Why can”t I take vegetarian omega-3s to get the same benefits as fish oils?
A Vegetarian omega-3s are short-chain fatty acids. Although beneficial to health, these fats do not have the same significant health-enhancing properties as the long-chain fats which are so crucial for neurological function, for example. It is the long-chain fatty acids which are important both structurally and functionally in the brain. While in theory the body has the capability to convert short-chain omega fatty acids into the succeeding long-chain fats this conversion is, in reality, very inefficient. With each conversion, certain enzymes must be present in order for the body to metabolise the fatty acids effectively. The average modern diet creates “blocks” whereby these enzymes are not produced in sufficient amounts to enable short-chain fats to be converted into long-chain fats such as EPA and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). If you are vegetarian you should ensure that you obtain the necessary co-factors to allow the fatty acid conversions to take place naturally in the body and tak
