Our customers consistently ask about Omega Q Plus and wondering if the “Plus” in the name relates to a superior product formulation of omega-3 fatty acids. Here’s our take on the ingredient formulation.

The “Plus” is not related to the omega-3 fatty acids but it represents the additional ingredients included. Omega Q Plus ingredients include B vitamins (30 mg vitamin B6, 400 mcg folic acid and 750 mcg vitamin B12); 500 mg EPA/DHA (combined total), 100 mg coenzyme Q10 (in the ubiquinone form), 200 mg L-carnitine. For consumers specifically interested in omega-3, the product comparison below shows one daily serving of Omega Q Plus contains 200 mg of EPA and 350 mg of DHA totaling around half of the daily recommendation of 1,000 mg.

At Cooper Complete we recommend our Advanced Omega-3 because it contains 720 mg of EPA and 480 mg of DHA per daily serving, which meets the full daily recommendation for someone looking for an omega-3 supplement.

The “Plus” Ingredients

B vitamins are known to provide energy and a general pick-me-up. Similar to Cooper Complete multivitamins, the Omega Q product contains levels of B vitamins that are higher than the daily recommended intakes. The science behind adding higher levels of B vitamins is that they lower blood levels of homocysteine, which has been referred to as the “cholesterol for the 21^st century.” Elevated levels of homocysteine are linked to heart disease, stroke, colon cancer and Alzheimer’s disease.

In addition, vitamin B6 helps lower C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation, which may occur due to injury, infection or fever. Elevated CRP levels are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Coenzyme Q10 is also an ingredient in the Omega Q Plus product—in the ubiquinone form, the same form found in Cooper Complete Original multivitamins.

L-carnitine, long suggested as a “fat burner,” is included as well. The average healthy person produces sufficient L-carnitine plus the nutrient is also found in meat and dairy. A study reported in Nature Medicine journal references how L-carnitine can promote atherosclerosis. Researchers hypothesize that a regular diet of meat has the potential to encourage the growth of bacteria that can turn L-carnitine into trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO). The TMAO compound alters the metabolism of cholesterol and slows the removal of cholesterol, which accumulates on arteries’ walls. Due to these concerns, Cooper Complete vitamins and supplements no longer contain L-carnitine.

Omega Q Plus Resveratrol

Another product offered by the same company is Omega Q Plus Resveratrol. Resveratrol is a plant compound found in red wine thought to act like an antioxidant. Antioxidants are naturally-occurring substances thought to play a role in the prevention of heart disease by protecting cells in the body from damage by free radicals. The original press on resveratrol was promising, but Dr. Dipak K. Das, an early researcher of resveratrol, was later found guilty of fabrication and falsification of resveratrol data. No high-quality human trials have determined the value of resveratrol on health; whether the ingredient is beneficial to our health remains to be proven.

Supplements have a place in a healthy lifestyle, and one of Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper’s 8 Steps to includes taking “the right supplements for you.” To evaluate a supplement look for the scientific research that supports products.