Appropriate Dosages of Omega-3 Fatty Acids

In April, 1999 a Workshop on the Essentiality of and Recommended Dietary Intakes (RDIs) for Omega-6 and Omega-3 Fatty Acids was held at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, MD. The workshop concluded with the development of specific recommendations for Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids for healthy adults and pregnant and lactating women:
Table 1: Adequate Intakes (AI)* for Adults

FATTY ACID TYPE

Grams/day
(2000 kcal diet)

%
ENERGY
LA
4.44
2.0
---LA (upper limit)1
6.67
3.0
LNA
2.22
1.0
DHA + EPA
0.65
0.3
---DHA to be at least2
0.22
0.1
---EPA to be at least
0.22
0.1
TRANS-FA
---TRANS-FA (Upper limit)3
2.0
1.0
SAT
---SAT (Upper limit)4
--
<8.0
MONOs5
--
--
Source: Simopoulos, AP, et al., Workshop on the Essentiality of and Recommended Dietary Intakes for Omega-6 and Omega-3 Fatty Acids, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD (April 7-9, 1999).
  1. Although the recommendation is for AI, the Working Group felt that there is enough scientific evidence to also state an upper limit (UL) for LA of 6.67 g/d based on a 2000 kcal diet or of 3.0% energy.
  2. For pregnant and lactating women, ensure 300 mg/day of DHA.
  3. Except for dairy products, other foods under natural conditions do not contain trans-FA. Therefore, the Working Group does not recommend trans-FA to be in the food supply as a result of hydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acids or high temperature cooking (reused frying oils).
  4. Saturated fats should not comprise more than 8% of energy.
  5. The Working Group recommended that the majority of fatty acids be obtained from monounsaturates. The total amount of fat in the diet is determined by the culture and dietary habits of people around the world (total fat ranges from 15-40% of energy) but with special attention to the importance of weight control and reduction of obesity

Glossary of Chart Abbreviations

* AI = Adequate Intake. If sufficient scientific evidence is not available to calculate an Estimated Average Requirement, a reference intake called an Adequate Intake is used instead of a Recommended Dietary Allowance. The AI is a value based on experimentally derived intake levels or approximations of observed mean nutrient intakes by a group (or groups) of healthy people. The AI for children and adults is expected to meet or exceed the amount needed to maintain a defined nutritional state or criterion of adequacy in essentially all members of a specific healthy population; LA = linoleic acid; LNA = alpha-linolenic acid; DHA = docosahexaenoic acid; EPA = eicosapentaenoic acid; TRANS-FA = trans fatty acids; SAT = saturated fatty acids; MONOs = monounsaturated fatty acids.