Are all omega-3 supplements created equal?
No. Omega-3 content varies greatly among supplements, and lab studies have shown that the actual amount doesnt always match the claim on the label. The average 1-gram fish-oil supplement has 300 milligrams of omega-3s, comprised of EPA and DHA, says Dr. William Harris, professor of medicine at the University of South Dakota in Sioux Falls. While supplements based on plant sources such as flaxseed contain 55 percent omega-3s, its nearly all ALA, which the body converts to EPA very poorly, he says, adding that our bodies ability to convert flaxseed oil into DHA is nonexistent. Long-chain omega-3s from fish are far better evidenced for health benefits, Harris adds. No contest. EPA and DHA are both way more important than ALA. If it sounds a bit confusing, it is. As Nettleton points out, some supplements claim to have omega-3s, omega-6s and omega-9s, leaving consumers to rely on packaging claims and the opinions of health-store clerks. Few people actually understand it all, Nettleton says.
