More than 8,000 studies published over the past 35 years have consistently shown that Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) and DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) are important to your health throughout every stage of your life. However, most people don’t consume enough Omega-3 EPA/DHA in their daily diet to satisfy their bodies’ needs and to reap all the health benefits these essential nutrients have to offer. In fact, according to Dr. Edward Siguel, in oral testimony given at the second meeting of the U.S. 2005 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, 70% of Americans are deficient in Omega-3 EPA/DHA.
Because Omega-3 EPA and DHA are critical to good health, yet cannot be efficiently manufactured by your body, you need to get them by consuming at least two servings of fatty fish (such as mackerel, sardines, and salmon) per week. If you’re not eating fatty fish at least twice a week, then your body is likely not getting an adequate amount of Omega-3 EPA/DHA. For anyone who has difficulty eating that amount of fatty fish weekly, MEG-3® supplements and MEG-3®-enriched foods can help bridge the gap, delivering levels of Omega-3 EPA/DHA necessary for your good health and the health of your family.

Recommended daily intake

The amounts of Omega-3 EPA/DHA vary widely among different kinds of fish, as do the daily recommended intakes of these essential nutrients advocated by different national and international health organizations. However, all of the following major health organizations agree on one thing: the importance of Omega-3 EPA and DHA to overall health.

• The International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids & Lipids (ISSFAL) — an international society of scientists, health professionals, administrators, educators, and communicators from more than 40 countries, all with an interest in the health effects of dietary fats — recommends 500 mg EPA/DHA for adults
• The American Heart Association (AHA) — a national, voluntary health agency in the US whose mission is to reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke — recommends eating fatty fish twice weekly, or for heart patients: 1 g EPA/DHA daily for CHD or CVD patients and 2-4 g EPA/DHA daily for patients who need to lower triglycerides.
• The National Institutes of Health(NIH) — an agency of the US Department of Health and Human Services and one of the world’s foremost medical research centers — recommends a total of 650 mg EPA/DHA, with at least 220 mg of each.
• The US Department of Agriculture ­­(USDA)— whose purpose is define and oversee farming, agriculture, and food polices in the United States — recommends eating fish-source Omega-3 (EPA/DHA).
• The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) — which is responsible for protecting Americans’ health by assuring the safety and efficacy of foods and drugs — recommends up to 3 g Omega-3 (EPA/DHA) daily from food, and up to 2 g from supplements.
• The National Health & Medical Research Council — Australia’s peak body for supporting health and medical research — recommends a suggested dietary target of 610 mg EPA/DHA/DPA for men, and 430 mg for women.
• The National Heart Foundation of Australia — an independent, Australia-wide, non-profit health organization aiming to improve the heart health of Australians — recommends eating two oily fish meals per week.

Obtaining your recommended daily intake of EPA and DHA

While the exact amount of recommended Omega-3 intake varies by organization, the generally agreed-upon guideline is to eat two to three fatty fish meals per week. This guideline is not precise, however, because not all fatty fish have the same amount of EPA and DHA per serving. Check the table below to see how many servings of a particular type of fish you would need to eat per week in order to obtain adequate amounts of EPA and DHA.

To meet ISSFAL’s recommended level of 500 mg of EPA/DHA/day, for example, you would have to consume approximately two salmon servings/week, or approximately four sardine servings/week, or eight halibut servings/week. If you have coronary heart disease or cardiovascular disease, the American Heart Association recommends consuming double the amount of EPA/DHA per week, which would mean eating four salmon servings/week, or eight sardine servings/week, or 16 halibut servings/week.

Meg-3® as your source of EPA and DHA

References