Omega 3 Index Testing

By Atom Bergstrom

Atom’s Blog

Are you one of the “lucky” one percenters?

I’m not referring to motorcyclists.

Sowmyanarayanan V. Thuppal, et al. (“Discrepancy between Knowledge and Perceptions of Dietary Omega-3 Fatty Acid Intake Compared with the Omega-3 Index,” Nutrients, Sept. 2017) wrote …

“More than half of adults believed that O3-FAs [omega 3 fatty acids] are beneficial for heart and brain health and could correctly identify the food sources of O3-FA. However, the mean O3-I [omega 3 index] in the U.S. (4.3%) and Germany (5.5%) puts the majority of adults sampled (99%) in intermediate or high CVD-risk categories.”

Ninety-nine percent? Roll up your pants. It’s too late to save your shoes.

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Omega 3 index (O3-I) tests are the latest money-spinning fad.

Some mainstream doctors recommend getting one with every yearly physical exam — that’s 44,000,000 Americans a year times $50 a test = an extra $2,200,000,000 annually.

And mail order omega 3 index testing is a thriving business.

One organization that validates such testing is the International Fish Oil Standards (IFOS), founded by Nutrasource — a seller of fish oils, among other things, so is this a case of the fox guarding the chicken house?

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Suzanne Somers (Tox-Sick: From Toxic to Not Sick, 2015) wrote …

“To make sure your fish oil product doesn’t contain high levels of toxins, look for a five-star International Fish Oil Standards (IFOS) rating on the label.”

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According to Nutrasource (Corporate Headquarters 120 Research Lane, Suite 203 Guelph, ON, CANADA N1G 0B4) …

“As the omega-3 sector matures, there is a greater need than ever for innovation and advancements in unique health claims, product development, and enhanced delivery technology to improve consumer health globally.”

According to the same source …

“As longstanding members of the Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s (GOED), we work collaboratively with industry stakeholders to author scientific research papers, develop novel testing methods, design solutions for quality and transparency, and guide companies in clinical research to support novel formulations.”

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On the other side of the coin —>

Josh Bloom (“Time To Throw The Fish Oil Back,” American Council of Science and Health, Apr. 23, 2018) wrote …

“The article. ‘Another Nail in the Coffin for Fish Oil Supplements’ summarizes the results of a meta-analysis of 10 randomized trials, which were conducted to see whether omega-3 fatty acid supplements from fish had any impact on fatal heart attacks, nonfatal heart attacks, strokes and deaths from any cause (endpoints).

“The average length of a trial, all of which compared omega-3 fatty acid supplements to placebo, was 4.4 years and about 78,000 participants were involved.

“The results? Zilch. The supplement did not meet any of the study’s endpoints.”

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Skeptical Raptor (“Benefits of omega 3 fish oil—something’s fishy,” Jan. 5, 2017) wrote …

“Why is it that people think that there are simple panaceas to life? Take an omega 3 capsule and declare to the world that you’re healthier? And do that with no concern about the environment around you.

“The omega 3 fish oil industry has grown to over $1.2 billion in sales in the USA (thank you for destroying the fish stocks) based on false and unproven claims.”
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