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 very powerful signaling molecules can be produced from them. 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
Eating foods containing trans fats made 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 phased out of 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 ratios
- other details related to diet and metabolism
While the scientific community is not yet in full agreement on the exact health significance of many of these levels, these values can offer interesting insights into diet and overall health.
