Omega 3 Total details
What Omega 3 Total shows
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fats that your body cannot make in useful amounts and must get from food, mainly oily fish and some plant sources. This value adds together the omega-3 fatty acids measured in your whole blood, such as EPA, DPA and DHA, and reports them as a percentage of all fatty acids measured. It helps look at your omega-3 status, which reflects your intake over the past several weeks. A lower result points to low omega-3 intake and is associated with higher cardiovascular risk, while a higher result usually reflects regular fish or omega-3 intake. It is read alongside the omega-6 total and ratio.
Tests that include Omega 3 Total
This test is designed for individuals who may have high cholesterol, high triglycerides, high blood pressure, or are at high risk for heart or metabolic diseases. It helps in assessing the risk and managing the conditions effectively.
- Arachidonic Acid/EPA Ratio A ratio calculated from arachidonic acid and EPA in whole blood, comparing an omega-6 fatty acid with an omega-3, used to gauge fatty acid balance.
- Arachidonic Acid Measures arachidonic acid in whole blood, an omega-6 fatty acid that the body uses to make signalling molecules involved in inflammation.
- Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) Measures DHA, a long-chain omega-3 fatty acid from fish and seafood, as a percentage of total fatty acids in whole blood.
- Docosapentaenoic Acid (DPA) Measures DPA, a long-chain omega-3 fatty acid between EPA and DHA, as a percentage of total fatty acids in whole blood.
- Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) Measures EPA, a long-chain omega-3 fatty acid from fish and seafood, as a percentage of total fatty acids in whole blood.
- Omega-3 Total (EPA + DPA + DHA) The combined level of the omega-3 fatty acids EPA, DPA and DHA in whole blood, used to estimate your overall long-chain omega-3 status.
- Linoleic Acid Linoleic acid, the main omega-6 essential fatty acid, measured in whole blood as part of OmegaCheck to look at your dietary fat balance.
- Omega 3 Total Measures the combined omega-3 fatty acids, such as EPA, DPA and DHA, in your blood as a percentage of total fatty acids, reflecting omega-3 intake.
- Omega 6/Omega 3 Ratio A ratio calculated from your blood omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acid totals, showing the balance between these two groups of essential fats.
- Omega 6, Total Measures the combined omega-6 fatty acids, such as linoleic and arachidonic acid, in your blood as a percentage of total fatty acids.
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