we found a difference in the number of positive reviews for the 60-capsule bottle, which retails for under $50, and the 300-capsule bottle, which retails for almost $220.
The reviews for the more expensive bottle were more favorable than, the cheaper one, and we don’t know why that might be the case.
For the larger $220 bottle, there were more than 1000 reviews, and of those on Amazon, 75% were five-star.
Highlights of positive reviews on Amazon include:
- Some reviews say the product worked amazingly well for chronic pain.
- Specifically, some users felt like Omega XL helps their knee pain.
- Users with arthritis in their back say that Omega XL benefits them.
- There are quite a few reviews that say the product improves mobility.
- Interestingly, according to Omega XL reviews, many people use this product for their pets and find it effective.
- Some reviews of Omega XL go as far as describing it as a miracle product.
On Walmart’s websites, the reviews are somewhat similar. They’re pretty polarized in that some people think it’s a miracle product in their reviews of Omega XL, and others don’t feel it works.
Specific conditions that people say they use Omega XL for at Walmart include osteoarthritis and bursitis.
On Walmart, Omega XL has an average of 3.9 out of five stars and around 40 ratings.
We noticed something we thought we should note in most reviews.
The users who seemed to get the best results from the supplement did the highest maximum dose listed and took the product consistently over several months before reviewing it. It seems that Omega XL,
like so many other supplements, does take time to work. The product maker says you may need at least eight weeks to see the best results.
If you give up on Omega XL before that time, you’re less likely to be satisfied with its effectiveness.
What About Negative Reviews of Omega XL?
Our research across multiple retailers found that most negative reviews focused on the price.
It’s an expensive supplement, and we’ve found other green-lipped mussel supplements that are substantially cheaper and seem to have consistently better reviews.
One issue that goes along with the price is the fact that you’re supposed to take two capsules anywhere from one to three times a day.
Along with the difficulty of remembering to do that, there’s also the fact that you’re going to go through a bottle much faster, again, adding to the price of Omega XL.
Along with Omega XL reviews that say it’s expensive, quite a few say it just doesn’t work.
Some reviews also cite potential side effects.
For example, while we found no evidence to support this, some users felt it raised their PSA levels.
We also found reviews where people had adverse reactions, started feeling dizzy, or were generally unwell, and they blamed Omega XL for that.
Is Omega XL a Scam?
Omega XL is not a scam, it is a green-lipped mussel supplement, and there is some evidence to suggest green-lipped mussel can have more powerful anti-inflammatory effects than fish oil and other omega-3 products.
However, there are a few things to be aware of.
First, there have been some issues with the advertising methods used by the company that makes Omega XL for joint pain.
In 2015, the National Advertising Division recommended the Great HealthWorks Inc. company discontinue or change certain claims they made for their supplement.
Some of the claims NAD recommended Great HealthWorks stop using include saying there are no known drug interactions and no side effects. They also recommended that they stop saying that Omega XL is so potent it requires only a small dose to be effective.
Another thing we found is that if you buy the product through the Great HealthWorks website directly, they’ll offer a free bottle.
That free bottle means you must sign up for a recurring subscription.
Then, you’d have to contact the company to stop getting the product and get charged each month.
Are There Any Side Effects To Be Aware Of?
The way that Omega XL works are similar to other fatty acid supplements.
It’s likely safe for most people, but some say they experience mild side effects like gas or fishy burps. It’s also a blood thinner, so be careful if you’re on other medications that also thin the blood.
Other Types of Joint Health Supplements
Green-lipped mussel isn’t the only available joint health supplement. Other supplements that may help with reducing joint pain include:
- Other types of fish oil supplements. We discussed a comparison of mussel and fish oil above regarding joint supplements and helping with joint discomfort. Fish oil has numerous health benefits similar to the Omega XL claims, but you sometimes need a higher dose to get benefits from fish oil for RA and osteoarthritis-related joint pain.
- Glucosamine and chondroitin. These are probably the most popular joint health supplements available. These ingredients are both components of cartilage, and cartilage is the substance cushioning our joints. Research has varied as far as determining the effectiveness of glucosamine and chondroitin. Some find they provide pain relief and reduce symptoms like swelling and stiffness, but other studies haven’t found many benefits.
- This is excellent for joint pain, joint health, and inflammation. Curcumin is the active compound in turmeric extract, and it blocks enzymes that promote inflammation. If you’re going to try curcumin as a joint supplement to relieve joint pain, try to find a liposomal version because the only downside of this supplement is that it doesn’t absorb well otherwise. Among dietary supplements, curcumin is one of the best to relieve pain, and it has a significant amount of clinical research to back up its effectiveness for painful joints.
Relief Factor vs. Omega XL
When talking about Omega XL reviews, another question people often have is whether or not Relief Factor is a better product.
Relief Factor combines botanical ingredients along with a high dose of fish oil.
The other ingredients in the product include:
- Resveratrol is a powerful antioxidant that supports blood vessel health.
- Curcumin, as mentioned, is excellent for naturally reducing inflammation.
- Icariin is an ingredient that supports nitric oxide production for optimal blood flow.
The combination of ingredients in Relief Factor is meant to support pathways in the body associated with inflammation and pain.
In our opinion, the supplement blend in Relief Factor is better than the Omega XL ingredients and is likely to be more effective for dealing with severe arthritis.
Both are top-selling products, but we’d recommend Relief Factor over Omega XL since it has other potent ingredients that can amplify the benefits.
What About Cheaper Supplements with Green-Lipped Mussels?
Green-lipped mussel is available in other supplements for much cheaper.
With Omega XL, a lot of what you’re paying for is the recognizable name.
For example, Swanson has a very inexpensive supplement made from New Zealand green-lipped mussel and has better customer reviews than the Omega supplements.
FoodScience of Vermont also has a highly-rated green-lipped sea mussel supplement to support joint health, comfort, and mobility.
Final Thoughts
Here are our takeaways on the product reviews as far as alleviating joint pain and what you should know:
- The reviews are pretty mixed on Omega XL, and there are a lot of glowing reviews but also a lot of reviews that feel the product is a waste of money.
- Regarding research on green-lipped mussels, there is some to show this product can have anti-inflammatory benefits even compared to other fish oil supplements. Still, there is much more research on other anti-inflammatory supplements like curcumin and chondroitin. All-in-all, green-lipped mussel research is fairly limited.
- It is expensive. It’s possible to get the benefits of a green-lipped mussel supplement at a much lower cost.
- If you are going to try the supplement, talk to your doctor before doing so because any supplement can potentially interfere with other medicines you might be taking.
- If you decide to take Omega XL, it’s important to follow the dosage instructions carefully and potentially take the maximum listed dose for the best outcome.
Whether or not you should buy Omega XL is up to you, but we think there are better options if you want to try a green-lipped mussel supplement with more consistently positive reviews, which we discussed and linked to above.
Ashley Sutphin Watkins
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