In your supplementation program, Omega-3s (EPA and DHA) are essential. Their benefits for cardiovascular health, maintaining cognitive function and joint flexibility are well established.
However, a poor-quality fish oil may turn out to be more ineffective than beneficial for your body.
To avoid any disappointment, a universal quality index has been established, showing that the ultimate criterion for judging the quality of an Omega-3 is not its dosage, but a precise scientific indicator: the TOTOX Index.
etnā explains how to decode this measurement and why it changes everything for your supplementation.
What is the TOTOX Index?
The acronym TOTOX stands for TOTal OXidation. It is the measuring tool used to assess the level of “rancidity” and degradation of a fish oil.
Omega-3s are extremely fragile polyunsaturated fatty acids. As soon as they are exposed to air (oxygen), light or heat during extraction, they oxidize. This is immediate and natural.
Our experts’ analogy: imagine an apple cut in half and left out in the open. Within minutes, it turns brown and starts to spoil due to oxidation. Exactly the same thing happens with fish oil.
The TOTOX index therefore calculates the sum of two values:
- Primary oxidation (Peroxide Value): the immediate degradation of the oil.
- Secondary oxidation (Anisidine Value): long-term degradation.
TOTOX is the final purity score of your oil. The lower the number, the fresher and purer the oil. The higher the number, the more rancid and degraded the oil.
The dangers of a high TOTOX Index (oxidized oil)
Consuming Omega-3s with a poor TOTOX index (above 26) is not only useless, it is counterproductive for your positive aging strategy:
- The pro-inflammatory effect: the primary goal of Omega-3s is to reduce cellular inflammation. However, an oxidized oil becomes rich in free radicals. Instead of soothing your body, it will create oxidative stress and trigger inflammatory responses.
- The infamous “fishy burps”: have you ever had fish-flavored burps after taking an Omega-3 capsule? This is not “normal”. It is the mechanical sign that the oil you have just swallowed is rancid. A fresh, non-oxidized oil is perfectly digested and completely odorless.
- Loss of bioavailability: an oxidized molecule loses its original structure. It is no longer recognized by your cells, making the product ineffective, whatever the dosage stated on the box.
How to read the TOTOX scale
GOED (Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s), the leading global reference body, has set a strict limit: the TOTOX index must never exceed 26.
Here is how to read the quality scale:
- TOTOX above 26: rancid oil, unfit for health use.
- TOTOX between 15 and 26: average or poor quality (the standard for entry-level supplements).
- TOTOX below 10: Premium quality. Very fresh oil.
The etnā standard: absolute marine purity
As an independent laboratory manufacturing its own formulas, etnā refuses to accept oxidation as inevitable. To offer you Omega-3s of impeccable purity and guarantee one of the lowest TOTOX Indexes on the European market, we have made a radical nutritional engineering choice: the patented QualitySilver® technology.
This cutting-edge stabilization process, which we integrate directly into our marine formulas, acts as an ultra-powerful shield:
- It stops the oxidation process in its tracks from extraction onwards.
- It makes the oil 2 to 3 times more resistant to aging than a conventional antioxidant.
The result for you? Our Oméga-3 Premium product has an exceptionally low TOTOX Index, below 8. The same goes for Vision Complex, rich in patented French marine DHA (Omégavie®).
This means that every milligram of EPA and DHA you consume is intact, highly bioavailable and absolutely pure.
It is also the guarantee of complete digestive comfort: with your Oméga-3 Premium, fishy burps are a thing of the past. Above all, you finally get the full benefits of Omega-3s for your body.
Make checking the TOTOX Index a habit
Our vision of positive aging demands transparency. The next time you compare Omega-3s, don’t be blinded by simple promises of “high dosage”. Ask the only question that matters: “What is your TOTOX Index?”
At etnā, the answer to this crucial question lies in our quality standards, and is found at the heart of every cell in your body.
Nourish your body with the very best the ocean has to offer in high-quality marine omega-3s.
Formulated with Omégavie® fish oil made in Brittany, certified Friend of the Sea, this massive matrix of essential fatty acids provides an exceptional concentration of 540 mg of EPA and 360 mg of DHA.
Protected by the patented French extraction process Qualitysilver®, which preserves the oil from oxidation through a patented process guaranteeing absolute stability and maximum effectiveness while significantly limiting fishy "repeats" aftertaste.
The TOTOX index of Omega 3 Premium is below 8.
Good to know: the TOTOX index (Total Oxidation) is the reference measure for the oxidation of omega-3-rich oil.
Index ≤ 10: fresh oil, excellent quality
TOTOX ≤ 20: acceptable quality if properly stored
TOTOX > 26: oxidized oil, questionable quality
This ultra-purified French oil, extracted from small blue fish (anchovies, sardines), is certified Friend of the Sea for sustainable fishing and full traceability.
Omega 3 Premium sets a new standard of purity and stability in lipid supplementation to deeply nourish your cardiovascular, cognitive, brain and visual functions.
Your essential daily ally to support your memory, preserve your eyesight and protect your heart.
