The Power of Omega-3: Essential for Heart, Brain, and Immune Function
Omega-3 fatty acids, specifically the long-chain forms EPA and DHA, are renowned for their numerous health benefits. They are vital for optimal heart, brain, and immune function1. The primary source of these potent fatty acids is fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, or sardines. However, the consumption of these fish is often sporadic, falling short of the recommended one to two servings per week by dietary and medical organisations.
What are the benefits of a supplement?
How does eating fish rich in omega-3s once or twice a week compare with daily supplementation of omega-3s in terms of increasing circulating and cellular concentrations within the body? To answer this question, researchers from the United Kingdom conducted a 12-month randomised, double-blinded study2.
In the study, healthy males and females were divided into two groups. The first group consumed 12 capsules per week (either one or two capsules per day), providing 6.54 grams of combined EPA and DHA. The second group consumed the same 12 capsules per week, providing an identical dose of EPA and DHA, but only on two days each week, mimicking the consumption of two oily-rich fish meals per week3.
The results showed that while both groups had significant increases in cellular concentrations of EPA and DHA, the group that consumed the supplement daily had higher concentrations in their plasma and cells compared to the group that consumed their supplements only two days per week4.
This suggests that the same dose of EPA and DHA achieved through sporadic oily fish consumption may have a lesser impact on EPA and DHA status, according to the authors5.
“The take-home message from this study is that even those who consume one to two servings per week of fish rich in omega-3s incorporate these heart-healthy nutrients into their bodies less than those who take supplements of omega-3s daily”
One to two servings per week
The take-home message from this study is that even those who consume one to two servings per week of fish rich in omega-3s incorporate these heart-healthy nutrients into their bodies less than those who take supplements of omega-3s daily. In addition to obtaining these fats from fish, it’s also important to note that fatty fish can be a significant source of environmental toxins that accumulate in our bodies over time, potentially leading to obesity and other metabolic dysfunctions6.
Therefore, along with increasing dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids through our diet and a daily supplementation is an excellent way to significantly increase these fatty acids in the body, leading to improved brain, immune, and heart health7.
So, dive into the world of Omega-3 and let this incredible nutrient power your journey to better health. Not all supplements are created equal, and a clinic-recommended supplement will give you a higher quality than a supermarket-bought supplement. Get in touch if you want to find out more.
References:
Harvard Health Publishing, The truth about fats: the good, the bad, and the in-between ↩
Nutrition Research Reviews, Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation and cognitive function ↩
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Dose-dependent effects of eicosapentaenoic acid on cardiovascular risk markers in healthy humans ↩
Journal of Lipid Research, The effect of dose level and frequency of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid on plasma levels and red blood cell uptake in humans ↩
Nutrition Journal, Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA: health benefits throughout life ↩
Environmental Health Perspectives, Fish Consumption, Fish Oil, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, and Cardiovascular Disease ↩
Mayo Clinic, Omega-3 in fish: How eating fish helps your heart ↩