5 Reasons to Know Your Omega 3 Levels

Did you know that the concentration of certain Omega-3s in a person’s blood has been found to be a better predictor of heart disease risk than high cholesterol?

And that checking your Omega-3 and Omega-6 levels can provide actionable knowledge to help you make informed and healthy changes to your diet?

In this week’s blog, you’ll discover 5 reasons to test the Omega-3 levels in your blood with a convenient at home blood test kit.

1. A High Omega-3 Index is Important for Heart Health

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the #1 cause of death in America, accounting for nearly 600,000 deaths per year.

Based on recent studies, the Omega-3 Index is an emerging marker of heart disease risk.

The Omega-3 Index is a measure of the concentration of two specific Omega-3s, EPA & DHA, as a percent of total fatty acids in red blood cell membranes. Our Gene Smart Double Strength Omega-3 is formulated to deliver 1,200mg of these EPA + DHA in a 2 soft-gel daily serving, which is twice the amount of EPA + DHA found in “regular” fish oil.

In recent years, a significant body of research has been published showing that the Omega-3 Index is a very strong predictor of heart disease risk, and especially risk of dying from a sudden heart attack.  Sudden heart attacks contribute to over half of heart disease related deaths.  The studies have shown that an Omega-3 Index of 8% or greater is desirable for its cardio-protective benefits.

In the Physicians’ Health Study which involved nearly 15,000 healthy male physicians, those with a high Omega-3 Index were up to 90% less likely to die from a sudden heart attack than those with a low Omega-3 Index (1).  That’s right, 90%!  This predictive value was far greater than other heart disease risk factors including total cholesterol, which showed only a 35% reduction in relative risk for those with the lowest cholesterol levels compared to those with the highest levels.

Individuals with a high Omega 3 Index were up to 90% less likely to die from a sudden heart attack

2. A High Omega-3 Index is Associated with Slower Aging

Another study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) suggests that a high Omega 3 Index may slow the biological aging process (i.e. the rate at which our cells age) as measured by the rate of telomere shortening (2). In this 5-year study, those with a high Omega 3 Index showed a 65% slower rate of biological aging compared to individuals with a low score. The rate of telomere shortening is a new marker of biological aging whose discovery was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2009.

3. Know Whether You’re Eating Too Much Omega-6

When consumed in excess, Omega-6 tends to be pro-inflammatory.  Changes to our food supply over the past 50 years have significantly increased the amount of Omega-6 in our food supply. This has led to dramatic increases in our Omega 6 to Omega 3 Ratios. The Omega-6 to Omega-3 Ratio compares the amount of Omega-6 to Omega-3 in a persons blood.  A high ratio is associated with whole body inflammation (3).  Scientific studies reveal that an optimal Omega-6 to Omega-3 Ratios should be 5:1 or less, and ideally 2:1 like our hunter/gatherer ancestors.  Many in America have Omega-6 to Omega-3 Ratios in excess of 10:1. Armed with the knowledge that your Omega-6 to Omega-3 Ratio is high, you can lower it by increasing omega-3 and decreasing omega-6 in your diet.

4. Learn Whether You May Be at Risk

Most Americans consume too little Omega-3 in their diet. Studies have shown an Omega-3 Index of 8% or greater to be cardio-protective; however, the typical American has an Omega-3 Index score of only 4% to 5%, placing millions at risk. Knowing your levels will let you know whether you are one of them.

5. Everyone is Different

Even those taking steps to increase their consumption of Omega-3 by eating oily fish and taking premium quality Double Strength Omega-3 supplements may not be getting enough.

The body’s response to EPA and DHA in the diet is influenced by many factors including age, sex, weight, genetics, smoking, medications, and medical conditions, as well as the source and quality of Omega-3 and how they are consumed, so even those taking steps to increase their EPA and DHA intake may not be getting enough.

So how do you know if you are getting the right types and levels of Omega-3s into your body?

It’s simple – you measure it.

Omega-3 Testing

Knowing your Omega-3 and Omega-6 blood levels can help you make important choices about your diet that may reduce your risk of heart disease, premature aging and whole body inflammation.

Learn more about Omega-3 Testing.

References:

1 The Omega-3 Index as a Risk Factor for Coronary Heart Disease; American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2008

2 Association of Marine Omega-3 Fatty Acid Levels with Telomeric Aging in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease; Journal of the American Medical Association, January 20, 2010

3 The Importance of the Omega-6/Omega-3 Fatty Acid Ratio in Cardiovascular Disease and other Chronic Diseases; Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine, 2008