There is no standard EPA to DHA ratio in fish oil. While all fish contain both EPA and DHA, different species contain varying levels and manufacturers freely manipulate the ratios during processing. So the ratio is entirely at the discretion of the manufacturer. Furthermore, the only consensus reached by the scientific community regarding a recommended ratio is confined to heart benefits and even that is a bit confusing.
Consensus
The National Institutes of Health convened an international panel of experts to determine a recommended dietary intake for omega-3 derived from fish oil. EPA and DHA are classified as omega-3 fatty acids. The results were published in the October 1999 issue of the "Journal of the American College of Nutrition." The primary investigators were experts in infant nutrition, cardiovascular disease and mental health. They concluded by endorsing 650 mg combined DHA and EPA for cardiovascular benefits in a ratio of 2-to-1. However it doesn't matter which one is greater -- just that one amount is twice that of the other.
Specific Benefits
The decision to select a supplement according to DHA and EPA content should be based on the benefit you're seeking. For example, the Linus Pauling Institute website reports that DHA is found in high concentrations in the retina and brain. So if you're seeking vision and neurological benefits, then you'd want a high DHA to EPA ratio. On the other hand, EPA plays the major role in reducing levels of triglycerides. Thus, if you desire normalizing lipid levels, then you'd want the reverse ratio. Discuss these questions with your doctor.
Standard Doses
People suffering from multiple sclerosis, or MS, commonly supplement omega-3, hoping for an improvement in symptoms. Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving their needs, and in response to patient questions about how much DHA and EPA to supplement, the organization developed some guidelines. Using a hodgepodge of sources, they standardized a normal dosage as containing 120 mg DHA and 180 mg EPA per 1,000 mg fish oil capsule. "Super strength" is defined as containing 240 mg DHA and 360 mg EPA per capsule. MS patients are advised to supplement 10 super strength capsules per day.
Universal Recommendation
Researchers reporting in the June 2006 issue of the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" undertook an ambitious project to estimate an omega-3 dosage that would meet the nutrient requirements of 97 to 98 percent of the world's population. To derive a number, they deduced that the burden of disease attributable to omega-3 deficiency ranged from 20.8 percent for all causes of mortality to 99.9 percent for bipolar disorder in American, Japanese and Filipino populations. Based on these findings, they further deduced that daily supplementation of 3.5 g omega-3 in a ratio of 1-to-2 EPA to DHA would obviate the disease burden.
References
- "Journal of the American College of Nutrition"; The Workshop on the Essentiality of and Recommended Dietary Intakes (RDIs) for Omega-6 and Omega-3 Fatty Acids; Artemis Simopoulos, et al.; April 1999
- Linus Pauling Institute: Micronutrient Information: EFAs
- Overcoming Multiple Sclerosis: Frequently Asked Questions: Diet
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Healthy Intakes of N--3 and N--6 Fatty Acids: Estimations Considering Worldwide Diversity; Joseph Hibbeln, et al.; June 2006
Member Comments