What is the difference between rTG, TG and EE?
Direct answer
TG is the natural triglyceride form, EE the ethyl ester produced during concentration, and rTG the triglyceride form re-esterified from it. The form influences concentration and uptake, but is not a quality verdict on its own.
Three abbreviations that look like a quality feature on packaging — and only partly are.
On this page
Where the three forms come from
Fish oil naturally contains omega-3 as a triglyceride. For higher concentrations the oil is transesterified, producing ethyl esters. A triglyceride form can be produced again from these.
The three forms
| TG | natural triglyceride form of fish oil |
|---|---|
| EE | ethyl ester from concentration |
| rTG | re-esterified triglyceride form |
| Concentration | rTG and EE reach higher values than TG |
FAQ: molecular forms and uptake
All answers come from the centrally maintained FAQ system.
Why manufacturers transesterify
The ethyl ester route allows unwanted components to be separated and a defined concentration to be set. Re-esterification then leads back to a triglyceride form.
What matters here
- The form alone says nothing about the oxidation state.
- The form alone says nothing about purity.
- What matters is the form in the finished product, not the raw material.
- Always read concentration and serving size together.
Uptake in the research
Studies compare the uptake of different forms. The results depend on study design, dose and baseline values and cannot be reduced to a general ranking.
How MVS treats the form
MVS states the form without presenting any single one as fundamentally superior. The form is one criterion among several.
Transparency & corrections
This article names its source, status and review date. If you find an error you can submit a correction — it is reviewed, never applied automatically.
- Author
- MVS Redaktion
- Scientific review
- Fachliche Prüfung MVS
- Published
- 2026-10-07
- Last reviewed
- 2026-09-20