• Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Past Issues
    • Subscribe
    • Change Mailing Address
    • Surveys
    • Guidelines for Authors
    • Editorial Calendar and Deadlines
    • Dynamic Chiropractic
      • Newspaper
      • Subscription
    • The American Chiropractor
      • Magazine
  • Practice
    • Business Tips
    • Chiropractic Schools
    • Clinical & Technique
    • Ebooks
    • Ecourses
    • Sponsored Content
    • Infographics
    • Quizzes
    • Wellness & Nutrition
    • Podcast
  • Content Hubs
  • Products & Services
    • View Products & Services Directory
    • Browse Buyers Guide
    • Submit a Product
    • Vendor Login
  • Datebook
    • View Events
    • Post an Event
    • Become an Events Poster
  • Advertise
    • Advertising Information
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us

Your Online Practice Partner

Chiropractic Economics
Your Online Practice Partner
Advertise Subscribe
  • Home
  • News
  • Webinars
  • Chiropractic Research
  • Students/New DCs

How much omega 3 should you recommend?

Tina Beychok March 15, 2019

Are you recommending the right omega dosage?

Given its popularity, it should be no surprise if your patients are currently taking omega 3 supplements.

They may take them not just for specific health issues, but as part of an overall wellness lifestyle.

Regardless of why your patients take omega 3, it is vital they take a sufficient dose in order to get the maximum benefit. Any omega 3 supplement that your patients take must also include a proper combination of eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids, which are the most beneficial types of omega 3. On top of that, doses of omega 3 for combating specific health conditions are higher than those for general wellness.

How can you
help your patients sort out which dose is the right fit for them?

General guidelines

The best source of omega 3 is fatty fish, such as cod or salmon, which your patients should consume at least twice a week. If they are vegan or allergic to fish, they can obtain omega 3 from certain algae sources, but those sources are not as efficient as those found in fatty fish.

The other alternative is omega 3 supplements.
Although there is no set guideline for a daily intake of omega 3 supplements,
many well-regarded health organizations suggest a minimum of 250 mg to 500 mg
of omega 3 with a combination of EPA and DHA.1

Cardiovascular health

Cardiovascular health is probably the main
reason your patients may be taking omega 3 supplements for a specific health
condition. As a general rule, these patients will require a higher dose of
omega 3 than those taking it strictly for wellness.

A large study in the journal Lancet followed 11,000 participants who
took a daily 850-mg dose of omega 3 (combined EPA and DHA) for three years.2
The researchers noted that there was a 25 percent reduction in heart attacks,
and a 45 percent reduction in sudden death, among the study group.

The American Heart Association updated its
guidelines in 2017. It recommends that patients with coronary heart disease
take 1000 mg of omega 3 daily, and those with high triglycerides consume 2000
mg to 4000 mg of omega 3.3

Depression and anxiety

An interesting 2011 study in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry performed
a meta-analysis of a number of smaller studies examining the effects of omega 3
on depression and anxiety.4 A meta-analysis pools together the
results of smaller studies to look for patterns of similarities in the results,
in hopes of strengthening their individual findings.

In the case of this meta-analysis, the
researchers found that daily doses of omega 3 ranging between 200 mg and 2200
reduced symptoms of both depression and anxiety. Furthermore, supplements with
a greater amount of EPA than DHA were the most effective in reducing symptoms
of mood disorders.4

Pregnancy and lactation

There is a
sizeable body of research showing the benefit of omega 3 supplements,
particularly DHA, both during pregnancy and lactation. A 2010 article in the
journal Reviews in Obstetrics &
Gynecology
summarized some of the studies in this area of research.5
Most official guidelines recommend that pregnant and lactating women add an
extra 200 mg of DHA to the recommended adult dose of omega 3 supplements.6

Omega 3 is not only one of the best
researched supplements in terms of benefits, but is also one of the most
versatile in terms of the various conditions for which it can be used. If your
patients are already taking omega 3 supplements, or considering doing so, take
some time to discuss what their correct dose should be for optimum benefits.

References

  1. EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products,
    Nutrition and Allergies (NDA). Scientific opinion on the tolerable upper intake level of
    eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and docosapentaenoic
    acid (DPA)
    . EFSA Journal. 2012;10(7):2815.
  2. [No authors listed]. Dietary
    supplementation with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E after
    myocardial infarction: Results of the GISSI-Prevenzione trial. Gruppo Italiano
    per lo Studio della Sopravvivenza nell’Infarto miocardico
    . Lancet. 1999 Aug 7;354(9177):447-55.
  3. Siscovick DS, Barringer TA,
    Fretts AM, et al. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (fish oil) supplementation and
    the prevention of clinical cardiovascular disease: a science advisory from the
    American Heart Association
    . Circulation. 2017 Apr
    11;135(15):e867-e884.
  4. Sublette ME, Ellis SP, Geant AL,
    Mann JJ. Meta-analysis of the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in
    clinical trials in depression
    . Journal
    of Clinical Psychiatry
    . 2011;72(12):1577-1584.
  5. Coletta JM, Bell SJ, Roman AS. Omega-3 fatty acids and pregnancy. Reviews in Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2010;3(4):163-171.
  6. Koletzko, B, Lien E, Agostoni C,
    et al. The roles of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in pregnancy,
    lactation and infancy: Review of current knowledge and consensus
    recommendations
    . Journal of Perinatal Medicine.
    2008;36(1):5-14.

Related Posts

  • Give your body a spring cleansingGive your body a spring cleansing
  • What is World Spine day and why it matters to DCsWhat is World Spine day and why it matters to DCs
  • F4CP cites report in 'Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine' documenting role of chiropractic in better cost management of low back painF4CP cites report in 'Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine' documenting role of chiropractic in better cost management of low back pain
  • What are elderberries good for?What are elderberries good for?
  • Foundation for Chiropractic Progress announcementFoundation for Chiropractic Progress announcement

Filed Under: Nutritional Supplements, Resource Center

Current Issue

Issue 7 cover

Get Exclusive Content! Join our email list

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • X (Twitter)
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube logoYouTube logoYouTube

Compare Subscriptions

Dynamic Chiropractic

The American Chiropractor

8430 Enterprise Circle, Suite 200

Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202

Phone 800-671-9966

CONTACT US »

Privacy Policy | Terms of Service

Copyright © Chiropractic Economics, A Gallagher Company. All Rights Reserved.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE MAGAZINE

Get Chiropractic Economics magazine
delivered to your home or office. Just
fill out our form to request your FREE
subscription for 20 issues a year,
including two annual Buyers Guides.

SUBSCRIBE NOW »

Issue 7 cover