Omega 3 OilOptimization Study
Dr Jeff Leighton, Chief Science Officerand
Vanessa Whiting, Senior Nutritionist
DOSE-RESPONSE CONSIDERATIONS# of Health Benefits
DOSEVariables: • Exercise
• BMI• Diet• Chronic Disease• Age• Gender
CV.…………………….2-3 gramsTGs…………………….4 gramsInflammation………..> 4 gramsCNS……………………?Women’s Health…….?G.I. (Leaky Gut)……..?
# of Health Benefits
Max
3 6 9 12 15
?
% Omega 3 Incorporation
• We need to correlate % omega 3 incorporation with health benefit
• Assuming the use of a highly potent omega 3 oil and an optimized formulation and dosing regimen, what is the practical upper limit to omega 3 oil incorporation?
PROCESS• Abstain from all Omega 3 supplements for 30 days
• Measure Omega 3 (baseline)
• Dose for 30 days
• Food and exercise survey filled out on a daily basis allowing verification of diet, exercise and pain
• Measure Omega 3
• In a subset group, measured rate of loss of Omega 3 (7 day and 30 day)
Study involved 136 volunteersVolunteers were recruited largely from the
Northeast region
METHODS
Omega 3 Index Assay • Developed by Dr. Bill Harris
• CLEA Approved finger prick assay• Detects % of Omega 3 fats in RBC membranes
SFH Omega 3 Oil• IFOS certified• CRN, GOED compliant• Dose strength per 5 ml (1 teaspoon)• EPA 2235mg• DHA 990mg • Total 3225mg/ 5 ml• Ratio Omega 3: Omega 6 37:1
• Fatty acids are in triglyceride form
QUESTIONS ADDRESSED1. What is the best dosing paradigm to optimize Omega 3 fat
incorporation?• Once a day?• Twice a day?• With food?• 1 tsp vs 2 tsp of SFH Omega 3 oil?
2. Does BMI, gender, age, exercise or chronic disease affect Omega 3 fat incorporation?
3. What is the rate of loss of Omega 3 fats following a steady state dosing period?
100
25
-25
-50
50
75
Basal
14.6/ 5.35
34.9/ 6.30
17.5/ 5.49
79/ 8.36
122/ 10.38
220/ 15.04
Ave 4.67%Athletes
Fish 1x week, no omega 3 oilNo fish and no fish oil
1 tps fish oil, no food
2 tps fish oil, no food
2 tps fish oil BID2 tps fish oil with food once a day
42% 20%
No nuts, low carb, red meat ≤ 3x/ week
Dose Optimization summary
99/ 9.29
121/ 10.32
BMI Diet Number Baseline % Stimulated %
18-25 Stand. American
13 4.78 9.55
Low Carb 16 5.52 9.60
25-30 Stand. American
13 4.56 8.87
Low Carb 17 5.01 8.34
>30 Stand. American
8 5.23 8.32
Low Carb 4 4.50 8.17
EFFECTS OF DIET ON OMEGA 3 INCORPORATION
Conclusion: the combination of low carb and low BMI translates into greater basal and stimulated omega 3
Effect of Diagnosed Inflammation*
On Omega 3 IncorporationBMI Number Inflammation?
Baseline %
Stimulated %
18-25 9 Yes 5.78 9.15
21 No 5.20 9.70
25-30 9 Yes 5.05 8.78
22 No 4.68 8.38
>30 5 Yes 4.72 8.60
7 No 4.75 8.61
* Inflammation does not affect Omega 3 incorporation. As in other studies, individuals with BMI >25 have lower baseline and stimulated Omega 3 incorporation
Number Baseline % Stimulated %
ALL 73 4.93 8.95
Males 25 4.30 7.64
Females 48 5.04 9.07
EFFECTS of GENDER ON
OMEGA 3 INCORPORATION
Conclusion: Females have higher baseline and aremore efficient incorporating Omega 3 Oil
BMI Number Baseline % Stimulated %
18-25
ALL 32 5.18 9.58
Males 5 5.12 9.80
Females 27 5.20 9.54
25-30
ALL 30 4.94 8.61
Males 17 4.98 8.52
Females 13 4.90 8.72
>30
ALL 12 4.57 8.60
Male 3 4.36 7.83
Female 9 4.64 8.86
EFFECTS of BMI and GENDER ON
OMEGA 3 INCORPORATION
Conclusion: Effects of BMI on Omega 3 incorporation are modest but ahealthy BMI shows higher baseline and higher incorporation efficiency
Effect of pre/ post menopausal and
BMI on Omega 3 incorporation
BMI Number Pre Post Baseline %
Stimulated %
18-25 22 5.27 9.43
3 4.46 9.90
25-30 10 5.18 8.39
4 4.27 8.70
>30 5 4.07 8.24
4 5.07 9.65
Estrogen state has little effect on omega 3 oil incorporation (preliminary conclusion). Larger study group required.
% Change from baseline
50
80
100
X
30
X
9.71%X
7.36%
5.61%
Steady State
10 20
N=10, all athletes, athlete baseline 5.41%T ½ for Omega 3 loss approximately 7 days
Rate of loss of omega 3
incorporation
0Days
Conclusion1. Individuals with a healthy BMI (18-25) have higher basal and stimulated omega 3
incorporation.
2. There is considerable dosing flexibility. A BID dose or once a day just
before or with food provides optimal omega 3 incorporation.
3. It is possible to increase omega 3 incorporation to approximately 15% with a low
carb/ low omega 6 diet (no nuts, with fish and red meat ≤ 3 days / week).
4. Individuals in generally good health, but not athletic have an average
omega 3 basal incorporation of 4.67%.
5. Athletes have a higher basal omega 3 incorporation of 5.35%
6. Age and diagnosed inflammation have no effect on omega 3 fat
incorporation.
7. Women have a higher basal and stimulated omega 3 oil incorporation.
8. Surprisingly, the t ½ for omega 3 loss is short (approximately 7 days)
despite being a lipid soluble fatty acid. The observation was from a
group of 10 athletes where exercise induced cell metabolism would be
expected to increase turnover of muscle
and energy stores.
9. With modest changes in diet, it is reasonable to achieve 9-10%
incorporation of omega 3 into cell membranesWhat are the maximum number of health benefits achieved with 10% omega 3 oil incorporation… TBD!
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