KNOWING IS THE FIRST STEP
TOWARDS IMPROVED HEALTH.
Omega-3 has proven to benefit human health.
Are you getting enough?
Benefits of Knowing Your Omega-3 Index
Heart Health
From a better functioning heart to healthier blood vessels, there are many reasons why people with higher omega-3 blood levels have better heart health.
Brain Health
Omega-3s play a role in brain health during every phase of life – from infant brain development to maintaining cognitive function as we age.
Eye Health
Omega-3 DHA is a main component of eyes, and having higher levels of omega-3s is related to better eye health and visual development.
Overall Health
There are multiple benefits to the mind and body in having a higher Omega-3 Index, all of which contribute to slower aging.
How it Works
Simple finger poke. No blood draw needed. Collect your sample at home.
Order
Choose the test service you would like. The sample collection kit is the same for all services and typically arrives in 3 to 5 days.
Collect Sample
Follow the simple kit instructions to collect your sample from the comfort of home. Once you have your sample collected mail it back to our lab with the pre-paid envelope.
Learn
In 1-2 weeks you will receive an email letting you know your personalized results are ready.
Research shows higher omega-3 blood levels are beneficial.
Your results. Supported by science.
Actionable: Fatty acid levels start changing as soon as you change your diet and lifestyle and stabilize in 3-4 months.
Personalized: Personalized dietary recommendations based off your test results.
Certified: All samples are processed in a central CLIA-certified laboratory.
Validated: The same validated and standardized sample processing methodology used in over 200 research studies.
Compare: Percentile ranks show you how you compare to your peers.
How can I increase my Omega-3 Index?
Your Omega-3 Index Basic test gives you a snapshot of the fats that make up your cells. Some fatty acid levels, such as the Omega-3 Index, are closely related to what you eat while others are more affected by your metabolism. Below we provide some information about how to improve you Omega-3 Index through diet. Also, use the Omega-3 Index Calculator for a personalized recommendation for EPA+DHA intake based on your Omega-3 Index. For more detail, see Increasing Your Omega-3 Index: Part 1 and Part 2.
Recommendations
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends 2 servings of fish per week (see Table below), averaging out to 250 mg/day EPA+DHA. Other countries, such as Canada and Australia, recommend 400-500 mg/day EPA+DHA. The FDA has also ruled that intakes of up to 3,000 mg/day of EPA+DHA combined from foods is “Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS)” and may be consumed without concern of adverse effects by all adults. There are also recommendations for specific health conditions, such as:
- Patients with coronary heart disease – 1,000 mg/day EPA+DHA
- Patients with high triglycerides – 3,000-4,000 mg/day EPA+DHA
Supplements
Fish oil supplements are a safe and potent source of EPA+DHA. The source and form of the omega-3s in the supplements affect how well you absorb the omega-3s, as well as whether or not you take them with food. There are also vegan/vegetarian supplements which contain omega-3s produced by algae and yeast. It is important to look at the label for the amount of EPA+DHA, specifically, that the supplement contains. For example, many supplements are 1,000 mg of fish oil but only contain 300 mg of EPA+DHA. There are some examples of the EPA+DHA levels in supplements included your report.
Omega-3 Index Calculator
Use the personalized estimate from the calculator to make a plan to change your EPA+DHA intake. For example, you take 300 mg EPA+DHA per day currently and have an Omega-3 Index of 4.0%. Your goal is to reach 8.0% so the calculator recommends 1075 mg EPA+DHA per day. Therefore, you would need add that amount to what you currently take, resulting in 1375 mg EPA+DHA per day (300 + 1075 = 1375 mg EPA+DHA per day). Also, it is not necessary to match the calculated dose exactly. For example, the calculator may recommend you increase your intake by 1235 mg EPA+DHA per day but you cannot find a supplement that provides exactly 1235 mg EPA+DHA. You can, however, find ones that provide 1200 mg or 1500 mg EPA+DHA. Either one is fine; the calculator is just an estimate.
Follow your new EPA+DHA regimen for at least 4 months before re-testing. While EPA+DHA intake is the primary driver of your Omega-3 Index, your genes and overall health can affect the Omega-3 Index response to dietary changes. You may require more (or less) EPA+DHA to reach your target Omega-3 Index. Re-testing is the only way to determine whether you have achieved your target Omega-3 Index.
*These calculations are based on results from a 5-month randomized, placebo-controlled fish oil supplementation study in 115 healthy individuals (Flock M et al. JAHA 2013).
Fish
Fish is the best dietary source for the omega-3s, EPA+DHA. Dietary intake of EPA+DHA directly influences Omega-3 Index. “Fatty,” “oily,” and “cold-water” are terms used to describe fish with higher levels of EPA+DHA. A full list of fish and their EPA+DHA levels is included in your report. There are also useful websites to help guide your fish decisions.
Plant Omega-3s
Plant-sources of omega-3s, such as walnuts, flaxseed oil and chia or flaxseeds, contain the omega-3 ALA. To a small extent, this omega-3 can be converted into EPA (and to an even smaller extent, DHA) in the body, but it is much less effective at raising Omega-3 Index levels when compared to taking pre-formed EPA+DHA. Plant-based omega-3 sources are still healthy food choices, but they will not raise your Omega-3 Index.
Improve your Omega-3 Index as part of your New Year’s Resolution
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