Disclaimer: The information provided in this article and throughout this website is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Any products, supplements, or protocols mentioned are not intended to replace medical advice or treatment from a qualified healthcare professional. Always consult your physician or healthcare provider before starting any new health program or supplement.
After reading and reviewing the peer-reviewed study, Global variations in omega-3 fatty acid status and omega-6 to omega-3 ratios: insights from > 500,000 whole-blood dried blood spot samples, published in Lipids in Health and Disease, the following is a clear and easy-to-understand summary. It shows why it’s so important for everyone to get tested—so they can know their omega-6 to omega-3 ratio and their omega-3 index percentage. If you’d like to read the full published study, you can click the link below. Otherwise, the summary is right here:
https://lipidworld.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12944-025-02676-6#Tab1
Summary of the Study
This study looked at over 590,000 blood samples from people all over the world to see how much omega-3 and omega-6 fats they had in their bodies. These fats are very important for health, and the balance between them can make a big difference in whether someone is more likely to have diseases like heart problems, diabetes, or cancer.
What are omega-3 and omega-6?
-
- Omega-3 fats are healthy fats found in fish, nuts, and seeds. They help lower inflammation, protect the heart, and support the brain.
- Omega-6 fats are also needed but are found in large amounts in vegetable oils and processed foods. Too much omega-6 compared to omega-3 causes inflammation, which can harm health.
A healthy ratio is considered to be between 1:1 and 5:1 (omega-6 to omega-3). Most people today are well above that, sometimes reaching 10:1 or even higher.
What did the study find?
-
- Most people don’t get enough omega-3s. Levels were too low almost everywhere in the world.
- The balance between omega-6 and omega-3 is off. On average, people had a ratio of about 6:1 to 9:1, which is higher than the healthy range.
- Where you live matters.
- Higher omega-3 levels were found in places like Ghana, Japan, Norway, and the Faroe Islands, where people eat more fish.
- Lower levels were found in North America and Africa, where diets include more processed foods and fewer omega-3s.
- Supplements help. People who took omega-3 supplements had better omega-3 levels than those who didn’t. But even with supplements, many people still didn’t reach the best levels.
- Age, weight, and gender matter. Older people and women had slightly higher omega-3 levels, while people who were overweight or obese had lower levels.
Why does this matter?
When omega-3 levels are low and omega-6 levels are high, the body remains in a state of chronic inflammation. This can lead to problems like heart disease, diabetes, cancer, autoimmune disorders, and other long-term illnesses.
How was this measured?
The study used dried blood spot (DBS) tests, which are simple finger-prick blood tests. This method makes it easy to test large numbers of people and see their fatty acid balance.
Final message
The study shows that the world has a serious omega-3 problem. Most people don’t get enough, and their omega-6 to omega-3 ratios are too high. This puts many at risk for chronic diseases. Eating more omega-3–rich foods (like fish) and/or taking supplements can help, but global diets need big changes to fix the imbalance.
Reference
-
- Torrissen, M., Gisslevik, E., Gundersen, T. E., Bolstad, T., Eide, O., Rizzo, A. M., Clayton, P., & Robertson, C. (2025). Global variations in omega-3 fatty acid status and omega-6:omega-3 ratios: Insights from > 500,000 whole-blood dried blood spot samples. Lipids in Health and Disease, 24, 260. https://lipidworld.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12944-025-02676-6
Call to Action
If you want to get tested to know your omega-6 to omega-3 ratio and your omega-3 index percentage, contact the person who shared this article, email me at robert@dietfreelife.com, or click here to schedule a free consultation to learn more.
________
Robert Ferguson is a California- and Florida-based single father of two daughters, clinical nutritionist, researcher, best-selling author, speaker, podcast and television host, health advisor, NAACP Image Award Nominee, creator of the Diet Free Life methodology, and Chief Nutrition Officer for iCoura Health. He also serves on the Presidential Task Force on Obesity for the National Medical Association and the Health and Product Advisory Board for Zinzino, Inc.
🗓️ Schedule a FREE consultation with Robert Ferguson about becoming a client: SCHEDULE FREE CONSULTATION
👉🏽 To order ONLY the BalanceOil+, > CLICK HERE
👉🏽 To order the BalanceOil+ with the BalanceTEST, > CLICK HERE
👉🏽 Watch a free online presentation on the BalanceOil+ and the BalanceTEST: WATCH NOW.
0 Comments