In a recent study published in the journal Progress in Lipid Research , researchers updated the Omega-3 Index map from its first iteration in 2016. They collated available Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (N3 PUFAs) data from studies since 1999, comprising 328 studies of 342,864 participants from 48 countries globally. They found that while most countries depicted improvements in their N3 PUFA status, more than 90% of this data was obtained from only European and North American subjects.
Alarmingly, 75% of countries do not have data on N3 PUFA levels, and of those that do, most presented low to deficient levels of Omega-3 Index (O3I), highlighting the need for substantial and urgent global intervention. Study: Omega-3 world map: 2024 update . Image Credit: Ground Picture / Shutterstock Omega-3 fatty acids are a class of polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids [N3 PUFAs]) essential to optimal human physiology.
Comprised of three main types, namely α-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), these nutrients cannot be synthesized by mammals (including humans) and are derived exclusively from diet (predominantly fish oils or marine organism-derived supplements). A growing body of research has revealed that EPA and DHA are associated with decreased risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), and preterm birth. High blood levels of these N3 PUFAs have also been shown to improve normal immune syst.