FitLine Plant Omega-3 and Heart Duo: What's Inside and Which to Choose

In 30 seconds: FitLine has two Omega-3 products, both built on plant DHA from microalgae (no fish oil, no aftertaste) and on microSolve+ technology, which means a liquid form with a ginger-orange flavour. microSolve+ Omega 3 is the 51 ml bottle with DHA plus vitamins E and D2, niacin and biotin, at 38.50 euro in Italy. microSolve+ Heart Duo is the single-dose stick version that adds coenzyme Q10 and thiamine (vitamin B1), at 71.25 euro. What they are allowed to say by law: DHA contributes to the maintenance of normal brain function (with 250 mg a day), and thiamine contributes to the normal function of the heart. On cholesterol, there is no claim at all: which is exactly why I don't make one.

I'm Alfio Nicolosi, independent FitLine Team Partner: I earn a commission on purchases made through my links. My own cholesterol came back into the normal range, but that happened through what I ate, my weight and my daily walk, not through a bottle. I say it straight away because Omega-3 is an area where promises circulate that no label is allowed to authorise.

What Omega-3s are, and why "plant" matters here

The Omega-3s that matter are two: EPA and DHA, the ones found in oily fish (mackerel, sardines, salmon). The body converts them poorly from the ALA in flaxseed and walnuts, so anyone who eats little fish takes in very little of them.

The classic source is fish oil. FitLine instead uses oil from the microalga Schizochytrium, which is the same alga that fish themselves get their DHA from. The practical advantages: no fishy taste, no repeating, suitable for vegans and vegetarians, and a supply chain that doesn't involve fishing. The disadvantage: it costs more than fish oil.

microSolve+ Omega 3: what's inside

What	Detail
Format	51 ml bottle, liquid, ginger-orange flavour
Omega-3	DHA from Schizochytrium microalga oil
Vitamins	E, D2, niacin, biotin
Other	Glycerine, water, soy lecithin, sunflower and coconut oil, ginger extract, natural antioxidants (tocopherols, rosemary)
How to take it	Shake the bottle, take the daily dose stated on the label, ideally with a meal; close it again and keep it somewhere cool
Price	38.50 euro

"microSolve+" is the name PM-International gives to its emulsified liquid form: the oil is dispersed in a water base with lecithin, and that is what makes it drinkable without capsules. For the daily dose in millilitres, the label on the pack is the authority, because it can change with reformulations, and I don't want to write a number you then can't find on your own bottle.

Product sheet: FitLine microSolve+ Omega 3.

microSolve+ Heart Duo: what it adds

Heart Duo is the same plant DHA, in single-dose liquid sticks you drink straight down without water, with two extra ingredients:

• Coenzyme Q10: a molecule involved in energy production inside cells. It has no authorised claims in the EU, so I am not going to tell you it is "good for the heart": I am telling you it is in there.
• Thiamine (vitamin B1): this one does have a precise authorised claim, thiamine contributes to the normal function of the heart and to normal energy-yielding metabolism.

Plus niacin, biotin, vitamin E and D2. Dose: one stick a day, shaken lightly. Price: 71.25 euro.

The "Heart" in the name comes from the thiamine claim, not from the DHA and not from the Q10. That is a distinction the label respects, and one I intend to respect too.

Product sheet: FitLine microSolve+ Heart Duo.

What EFSA says (and what it doesn't)

There are three authorised claims for DHA, and every one of them comes with a minimum dose:

1. DHA contributes to the maintenance of normal brain function, with 250 mg a day.
2. DHA contributes to the maintenance of normal vision, with 250 mg a day.
3. EPA and DHA contribute to the normal function of the heart, with 250 mg a day of EPA plus DHA.

There are also claims relating to triglycerides and blood pressure, but those require 2-3 g a day of EPA plus DHA: concentrated-supplement doses, not doses you get from these products.

So the right question to ask is: how many milligrams of DHA are in the daily dose? It is written on the label, under the nutrition information, and it is the number to compare against the 250 mg the claims require. If the daily dose reaches that figure, the brain and vision claims are legitimate; if it doesn't, the product is a partial top-up to add on to the fish you eat.

What no product is allowed to say: "lowers cholesterol", "protects you from a heart attack", "cleans out your arteries". If a seller tells you that, they are breaking the law, and that holds true even when what they are selling is FitLine.

Omega 3 or Heart Duo: which one to choose

	microSolve+ Omega 3	microSolve+ Heart Duo
Plant DHA	Yes	Yes
Q10 and thiamine	No	Yes
Format	51 ml bottle with a daily dose	Single-dose stick, no water needed
Who it's for	Anyone who only wants the DHA, at the lower price	Anyone who also wants B1 and Q10, plus the convenience of a stick
Price	38.50 euro	71.25 euro

My rule of thumb: if your goal is to cover your DHA because you eat little fish, Omega 3 is enough and costs half as much. Heart Duo makes sense if the combination with thiamine and Q10 interests you and you travel a lot, since a stick can't spill and doesn't need a fridge. There is also Generation 50+, which contains algae Omega-3 together with lutein and Q10 in a sachet, designed for the over-50s.

Who they're for and who they're not

They make sense for: anyone who eats fish less than twice a week, vegans and vegetarians, and anyone who can't get on with fish oil capsules (the repeating, the taste).

They're not for: anyone eating oily fish two or three times a week, since that already covers EPA and DHA; anyone hoping for an effect on cholesterol, because that is a matter of food, weight, movement and, where medication is involved, your doctor; anyone who wants to "feel" something, because Omega-3s don't produce sensations.

In my own case I chose to eat oily fish regularly and to top up with plant DHA in the periods when I don't manage it. My cholesterol came back into the normal range through those habits and the 30 kg I lost, and that is where I give the credit: not to a supplement.

Contraindications and side effects

• Anticoagulants and antiplatelet medication: Omega-3s at high doses can affect blood clotting. If you take these medicines, ask your doctor first.
• Soy allergy: they contain soy lecithin.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding: DHA matters during pregnancy, but supplementation should be agreed with your gynaecologist.
• Children: not indicated without a paediatrician's opinion.
• Storage: once opened, keep the bottle somewhere cool and use it within the period stated on the label, because oils oxidise.

Common side effects: nothing significant at the stated doses, and with the liquid form you don't get the fishy repeating that capsules can cause. Do not exceed the recommended daily dose. Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. Interactions with medicines are covered in the article on side effects and safety of FitLine products.

Price and where to buy them

• microSolve+ Omega 3: 38.50 euro for the 51 ml bottle.
• microSolve+ Heart Duo: 71.25 euro for the pack of single-dose sticks.

These are the Italian list prices, and prices vary from country to country, so check the figures for your own market. They are sold only in the official PM-International store through a Team Partner: a 5% discount code on your first order (FitLine discount code) or Team Partner registration with roughly 20% off (become a partner). The full price list is in the guide to FitLine prices.

Frequently asked questions

Are FitLine's Omega-3s made from fish? No, the DHA comes from the microalga Schizochytrium. They are suitable for vegans and vegetarians and they don't taste of fish.

Do they also contain EPA? The source is a microalgae oil rich in DHA. For the exact EPA content, the nutrition table on the label is the authority.

Do they lower cholesterol? No authorised claim says so, and I'm not going to say it either. Cholesterol is worked on with food, weight, movement and, if needed, with your doctor.

When should I take them? With a meal, to help the absorption of the fats. The time of day makes no difference.

microSolve+ Omega 3 or a fish oil capsule? If you tolerate capsules and you aren't vegan, fish oil costs less. If you want a plant source, with no fishy taste and in liquid form, that is the advantage you are paying for.

Can they be taken alongside PowerCocktail? Yes, they are complementary products: PowerCocktail for vitamins and fibre, Omega 3 for the DHA. The PowerCocktail guide is here: PowerCocktail: what it is for.

Conclusion

FitLine's two Omega-3 products are a good solution for anyone who wants plant DHA in liquid form without the taste of fish: Omega 3 if the DHA alone is enough for you, Heart Duo if you also want thiamine and Q10 in a stick. Their value lies in the source and the convenience, not in promises about the heart or cholesterol that no label can make. Before you buy, look at the milligrams of DHA per dose and compare them with the 250 mg the claims require: that is the only number that counts.

FitLine is a registered trademark of PM-International AG. This website is run by an independent Team Partner and is not the company's official site. The information here is provided for general information purposes and does not replace medical advice.