There is wide variation between the levels of EPA and DHA in supplement users’ blood contents after receiving a given dose of fish oil, based on the extensive body of clinical trials published to date, as the National Institutes of Health report. 
 
OmegaQuant, an independent lab that offers Omega-3 testing to researchers, has partnered with Standard Process, a Wisconsin-based company specializing in whole food-based nutritional supplements, to offer healthcare practitioners an Omega-3 Index testing kit to help them better educate and support patient’s health.
 
EPA and DHA, both essential fatty acids, are lacking in most Americans, OmegaQuant reports.
 
“Using the Omega-3 Index Plus test results as a guide, practitioners can measure the presence of omega-3s EPA and DHA in the body,” Ken Misher, product marketing manager at Standard Process, said. “It’s the first step toward recommending important, but manageable, changes to patients’ diets and lifestyles.”
 
OmegaQuant was founded by Williams S. Harris, Phd, who is known for developing the Omega-3 Index based on research connecting higher omega-3 levels with lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Studies have shown that people with a higher Omega-3 Index experience a lesser risk for a variety of health conditions. OmegaQuant is the only CLIA-certified laboratory dedicated to fatty acid analysis.
 
“Our goal is to provide simple tests of nutritional status to help improve health,” Harris said. “Omega-3, Omega-6, and trans fats all play a role in a person’s health, and tracking these numbers can help optimize their wellbeing.”
 
Test results are sent to the Sioux Falls-based OmegaQuant lab for analysis, and a personalized report is provided to practitioners and to the patient, which will include the Omega-3 Index results, ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3, AA/EPA ratio, trans fat index, as well as individualized recommendations. An Omega-3 Index between 8% and 12% is considered the optimal range.
 
The companies hope that providing Omega-3 testing kits will allow more healthcare practitioners to discuss with their patients the benefits that achieving optimal levels of Omega-3s play in supporting overall health, and how to best bridge any nutritional gaps that may be present in any given user.