subject: Converting Omega 3 Ala To Dha And Epa [print this page] ALA along with DHA and EPA are essential fatty acids which means our bodies cannot manufacture them. We have to consume them either in food or supplemental form.
The omega 3 from fish, tuna, salmon, mackerel and halibut , is much easier to be absorbed than the ALA type. When we eat them, our bodies start absorbing the omega 3 benefits immediately. It gets into the blood stream quicker and to the places that it most benefits.
The type that we get from plants, the ALA type, need to be converted into EPA and DHA within our bodies. The only problem with this type is that the body is only capable of converting about 15% of the ALA to EPA and only 5% of it to DHA. Seeing this data, are we getting enough DHA and EPA if taking ALA from flax seed oil. ALA is slower to be absorbed into the body than EPA and DHA. The only plus point about ALA vs fish oil and that plants do not lack in vitamin E like fish.
If you are eating a diet high in the omega 6 fatty acids or LA(linoleic acid) you could be loosing 40% of your omega 3 fatty acids in the conversion if taking an ALA omega 3 product. A woman who is pregnant and is consuming a lot of omega 6 fatty acids by eating foods cooked in corn or safflower oils plus others, may be inhibiting the conversion of ALA to EPA and DHA. This could also be depriving the fetus from receiving full benefits of omega 3 while developing.
People whose diet is high in trans fatty acids and saturated fats will have a more difficult time converting ALA into DHA and EPA.
The lack of vitamins B3, B6, C or the minerals such as Zinc and magnesium in your diet could be preventing the conversion of ALA into DHA and EPA.
Certain Drugs or diabetes may also interfere with the conversion.
Then if you are a North American Native, Inuit, Oriental, Norwegian, or Welsh-Irish again you may not be able to convert ALA to the essential fatty acids of DHA and EPA.
It may well only be a few people that have trouble converting the ALA into DHA and EPA. The question really does need to be asked, people need to know if the ALA they are taking is really helping them or they should prefer taking fish oil instead.
Whatever you decide to take, you are still doing a good thing for your body. Protecting yourself from possibly many diseases. For the effort, you will be a much healthier person.
