Omega-3 Index Basic Test
Research has shown that the appropriate level of Omega-3 consumption is an effective way of naturally maintaining a healthy inflammatory response which greatly benefits a wide variety of health conditions affecting the heart, brain, eyes and joints. Unfortunately, we cannot produce this nutrient ourselves and therefore we can only consume it from either our diet or supplementation.
The CardiAction Omega-3 Index Test has been created with our partners OmegaQuant and it simply measures the amount of omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA in red blood cells. An Omega-3 Index in the desirable range of 8% - 12% is an indicator of better overall health, whereas being below this level places you at a higher risk zone. By knowing your Omega-3 Index level, this gives you a benchmark to decide what changes may be necessary for you - for example increasing your consumption of seafood or through dietary supplements. Rather than taking supplements for the sake of it, you’re much better off knowing if this is something that you require which is why having a test first is so important.
Once your blood sample has been processed by our CLIA certified lab, you will receive a report which shows your Omega-3 Index and how this compares to the desirable blood level range for optimal health (between 8-12%). After making the appropriate lifestyle interventions, you can retest your levels to see the effectiveness of any changes you have made. Don’t worry, this is a finger prick test that is minimally invasive, and you can collect the sample easily yourself.
Each kit contains:
Step by Step Instructions
Sample Collection Card
Lancet
Plaster
Gauze Pad
Alcohol Wipe
Return Paid Envelope
For help collecting your sample or registering the kit to your CardiAction account please contact info@healthscreening.nz
Why have a CardiAction Omega-3 Index Test?
The CardiAction Omega-3 Index Basic Test provides you with understandable results and is supported by science. Unlocking your personalised recommendations can be actioned in 3 simple steps.
Raising your Omega-3 Index to the desirable zone of 8% will help ensure you are getting enough of the right omega-3s — EPA and DHA — to protect your health. Once you know your Omega-3 Index you can personalise your diet to modify your Omega-3 Index in as little as 3 - 4 months.
What is Omega-3?
Omega-3’s can be plant based or marine based. The main omega-3 found in plants is alpha-linoleic acid (ALA) which can be found in walnuts, flax and chia seeds. The other main omega-3s eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), Docosapentaenoic-n3 acid (DPA-n3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are marine based and mainly found in fish and seafood. It is the marine sources of omega-3 that have been studied to provide the most cardioprotective benefits, specifically EPA and DHA. ALA can be converted to EPA and DHA in the body, but this happens at a very low rate in most people. An increase in ALA intake will have little to no effect on the Omega-3 Index.
EPA and DHA are forms of Omega-3 and have been shown to benefit a wide variety of health conditions affecting the heart, brain, eyes and joints. Thousands of papers have been published which reveal the health benefits of Omega-3 consumption.
Collecting your Sample Couldn’t Be Easier
Each kit comes with everything you need to collect your dry-blood sample in the convenience of your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Fish - fish is the best dietary source for the omega-3s, EPA+DHA. Dietary intake of EPA+DHA directly influences Omega-3 Index. “Fatty,” “oily,” and “cold-water” are terms used to describe fish with higher levels of EPA+DHA. A full list of fish and their EPA+DHA levels is included in your report. There are also useful websites to help guide your fish decisions.
Plant Omega-3s - Plant-sources of omega-3s, such as walnuts, flaxseed oil and chia or flaxseeds, contain the omega-3 ALA. To a small extent, this omega-3 can be converted into EPA (and to an even smaller extent, DHA) in the body, but it is much less effective at raising Omega-3 Index levels when compared to taking pre-formed EPA+DHA. Plant-based omega-3 sources are still healthy food choices, but they will not raise your Omega-3 Index.
-
Fish oil supplements are a safe and potent source of EPA+DHA and are a good way of increasing your Omega-3 intake if you don’t eat much fish. The source and form of the omega-3s in the supplements affect how well you absorb the omega-3s, as well as whether or not you take them with food. There are also vegan/vegetarian supplements which contain omega-3s produced by algae and yeast. It is important to look at the label for the amount of EPA+DHA, specifically, that the supplement contains. For example, many supplements are 1,000 mg of fish oil but only contain 300 mg of EPA+DHA. There are some examples of the EPA+DHA levels in supplements included your report.
-
No. There is no way to predict – for any given person – what his/her Omega-3 Index will be just by knowing how much fish they eat or how many capsules they take. Individual differences in metabolism, absorption, and genetics make it impossible to predict with certainty how a given person will respond to supplements.
The only way to know if you are getting enough Omega-3 is by taking measuring your levels.
-
The target Omega-3 Index is 8% and above, a level that current research indicates is associated with the lowest risk* for death from CHD. This is also a typical level in Japan, a country with one of the lowest rates of sudden cardiac death in the world. On the other hand, an Index of 4% or less (which is common in the US) indicates the highest risk*. At present, there is no reason to suggest that the target should be different for men vs. women, or for different age groups. Whether there is an upper limit of safety for the Index is not clear, but there is likely a value above which there is not likely to be any additional health benefit. Further research will help define this level.
*In this context, “risk” refers only to that associated with differing levels of omega-3 fatty acids. Risks associated with other factors such as cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, family history of CHD, smoking, or other cardiac conditions are completely independent of the Omega-3 Index. All risk factors – including the Omega-3 Index—should be addressed as part of any global risk reduction strategy.
-
Increase your intake of EPA+DHA. The amount you would need to take in order to raise your Omega-3 Index into the target range (>8%) depends in part on your starting level, but it cannot be predicted with certainty as described above. Nevertheless, if your Omega-3 Index is between 4% and 8%, we would recommend that you increase your current EPA+DHA intake by 0.5 -1 gram (500 – 1000 mg) per day. This can be accomplished in two ways: eating more oily fish and/or taking fish oil supplements. On the other hand, if it is less than 4%, our recommendation would be that you raise your intake by 1-3 g (1000 – 3000 mg) per day. Although this can be accomplished by eating more oily fish, fish oil supplements are usually necessary to achieve this level of EPA+DHA intake.
In our experience, to increase the Omega-3 Index by 4%, one would need to increase his/her intake by about 1 g of EPA+DHA per day for roughly 6 months. Alternatively, one could increase by 2 g/d and a 4% increase could be achieved more quickly. In other words, raising the Index is a function of both dose and time.
-
The cost of an Omega-3 Index Basic test is $79. This includes a collection kit, a replied paid envelope to send your blood spot, a detailed report of your results and access to the CardiAction app. Your results will include your Omega-3 Index level along with suggestions of how to get to the desirable level.