The Omega-3 Index Complete test measures all fatty acids in the blood and reports the levels of 24 fatty acids, as well as the Omega-3 index, fatty acid ratios, and trans fat index.
Learn more about your cells with the Omega-3 Index Complete test
This test measures:
- Omega-3 Index
- Omega-6 : Omega-3 Ratio
- AA : EPA Ratio
- Trans Fat Index
- Individual fatty acid levels
Omega-3 Index
The Omega-3 Index reflects the level of omega-3 fatty acids in the body and is used to assess the balance of fatty acids in the blood.
Omega-6 / Omega-3 Ratio
The Omega-6 / Omega-3 Ratio (also written as n-6/n-3) analyzes 7 omega-6 fatty acids and 4 omega-3 fatty acids. The total amount of omega-6 and omega-3 is divided by each other to obtain a ratio.
The recommended ratio is 3–5 : 1 (omega-6 : omega-3).
AA / EPA Ratio
The AA/EPA ratio represents the level of arachidonic acid (AA), an omega-6 fatty acid, compared to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), an omega-3 fatty acid.
These fatty acids are important in metabolism because they can produce very powerful signaling molecules. These molecules can influence processes such as:
- blood clotting
- contractions during childbirth
- inflammatory reactions
Different levels of these two fatty acids can influence processes affecting inflammation and overall health.
Trans Fat Index
Consuming foods containing trans fats produced from hydrogenated oils increases the risk of heart attack. For many years, these fats have been used in many processed foods.
Due to their negative effects on heart health, trans fats have been deemed unsafe for human consumption and are being gradually eliminated from food chains worldwide, including in the US.
However, there are also natural trans fats, which occur in small amounts in meat and dairy products and seem to have certain health benefits.
The trans fat index measures trans fats from industrial production and should be below 1%.
Individual Fatty Acid Levels
The test measures 24 different types of fatty acids in the blood to calculate the Omega-3 index, ratios, and trans fat index.
However, analyzing individual fatty acid levels can provide additional information, such as:
- levels of EPA and DHA
- specific omega-6 fatty acids contributing to the ratios
- other details related to diet and metabolism
*Images are for illustrative purposes and may differ from the actual product.
