Omega-3 Index test

Q: What exactly is the Test?

What exactly is the HS-Omega-3 Index Test? The HS-Omega-3 Index test kit is the best researched way to find out how much omega-3 fatty acids your body cells contain. In fact, the percentage of omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA in total blood fatty acid levels is a measure of the fatty acid content in body cells. In both heart function, brain function and our eyesight, omega-3 is important. Several studies confirm that an omega-3 index score between 8% and 12% is desirable. The Omega-3 test will give you more insight and allow you to make more targeted adjustments.

Description

The HS-Omega-3 Index Test is a home test kit. You take a few drops of blood from your fingertip completely painlessly and send it to our laboratory with the enclosed return envelope. After the test you will receive a detailed result summary.

The test shows how much omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids you get through your diet by measuring the omega-3 index and the ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 (fatty acid balance).

The omega-3 index is the percentage of omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA in total blood fatty acid levels. This is a measure of the fatty acid levels in your body cells. An index between 8 and 12% is desirable.

Important information

What exactly is the Test?

What exactly is the HS-Omega-3 Index Test?

The HS-Omega-3 Index test kit is the best researched way to find out how much omega-3 fatty acids your body cells contain. In fact, the percentage of omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA in total blood fatty acid levels is a measure of the fatty acid content in body cells. In both heart function, brain function and our eyesight, omega-3 is important.

Several studies confirm that an omega-3 index score between 8% and 12% is desirable. The Omega-3 test will give you more insight and allow you to make more targeted adjustments.

Omega-3/omega-6 ratio (fatty acid balance)

Too many processed foods (ready-made meals, snacks, cookies, packets and sachets, margarine and fried foods) and processed meats create a lot of omega-6 in our food. Cheap omega-6-rich vegetable oils are often used as fillers in these or in animal feed.

Additionally, do you eat little or no oily fish (such as herring, mackerel, sardines or salmon) or little plant-based omega-3 (from algae oil, flaxseed oil, walnuts, avocado)? If so, there is a good chance of measuring 10 to 20 times more omega-6 than omega-3. A reasonable ratio is no more than 3 to 5 times more omega-6 than omega-3. The most ideal fatty acid ratio 3:1 or lower, three parts omega-6 and one part omega-3. You don't have to have more omega-3 than omega-6, 1:1 is the limit.

How does the HS-Omega-3 Index Test work?

You will receive a flat test kit in your mailbox. It contains everything you need to drop 2 drops of blood onto a special card via finger prick. Do you follow the instructions? Then it can hardly go wrong and is painless. Then put the card in the provided return envelope (with a reply number) and send it to us. Together with our certified lab in Germany, we'll make sure you receive the results report via e-mail after about 15 working days. You will then know exactly how many omega-3 fatty acids your body cells contain and how they compare to the omega-6 fatty acids.

What are essential fatty acids?

The body needs fatty acids to function. For example, these fats provide transport of fat-soluble vitamins throughout the body. Fatty acids also play an important role in the formation of the cell membrane of new cells.

I'm vegan and I still want the benefits of fish oil?

ALA is found in many plant products, but DHA and EPA are mostly found in animal products. So people with a vegan or vegetarian diet hardly get the omega 3 fatty acids DHA and EPA directly. This need not be a problem if you get enough ALA, as the body can form DHA and EPA from ALA.

What are lots of omega 3 fatty acids in?

To get enough omega 3, it is important that our diet contains enough of it. Omega 3 fatty acids are found in both plant and animal products. ALA is found mainly in plant products such as nuts, seeds and vegetable oil. The fish fatty acids EPA and DHA are found mainly in fatty fish such as herring, mackerel, salmon and seafood.

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FAQs

Why should I take the HS-Omega-3 Index Test?

We eat more processed foods these days, sit around all day, worry about all kinds of things and would rather watch another episode on Netflix than go to sleep an hour early.

Did you know that all of these things affect your fatty acid balance?

With the HS-Omega-3 Index Test you test how your fatty acid balance is doing. With the result, you know exactly where you stand.

When will I receive the test result?

Fatty acid testing is a complicated process. We will start working for you immediately and after only 15 working days you will receive the results report by e-mail.

What about the security of my research data?

See Privacy document

What does the HS-Omega-3 Index Test kit consist of?

> a multi-page illustrated manual that explains step by step the blood collection, testing procedure and online registration;

> the blood collection kit: disinfectant wipe, gauze pad, plaster, 2 pricks CE 0344, blood spot card, sealable plastic bag;

> a return envelope with which you can send your blood sports card by mail to our laboratory free of charge.

What are the key components of the results report?

Here is an example of the results report. On the last summary page, at the top is the HS-Omega-3 Index. At the bottom left is the fatty acid ratio.

An HS-Omega-3 Index score between 8% and 12% provides the best protection.

The most ideal fatty acid ratio is no more than 3 times more Omega-6 than Omega-3. So 3:1 or lower. However, it is not desirable to have more Omega-3 than Omega-6; so 1:1 is the limit).

What if my HS-Omega-3 Index is lower than 8%?

This means that the omega-3 fatty acid content may be slightly higher.

You can then do the following:

Eat oily fish regularly (such as herring, mackerel, sardines and salmon) possibly supplemented with a dose of fish oil
Use additional plant-based omega-3 sources (crushed flaxseed (oil), crushed chia seeds, (walnut) nuts, avocado and seaweed)
Always cook yourself (with fresh and varied produce)
Use less/no alcohol

Do you think you need additional omega-3 in addition to this? If so, consider starting with a double daily dose of fish oil.

Besides the Omega-3 Index, why is the fatty acid ratio so important?

Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids together regulate many important processes in the body and are the building blocks of several important substances. The right ratio here is important for the production of certain substances in the right proportion. This is because the conversions compete for the same enzymes. The more omega-6 present, the less omega-3 can be converted.

What if my fatty acid ratio is higher than 3:1 ?

A fatty acid ratio of 5:1 is reasonable, but if it is higher (i.e., 6:1 or 8:1 or higher), we recommend the following:

Eat oily fish regularly (such as herring, mackerel, sardines and salmon) possibly supplemented with a dose of fish oil
Use additional plant-based omega-3 sources (crushed flaxseed (oil), crushed chia seeds, (walnut) nuts, avocado and seaweed)
Always cook yourself (with fresh and varied produce)
Use less/no alcohol

Do you think you need additional omega-3 in addition to this? If so, consider starting with a double daily dose of fish oil.

When can I retest to see an improvement?

This can only be done after 4 to 5 months after you have started consuming more Omega-3 (and less Omega-6) for a period of time (via food and/or supplement). This is because it takes that long for all the fatty acids in the red blood cells to be replaced.

What can I do as a vegan?

Replacing the fish oil with vegetable algae oil.

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