Omega-3

Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated fat that are essential for human health. They are called “essential” because the human body cannot produce them on its own, and they must be obtained through the diet or supplements.

What makes omega-3 fats special? They are an integral part of cell membranes throughout the body and affect the function of the cell receptors in these membranes. They provide the starting point for making hormones that regulate blood clotting, contraction and relaxation of artery walls, and inflammation. They also bind to receptors in cells that regulate genetic function. Likely due to these effects, omega-3 fats have been shown to help prevent heart disease and stroke, may help control lupus, eczema, and rheumatoid arthritis, and may play protective roles in cancer and other conditions.

There are three types of omega-3 fatty acids: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). EPA and DHA are found primarily in fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, and sardines, while ALA is found in plant-based foods such as flaxseeds, chia seeds, and walnuts.

The benefits of omega-3 fatty acids include:

1. Heart health: Omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce the risk of heart disease by reducing inflammation, lowering blood pressure, and improving blood lipid levels.
2. Brain function: Omega-3 fatty acids are important for brain function and can help improve memory, focus, and cognitive function.
3. Eye health: Omega-3 fatty acids are important for eye health and can help reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration.
4. Joint health: Omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce joint pain and stiffness in people with rheumatoid arthritis.
5. Mood disorders: Omega-3 fatty acids can help improve symptoms of depression and anxiety.
6. Pregnancy and infant development: Omega-3 fatty acids are important for fetal and infant development, and can help improve cognitive and visual development.

It’s important to note that while omega-3 fatty acids offer many potential health benefits, they should be consumed in moderation and in consultation with a healthcare provider, particularly in individuals taking blood thinning medications or with a history of bleeding disorders.

Omega-3 fatty acids support cardiovascular health, proper brain, neural, and visual development, as well as maintenance of bone, joint, immune, and cellular health*.

Summary of Omega-3 Fatty Acids

– EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) are required for optimal health*.

– Because our bodies are inefficient in making EPA and DHA it is recommended to get these omega-3 fatty acids through the diet or nutritional supplementation.

– Dietary sources of EPA and DHA include fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna, sardines, and anchovies. However, most individuals only obtain 30-100 mg of EPA/DHA daily falling far below the recommended amounts of between 250 mg to 2 grams EPA/DHA per day.

-Adequate intakes of omega-3 fatty acids including EPA and DHA have been found to support healthy joints, brain development, cell membrane integrity, skin and eye health, cardiovascular function, child development, and a healthy immune system.*

• USANA’s BiOmega is produced from cold water, deep-sea fish oil from a fishery that uses sustainable practices and renewable resources. BiOmega includes more potent dosages of DHA and EPA than many competitors in a highly bioavailable form and fortified with vitamin D.
•  BiOmega is purified to be virtually free of contaminants and flavored with lemon oil to minimize the fishy aftertaste.
• Each serving (2 capsules) of BiOmega has 1200 mg total of omega-3 fatty acids. Of which 580 mg are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 470 mg are docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
• USANA’s BiOmega supplement is a fish oil supplement that contains a balanced, concentrated source of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids including EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) in a convenient capsule form.  USANA’s BiOmega Jr. is a fish oil supplement that delivers appropriate amounts of the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and vitamin D, in a delectable, sugar-free, flavored gel format that is friendly for kids or adults who have a hard time swallowing capsules.
• Research has clearly shown that essential fatty acids are important for developing babies, and many women don’t get enough from diet alone. During pregnancy, omega-3 fatty acids, particularly DHA, support brain, eye, and nerve development, especially during the last trimester.*
• BiOmega™ is purified using high vacuum molecular distillation. (We actually distil the product twice to ensure a maximum level of purity.)Molecular distillation removes impurities (heavy metals, dioxides, etc.), saturated fats, and other undesirable organic compounds, leaving only the key beneficial components of the fish oil. Molecular distillation is gentle with exceptionally low heat residence time and is performed in a vacuum to further reduce heat requirement. Additionally, the BiOmega is a whole-body oil (not a liver oil) made from wild caught anchovies and sardines – small fish with short lifespans which are naturally much lower in contaminants than larger fish (such as salmon, tuna, etc.)
• All of USANA’s products, including BiOmega, are completely free of trans-fatty acids.
• BiOmega does not contain vitamin A. Unless added by the manufacturer, only fish oil supplements specifically made from fish liver (such as cod liver oil) will contain vitamin A.

Fats are an essential part of our diet. However, we should limit unhealthy fat intake and encourage consumption of healthy fats. Saturated fats found in meat, milk, and cheese help to promote the formation of artery-clogging fatty deposits. The trans-fatty acids (found in partially hydrogenated vegetable oils) are even more harmful to our health. Monounsaturated fats found in vegetable oils do not promote arterial fat deposits and polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as the omega-3 fatty acids, are the most beneficial to overall health.

Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids play many roles in our bodies. They are the biosynthetic precursors of a family of compounds called eicosanoids (prostaglandins, thromboxanes, and leukotrienes). These compounds are hormone-like substances that control many naturally occurring health processes in our bodies.

It is important to maintain an appropriate balance of omega-3 and omega-6 either from the diet or nutritional supplement, as these two classes of fatty acids work together to promote health.* Yet despite the clear health benefits associated with omega-3 fatty acids, dietary surveys indicate that most of us do not obtain enough omega-3 fatty acids from our diets.

In 2002, the American Heart Association issued new guidance on fish and fish oil consumption because results of large-scale epidemiological studies and randomized controlled studies showed that omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil support cardiovascular health. For example, EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) help maintain healthy high-density lipoprotein and triglyceride levels in plasma, which are important for supporting healthy arterial function and blood flow. Supportive but not conclusive research shows that consumption of EPA and DHA may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. One serving of BiOmega provides 1050mg of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids. [See nutrition information for total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol content].*

Omega-3 fatty acids support brain development and structural integrity, impacting biochemical efficiency in the brain and neural development. It is important that women of childbearing age who are pregnant, may become pregnant, or are breastfeeding get proper nutrition including consuming adequate amounts of DHA and EPA to support the growth and development of their child. DHA is one of the dominant fats in the nerve cells of fetal and infant brains and plays a role in the healthy development of the visual system. Neural phospholipid membranes selectively concentrate DHA in photoreceptors and some cell-signaling sites, while the retina selectively incorporates EPA to support eye fluidity.*

In addition to those listed above, EPA and DHA are also important components for overall health in young children, adolescents, and adults. Studies have also shown fish oil supplements to be effective in supporting healthy joints, articular cartilage, aid in joint comfort, and supporting bone health. Many studies also indicate that taking omega-3 dietary supplements help support the body’s normal, healthy inflammatory response in response to exercise and everyday activities.*

Your cells have a phospholipid bilayer that acts as a selective barrier—keeping things out or letting them in. Key components of that bilayer, omega-3, and omega-6 fatty acids play a significant role in maintaining our good health at the most basic level. Sufficient levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids can help maintain skin’s barrier function to keep it looking healthy.*

In addition, combining fish oil intake with regular exercise is more supportive than exercise alone for helping to maintain a healthy weight and supporting metabolic health.*

The Benefits of BiOmega™

Many experts believe a 1:1 ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 is ideal, as they work together to promote health.*

However, as mentioned above, average diets contain significantly more omega-6 fatty acids. Eating fatty fish can be one way to increase your omega-3 intake. However, it is recommended to consume at least two, six-ounce pieces of fatty fish every single week (104 pieces a year) to meet expert recommendations!

In spite of clear benefits of including fish in the diet, health authorities have warned us to limit our intake of certain species of fish due to concerns about potential contaminants, especially during pregnancy. This is where USANA’s BiOmega™ comes in.

Supplementing with BiOmega is an effective way to increase omega-3 levels to help maintain a proper balance and support health without the fear of contamination that can come from eating whole fish.*

USANA’s BiOmega™ is produced from cold water, deep-sea fish oil that comes from a fishery that uses sustainable practices and renewable resources. BiOmega is purified to be virtually free of contaminants and flavored with lemon oil to minimize the fishy aftertaste.

Most purification processes for fish oil remove any vitamin D from the product. Yet, experts now widely believe that an overwhelming majority of people are deficient in vitamin D.

Vitamin D has been shown to have many health benefits and is necessary to support normal bone mineralization and growth, maintenance of muscle strength and coordination, cardiovascular health, and robust and balanced immune function.*

One serving of BiOmega provides a total of 2000 mg fish oil concentrate, 1200mg of total omega-3s including 1050 mg of EPA and DHA, 200 IU of vitamin D, 4 mg of mixed natural tocopherols, and is free of trans-fatty acids.

The Strongest Evidence for a Beneficial Effect Omega-3 Fatty Acids

The strongest evidence for a beneficial effect of omega-3 fats has to do with heart disease. These fats appear to help the heart beat at a steady clip and not veer into a dangerous or potentially fatal erratic rhythm.  Such arrhythmias cause most of the 500,000-plus cardiac deaths that occur each year in the United States. Omega-3 fats also lower blood pressure and heart rate, improve blood vessel function, and, at higher doses, lower triglycerides and may ease inflammation, which plays a role in the development of atherosclerosis.

Several large trials have evaluated the effect of fish or fish oils on heart disease. In the Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio della Sopravvivenza nell’Infarto Miocardio (known as the GISSI Prevention Trial), heart attack survivors who took a 1-gram capsule of omega-3 fats every day for three years were less likely to have a repeat heart attack, stroke, or die of sudden death than those who took a placebo. Notably, the risk of sudden cardiac death was reduced by about 50 percent. In the more recent Japan EPA Lipid Intervention Study (JELIS), participants who took EPA plus a cholesterol-lowering statin were less likely to have a major coronary event (sudden cardiac death, fatal or nonfatal heart attack, unstable angina, or a procedure to open or bypass a narrowed or blocked coronary artery) than those who took a statin alone.

Most Americans take in far more of another essential fat—omega-6 fats—than they do omega-3 fats. Some experts have raised the hypothesis that this higher intake of omega-6 fats could pose problems, cardiovascular and otherwise, but this has not been supported by evidence in humans.  In the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, for example, the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats wasn’t linked with risk of heart disease because both of these were beneficial.  Many other studies and trials in humans also support cardiovascular benefits of omega-6 fats. Although there is no question that many Americans could benefit from increasing their intake of omega-3 fats, there is evidence that omega-6 fats also positively influence cardiovascular risk factors and reduce heart disease.

Researchers are taking a hard look at a different sort of balance, this one between possible effects of marine and plant omega-3 fats on prostate cancer. Results from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study and others show that men whose diets are rich in EPA and DHA (mainly from fish and seafood) are less likely to develop advanced prostate cancer than those with low intake of EPA and DHA.  At the same time, some-but not all-studies show an increase in prostate cancer and advanced prostate cancer among men with high intakes of ALA (mainly from supplements). However, this effect is inconsistent. In the very large Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial, for example, there was no link between ALA intake and early, late, or advanced prostate cancer.

Fish and Seafood Products and Their Omega-3 Fatty Acid Content

This table lists common fish and seafood products and their omega-3 fatty acid content.

SOURCE: Mozaffarian D, Rimm EB. JAMA. 2006;296:1885-1899.

*Swordfish contains high levels of mercury, as does shark, king mackerel, and tilefish (sometimes called golden bass or golden snapper). Women who are or may become pregnant, nursing mothers, and young children should avoid these high-mercury species of fish, but can eat up to 12 ounces (two average meals) a week of a variety of fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury.

**Albacore tuna contains more mercury than canned, light tuna. Women who are or may become pregnant, nursing mothers, and young children should limit albacore tuna to one serving per week.