A Test Your Doctor May Not Know About!

The Omega-3 Index test is simply a measure of the amount of EPA and DHA in the blood, specifically the red blood cell membranes. For example, if you have 64 fatty acids in a cell membrane and 3 are EPA and DHA, then you would have an Omega-3 Index of 4.6%.

Most consumers are not familiar with the Omega-3 Index test. In fact, many don’t even know about the health risks associated with low omega-3 levels and for those who do understand what all of this means, there is still a lot of confusion.

For example, will all omega-3s raise the Omega-3 Index? The answer is no. ONLY EPA and DHA omega-3s will raise the Omega-3 Index. ALA, another popular omega-3 found in sources like flax and chia, will have no impact on the Omega-3 Index.

Low omega-3 levels are associated with a multitude of health issues such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s, eye disease, and much more.

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Long Life Span of the Japanese

Long Life Span of the Japanese

“It is interesting to note that in Japan, where the mean omega-3 index is greater than 8%, the expected life span is around five years longer than it is in the United States, where the mean omega-3 index is about 5%. Hence, in practice, dietary choices that change the omega-3 index may prolong life,” said Michael McBurney, Ph.D., FCNS-SCN, lead researcher in this study.