In response to researchers in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, over a 3rd of adults take omega-3 dietary supplements and are conscious of their significance.
The survey research, printed within the journal Vitamins, discovered that pregnant and breastfeeding ladies additionally took omega-3 dietary supplements. Nonetheless, some have been unsure of their necessities, highlighting the necessity for early recommendation from medical doctors.
The researchers say the findings display gaps in information and conflicting suggestions from healthcare professionals within the international locations studied, emphasizing the necessity for uniform public well being messages.
Rising consciousness and consumption
The International Group for EPA and DHA Omega-3 (GOED) is the one group centered particularly on growing the consumption of EPA and DHA omega-3s worldwide. It really works with business and healthcare professionals to lift requirements and supply training.
“Whereas consciousness of omega-3 fatty acids could be very excessive around the globe—in virtually all international locations in Europe for instance, greater than 95% of the inhabitants is aware of about EPA and DHA omega-3s—there’s nonetheless an enormous hole in consumption ranges,” Ellen Schutt, managing director at GOED, advised NutraIngredients.
“A recent paper that checked out omega-3 blood ranges around the globe confirmed that there’s a lengthy strategy to go earlier than sufficient of the inhabitants consumes enough omega-3s,” she stated.
Schutt emphasised the significance of omega-3 for all age teams. “These fatty acids are present in each cell of the physique and supply many advantages for coronary heart, mind, eye and prenatal well being,” she famous, including that there are “50,000 printed papers on omega-3s and virtually 5,000 human research, so there’s a big physique of proof supporting the advantages of omega-3s”.
Examine particulars
Between Might and October 2023, the possible, cross-section on-line survey collected responses from 895 members within the central Balkans—the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Srpska.
The survey included questions on socio-demographics, weight-reduction plan, the usage of typical medication and omega-3 dietary supplements in adults, youngsters and breastfeeding or pregnant ladies.
The findings revealed that 34.2% of members used omega-3 dietary supplements, with the main causes being inadequate consumption via weight-reduction plan and improved immunity, adopted by coronary heart, common and mind well being. This share is larger than research have beforehand reported for omega-3 use in New Zealand (21.9%) and Australia (26.8%), researchers famous.
Greater than half of customers took the dietary supplements every day, most for lower than three months. Roughly two-thirds of respondents reported utilizing a dosage advised by the particular person recommending the dietary supplements, who was typically a well being skilled, good friend or member of the family. Nonetheless, the info confirmed that normally, the customers made the choice by themselves to take omega-3 dietary supplements (45.4%).
Lower than half the respondents reported the complement use to their physician, and most bought the merchandise from a pharmacy retailer.
“Thus, well being professionals (each medical doctors prescribing medication and pharmacists allotting them) ought to take preventive measures to be able to reduce the danger of potential interactions resulting in adversarial results,” the researchers wrote.
High quality and worth have been the highest standards for buying manufacturers, and worth was a limiting issue for some who didn’t buy dietary supplements, though an absence of want and curiosity was the primary purpose.
Half of the dad and mom with infants and toddlers acknowledged that they gave their youngsters omega-3 dietary supplements, and half of the pregnant members took dietary supplements.
Just below 42% of breastfeeding ladies used dietary supplements. The research famous that breastfeeding gives omega-3 fatty acids if the moms’ consumption is enough, however solely formula-fed infants should depend on the omega-3 content material in particular person merchandise. Though toddler vitamin is very regulated, some merchandise don’t comprise DHA, and the researchers famous the paramount significance of medical doctors offering this data to new moms.
Between 20% and 30% of pregnant ladies have been not sure in regards to the comfort and want for omega-3 dietary supplements, which the researchers famous “is worrying and urges the eye of well being professionals.” Uncertainty was additionally current in lactating ladies.
The bulk (90.4%) of respondents ate fish, and a 3rd used dietary supplements along with fish within the weight-reduction plan. Nonetheless, the researchers discovered that “though the proportion of individuals reporting the consumption of fish is kind of excessive, the frequency of consumption can’t be categorised as passable.”
In addition they reported excessive grownup consumption of ALA meals comparable to nuts and seeds however famous: “The conversion of ALA to bioactive ω-3-FA is comparatively restricted and shouldn’t be thought of as a major suggestion for ω-3-FA consumption.”
Supply: Vitamins
2025, 17(1), 122; doi: 10.3390/nu17010122
“Data and Consumption Patterns of Omega-3 Fatty Acids Among the many Central Balkan Inhabitants—A Potential Cross-Sectional Examine”
Authors: M. Hitl et al.
