Omega-3 and -6 Fatty Acids Blood Test

An Omega-3 and -6 Fatty Acids Blood Test is useful in measuring the essential fatty acids.

Description

Omega 3 and Omega 6 are essential fatty acids that are most important to one's health, but the body needs these in the right proportion  Omega-6 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats that are generally found in vegetable oils, seeds, and nuts.  When consumed moderately, these acids can be heart healthy. 

Too much omega-6 can result in increased blood pressure, blood clots that can cause a heart attack and/or stroke and can make your body retain water.  

Omega-3 can decrease the risk of heart disease, inflammation, and cancer. Flaxseed, walnuts, leafy vegetables, and fish all contain omega-3.

This test is for the following:

1. Baseline and monitoring of individuals with known CVD (acute and chronic) to determine Rx and compliance.
2. Identify patients with known CVD risk with low omega-3 levels who may be candidates for supplementation/therapy.
3. Monitor patients on omega-3 supplementation/therapy to determine the efficacy of treatment.
4. Potential role in risk reduction for non-CVD outcomes-aged related macular degeneration, RA, cancer, etc. (early data).