What is the omega 3 and 6 check?

How you feel is affected by a wide range of factors that contribute to health and wellbeing. Some of these factors may be genetic but many are within your control. Diet, drink and exercise don’t just affect the way you look and feel, they have a drastic effect on many processes in the body which can be measured by changes in biomarkers. Omega 3 and 6 are polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are generally considered to be beneficial for health.

Just as important as the amount of these fatty acids is the ratio of the two, with the ideal ratio being between 1:1 and 1:4 (omega 3/6), as it is the diet humans evolved with. The UK diet generally consists of ample omega 6, where omega 3 is scarce, found mainly in oily fish and flaxseeds. This leads to typical ratios of closer to 1:16. Improved ratios of omega 3 to omega 6 can reduce the risk of autoimmune diseases, heart disease and chronic inflammation.  

Why take the test?

The omega 3 and 6 check provides information on the amount and ratio of essential fatty acids omega 3 & 6. It can be used to monitor your risk of inflammatory diseases and help indicate dietary changes to keep you healthy.