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Omega 6:3 ratio
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3 Replies
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Hey ,
It can be worth testing for sure. Testing reasons can differ of course. Some people might test out of curiosity. Other people might experience signs & symptoms from these imbalances (You should watch this video if you like to learn more).
Although there is much information you can find about the omega 6:3 ratio in the internet, I personally don’t like the ‘omega 6:3’ ratio description. And here is why:
• Omega 3’s and Omega 6’s are families of fatty acids. For example, the most famous omega 3 fatty acids are probably EPA and DHA. ALA is also an omega 3 found in plant-based food sources. However…ALA doesn’t have the same health benefits as EPA and DHA.
Increasing the ALA content will influence the omega 6 : omega 3 ratio. But it might not have the same health outcomes.
• The ratio theory also focuses on the ratio and not on the amount. However, if someone is following a low-fat diet and consumes a low amount of omega 6 fats, the ratio might look fine, but the amount of omega 6s and omega 3s also matters.Therefore I like my test also to give an indication of the amounts.
I like what Omegaquant did for assessing omega 3s. What they do is, they look at the percentage of fatty acids in red blood cells.
The advantage is that red blood cells live about 3 months and can give an idea about what someone has consumed in fatty acids over the last 3 months.
If you like to learn more about testing, this video is also interesting for you. I hope this helps!
Testing fatty acids does make sense. In general, people get more omega 6 fatty acids in their diet. There are enzymes (delta desaturases) that convert fatty acids in both omega families to other fatty acids. By increasing the omega 6 content, it is harder for the body to form EPA and DHA since these enzymes are more ‘busy’ converting fatty acids in the omega 6 family.
If you like to have the health benefits of omega 3s, if you’re trying to assess if someone is consuming/absorbing enough omega 3s or if you like to help someone fight inflammation, these tests can help you make more informed decisions.
I hope this helps!
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Thank you very much Daniel! Is super interesting…
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, hello
Would you know where I could run a test here in Dubai? I would love to do it out of interest and not sure if I could fit something like this under my annual health check up but I would like to investigate.
Thank you
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