Frequently Asked Questions

You can get omega-3 and DHA from your diet through various food sources of omega-3 and/or from supplements. Dietary Omega-3 is predominantly found in fish and other seafood. Although omega-3 can be obtained from plant sources, they are mainly in the form of Alpha Linoleic Acid (ALA) and their conversion to DHA and EPA is low (ranging from 0.1 to 10%) [15] If you are worried about fishy odour, concerned about the presence of heavy metals in fish and other seafood or have dietary restrictions then Omega-3 supplements are a great choice to help you to achieve optimal omega-3 and DHA levels.

Omega-3 can be found in a variety of foods such as:

1. Fish and Seafood: A variety of fish and seafood are great sources of Omega-3s.  Fish such as salmon, mackarel, tuna, herring and sardines are low in mercury and excellent choice. It is recommended to avoid fish that are known to have high amounts of mercury for example king mackerel, swordfish and big eye tuna. for a full list, you can refer to the FDA advice on fish. 
2. Flax seeds, Chia seeds
3. Walnuts
4. Plant oils (flax, chia, canola)
5. Other fortified foods (eggs, yoghurt, milk, beverages)

No, the personalization takes into account the Omega-3 that you have been getting from your regular diet so you can continue to keep the same dietary habits. However, if you do make changes to your dietary habits over a prolonged period we recommend that you re-take the test to accurately reflect your Omega-3 levels.

"Great job on already taking Omega-3" If you are already taking Omega-3 supplements and worried about switching to personalized dose, you can speak to your healthcare provider for advice.

Testing can provide you an Omega-3 dose that is personalized to your needs. Eating fish or taking Omega-3 supplements does not always correlate with High DHA/Omega-3 levels. Many other factors may affect Omega-3 status, which include but are not limited to  genetics, BMI, stage of pregnancy. Therefore testing will give a true reflection of the status in blood and milk.

You can find out your Omega-3 DHA levels easily by by registering for the MyOmega blood/milk test kits by OmegaQuant*. The testing  is really easy and fast and is done just with a finger prick. Upon registration, you will be asked a few standard questions after which a test kit will be shipped to you. Once you perform the test using the instructions simply mail it back using the return label and wait for your test results. This is a convenient, at-home convenient test of Omega-3 levels (in blood or milk) using a single dried blood or milk spot. 

^{*OmegaQuant Analytics, LLC is certified according to the EU Regulations and provides high quality analysis and reliable Omega-3 results.}

High consumption of Omega-3 rich foods or supplements do not guarantee optimal levels of Omega-3 and DHA. Many other factors may affect Omega-3 status, which include but are not limited to  genetics, BMI, stage of pregnancy. Morever, recent studies show the importance of the right amount of DHA for infant growth and development.

You can take the test at any stage of pregnancy (Before conception, during pregnancy, while breastfeeding or after stopping breastfeeding). It is always better to take the test before 20 weeks of pregnancy.  However, if you are beyond 20 weeks of pregnancy, you can still take the test to know your Omega-3 levels but will receive the standard dose recommended according to national health authorities. We recommend to re-take the test (after 14 days) to personalize the dose during lactation.

You can test your Omega-3 levels as often as you prefer. Re-testing after every 2-3 months will confirm that your DHA levels have improved with your dietary / supplement changes and will help tailor your personalized doses.

Pregnancy: current scientific evidence supports a personalized dose recommendation based only on your fist test or the baseline value (<20 weeks of pregnancy) and this dose will be continued throughout the pregnancy irrespective of future tests  However, if you would still like to re-test to confirm your DHA and Omega-3 status, you can choose to take the test again.

Lactation: we recommend you re-test your levels every 2 months to ensure optimal breastmilk concentration of DHA and Omega-3 since it is the sole source of DHA for your baby.

You should also repeat the testing if there is a change in your maternal status for example, if you started at pre-conception and become pregnant or started the program during pregnancy and are now post-delivery/breastfeeding.

MyOmega uses a unique ratio of DHA:EPA to ensure optimal Omega-3 levels at all stages of the maternal journey.

Omega-3 and in particular DHA and EPA as considered as safe for use in healthy children and adults (including pregnancy). Omega-3 doses of up to 5g/day have been shown to be safe for consumption (RRR: in adults, let's add "adults" ). However, in case of multiple pregnancies (twins, triplets or more), or if you are taking any medications such as blood thinners or have any health concerns at any stage, please consult your doctor before use.

Reference: EFSA scientific Opinion

^{EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA); Scientific Opinion related to the Tolerable Upper Intake Level of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA). EFSA Journal 2012;10(7):2815. [48 pp.] doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2012.2815. Available online: www.efsa.europa.eu/efsajournal}