Study: 76% miss omega‑3 heart‑healthy target
A peer‑reviewed analysis in Nutrition Research Reviews by researchers at the University of East Anglia and the University of Southampton finds that 76% of people worldwide do not meet recommended intakes of the heart‑healthy omega‑3 fats EPA and DHA. The review references guidance of at least 250 mg/day and links low intake to higher risks of heart disease, triglycerides, arrhythmias, and cognitive decline; a cardiology dietitian advises increasing oily fish intake or evidence‑based supplementation as appropriate.
📌 Key Facts
- Journal: Nutrition Research Reviews; collaborating institutions include University of East Anglia and University of Southampton
- Finding: 76% of the global population falls short of EPA/DHA recommendations
- Guideline benchmark: at least 250 mg/day combined EPA+DHA; oily fish are primary dietary sources
📊 Relevant Data
In the VITAL trial involving 25,871 US adults (20.2% Black), omega-3 supplementation (860 mg EPA+DHA daily) reduced myocardial infarction risk by 77% in Black participants (HR 0.23, 95% CI: 0.11-0.47) but showed no benefit in non-Hispanic White participants (HR 0.93, 95% CI: 0.73-1.18).
Fish and Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Sex and Racial Differences in Cardiovascular Outcomes and Cognitive Function — PubMed Central
In a global analysis of 595,480 blood samples (2012-2023), North American populations have the lowest mean omega-3 level of 2.8% (SD 1.5), compared to 3.8% (SD 1.6) in Asia and 3.6% (SD 1.5) in Europe, with North America comprising about 2.7% of the global sample.
Global variations in omega-3 fatty acid status and omega-6:omega-3 ratios: insights from >500,000 whole-blood dried blood spot samples — PubMed Central
Mexican Americans have a higher frequency of FADS ancestral haplotype (AH) alleles (0.61–0.73), leading to 38% lower EPA and 15% lower DHA levels in those homozygous for AH compared to those with derived alleles, in contrast to lower AH frequencies in European Americans (0.19–0.39).
The influence of FADS genetic variation and omega-3 fatty acid deficiency on cardiometabolic disease risk in a Mexican American population — Frontiers in Nutrition