Research
Micronutrients & recovery
Flaxseed oil (ALA) is an inefficient source of EPA and DHA due to low conversion rates, making direct supplementation with long-chain omega-3s (fish oil) necessary for most people.
If you want the benefits of EPA and DHA (brain, heart, inflammation), flaxseed oil is not enough because your body barely converts it. Eat fatty fish regularly or take a fish oil/algae oil supplement directly.
GoodRefutesHIGH confidence
This underlines that ALA and thus flaxseed oil is generally not a good source for generating sufficient EPA/DHA. If the intake of LA is greatly reduced and the consumption of ALA is significantly increased (LA/ALA ratio 0.56:1), erythrocyte EPA levels may rise slightly. This however has no effect on DHA levels [135].
Why this rating
Supported by multiple studies showing low conversion rates of ALA to EPA/DHA.
Source
Fatty acids: facts vs. fiction
Reinhard Waehler · International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research · 2021
narrative_reviewCited 14×
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