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Dr. Fred Sancilio Presentation on Fish Oil vs. Omega-3 Part 3

There have been thousands of publications in recent years touting the benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids especially EPA and DHA. Some of these benefits are described below. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are two essential fatty acids required by our body in order to function as normal. Our body cannot produce these naturally therefore we must obtain them through our diet. There is also another Omega-3 called alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). ALA may be found in some plants such as Flax and in particular in its seed's oil. However, when we ingest ALA our body converts it to EPA and DHA very inefficiently; only about 10% of the ALA we eat converts to EPA or DHA. Most American diets provide us with another Omega fatty acid called Arachidonic acid (AA): an Omega-6. Americans generally consume 10 times more Omega-6 then Omega-3s. Omega-6 fatty acids can be found in meat and meat products. While Omega-3s are generally found in plant materials as noted above, it is also present in large quantities in fish or supplements made from fish. According to both primary and secondary prevention studies conducted at major medical institutions and reviewed by the federal government, consumption of omega-3 fatty acids, like EPA and DHA, reduces all-cause mortality and various cardiovascular disease outcomes such as sudden death, cardiac death and myocardial infarction. The evidence according to the government is strongest for fish oil supplements as well as the ...