Omega-3 Dose
Omega-3 Dose for High Triglycerides
The AHA recommends that people with
high triglycerides take an
omega-3 fatty acid supplement with 2 to 4 grams (2000 to 4000 mg) of EPA and
DHA. There is no need to take all these
omega-3 fatty acids at once; you may find that splitting it up into two daily dosages decreases some of the bothersome
omega-3 side effects. The AHA recommends that you take omega-3 fatty acids for this use only under the supervision of your healthcare provider.
This dose is much more than most people can obtain through food, which is why the AHA recommends supplementation.
Omega-3 Dose to Prevent Heart Disease
The AHA does not recommend omega-3 fatty acid supplements for people who do not have a diagnosis of
heart disease or high
triglycerides. Instead, it recommends that people eat a variety of fish at least twice a week. Oily fish (such as salmon or trout) are preferred over non-oily fish (such as cod or halibut), since non-oily fish are low in omega-3 fatty acids. If you do not like fish and want to try an omega-3 fatty acid supplement, it is a good idea to check with your healthcare provider first.
Omega-3 Dose for Rheumatoid Arthritis
In studies, various omega-3 dosages have been used to treat
rheumatoid arthritis. One possible dose is 3.8 grams of EPA and 2 grams of DHA daily. It is not known if this is the most effective or safest dose for this use, however.
As you can see, most of the recommendations focus on DHA and EPA, not ALA. There is more research involving DHA and EPA, compared to ALA, and there is less information about an appropriate dose for ALA. Often, a daily intake of about 2 grams (2000 mg) of ALA is recommended as part of a healthy diet.
