Dietary Recommendations for Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Many leading authorities and nutrition and health organizations have developed specific dietary recommendations for omega-3 fatty acids for different countries around the world. We have obtained the following information to improve education on omega-3 fatty acids by providing the global perspective on their requirements and the agencies that developed the information to improve human nutrition and health.

United States

Organization (org. Type) Target Population Recommendation
Institute of Medicine12
(Authoritative Body)		 Adult men ³ 19 yrs
  • ALA :1.6 g/day of which approximately 10% EPA+DHA
Adult women ³ 19 yrs
  • ALA: 1.1 g/day of which approximately 10% EPA+DHA
American Dietetics Association23
(Expert Scientific Organization)		 General Adult Population
  • 500mg/day long-chain PUFA intake
March of Dimes32
(Expert Scientific Organization)		 Pregnant and Nursing Women
  • 200mg DHA from fish, fortified foods or supplements
National Heart, Lung, and BloodInstitute, National CholesterolEducation Program13
(Authoritative Body)		 Persons with CHD or multiple risk factors for CHD
  • Supported AHA recommendation to include fish as part of a CHD risk reduction diet. Higher dietary intakes of n-3 PUFAs are an option for reducing CHD risk
American Heart Association14
(Expert Scientific Organization)		 All adults without CHD
  • Eat fish (particularly fatty fish) at least two times a week; include oils and foods rich in ALA
Patients with CHD
  • Consume approximately 1 g/day of EPA+DHA preferably from oily fish. EPA+DHA supplements could be considered in consultation with the physician
Patients with high triglycerides
  • 2-4 g/day EPA+DHA as capsules under a physician's care
Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee16
(Authoritative Body)		 General adult population
  • Two servings of fatty fish per week, equivalent to 496mg EPA/DHA per day
Council for Responsible Nutrition17
(Expert Scientific Organization)		 General adult population
  • Approximately 500mg/day EPA/DHA consumption from supplementation or fatty fish consumption
Executive Office of the President18
(Authoritative Body)		 General population Dietary Guidelines and Food Guide Pyramid should be revised to emphasize the benefits of increasing consumption of foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality30
(Authoritative Body)		 General adult population Fish and fish oil supplements reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease

Global

Organization (org. Type) Target Population Recommendation
World Health Organization1
(Authoritative Body)		 General adult population
  • n-3 PUFAs: 1-2% of energy/day
International Society for the Study of Fats and Lipids (ISSFAL)2
(Expert Scientific Organization)		 General adult population
  • DHA+EPA: 0.65 g/2000kcal/day
  • DHA at least 0.22 g/2000kcal/day
  • EPA at least 0.22 g/2000kcal/day
Pregnant/nursing women
  • DHA: 300 mg/day
NATO Workshop on w-3 and w-6 Fatty Acids22
(Expert Scientific Organization)		 General Adult Population
  • 800mg EPA/DHA per day
World Association of Perinatal Medicine29
(Expert Scientific Organization)		 Pregnant and Lactating Women
  • 200mg DHA per day
World Gastroenterology Organization24
(Expert Scientific Organization)		 General Adult Population
  • 3-5 fish servings per week to get EPA and DHA

Australia

Organization (org. Type) Target Population Recommendation
National Heart Foundation of Australia3
(Expert Scientific Organization)		 General adult population
  • 500mg EPA/DHA per day, obtained through fish, fish oil supplements, or enriched foods for prevention of heart disease
Patients with documented CHD
  • 1000mg EPA/DHA per day, obtained through fish, fish oil supplements, or enriched foods for prevention of heart disease
Patients with hypertriglyceridemia
  • 1200mg of EPA/DHA from fish oil capsules and enriched foods as first-line therapy
  • Raise to 4000mg of EPA/DHA per day, as needed.
Australian & New Zealand Health Authorities (Department of Health & Ageing, National Health & Medical Research Council)28
(Authoritative Bodies)		 Infants (0-12 mo)
  • 0.5 g n-3 polyunsaturated fats/day adequate intake
Boys & Girls (1-3 yrs)
  • 40 mg total LC n-3 (DHA+EPA+DPA)/day adequate intake
Boys & Girls (4-8 yrs)
  • 55 mg total LC n-3 (DHA+EPA+DPA)/day adequate intake
Boys & Girls (9-13 yrs)
  • 70 mg total LC n-3 (DHA+EPA+DPA)/day adequate intake
Boys (14-18 yrs)
  • 125 mg total LC n-3 (DHA+EPA+DPA)/day adequate intake
Girls (14-18 yrs)
  • 85 mg total LC n-3 (DHA+EPA+DPA)/day adequate intake
Men (19+ yrs)
  • 160 mg total LC n-3 (DHA+EPA+DPA)/day adequate intake
Women (19+ yrs)
  • 90 mg total LC n-3 (DHA+EPA+DPA)/day adequate intake
Pregnancy (14 -18 yrs)
  • 110 mg total LC n-3 (DHA+EPA+DPA)/day
Pregnancy (19-50 yrs)
  • 115 mg total LC n-3 (DHA+EPA+DPA)/day
Lactating - (14-18 yrs)
  • 140 mg LC n-3 (DHA+EPA+DPA)/day
Lactating - (19-50 yrs)
  • 145 mg LC n-3 (DHA+EPA+DPA)/day
Defence Science and Technology Organisation, Department of Defence34
(Authoritative Body)		 Men
  • 610mg LC n-3 (DHA+EPA+DPA)/day dietary target
Women
  • 430mg LC n-3 (DHA+EPA+DPA)/day dietary target
Male soldiers
  • 610mg EPA+DPA+DHA/day
Female soldiers
  • 430mg EPA+DPA+DHA/day

Austria

Organization (org. Type) Target Population Recommendation
Austrian Society for Nutrition33
(Expert Scientific Organization)		 General adult population
  • 250mg LCPUFA/day for primary prevention of CVD
General adult population
  • 0.5% of energy total n-3 PUFA intake
CHD Patients
  • 1g LCPUFA/day for secondary prevention of CVD
Pregnant & nursing women
  • At least 200mg DHA/day

Belgium

Organization (org. Type) Target Population Recommendation
Belgian Superior Health Council20
(Authoritative Body)		 Pregnant & nursing women
  • 250mg DHA/day
General adult population
  • Two servings of fatty fish/week
CHD Patients
  • 1g EPA/DHA per day from capsules

Canada

Organization (org. Type) Target Population Recommendation
Health and Welfare, Canada4
(Authoritative Body)		 General adult population
  • 1.1-1.6 g/day total n-3 PUFA (ALA, EPA, DHA)
Dieticians of Canada23
(Expert Scientific Organization)		 General adult population
  • 500mg long-chain PUFA/day

Europe

Organization (org. Type) Target Population Recommendation
Expert Workshop of the European Academy of Nutritional Sciences5
(Expert Scientific Organization)		 General Adult Population
  • People who do not eat fish should consider consuming marine n-3 PUFA equivalent to the amount obtained from fatty fish, namely 200 mg EPA + DHA daily
European Food Safety Agency25
(Authoritative Body)		 General Adult Population
  • 250mg EPA+DHA per day
Pregnant & Lactating Women
  • 100-200mg DHA per day in addition to normal adult requirements
Children 7-24 months
  • 100mg DHA per day
Children 2-18 years
  • 250mg EPA+DHA per day
The PeriLip and EARNEST projects of the European Commission31
(Expert Scientific Organization)		 Pregnant & Lactating Women
  • 200mg DHA/day

France

Organization (org. Type) Target Population Recommendation
AFFSA21
(Authoritative Body)		 General Adult Population
  • General Nutrition
    • 250mg DHA per day (previously 120mg)
    • 250mg EPA per day
    • 500mg EPA+DHA per day
  • 500mg per day for metabolic disease risk reduction
  • 500-750mg per day for cardiovascular disease risk reduction
  • 500mg per day for breast and colon cancer risk reduction
  • >200-300mg per day for neuropsychiatric risk reduction
  • 500mg per day for AMD risk reduction
Infants (0-6 months)
  • 0.32% of fats from DHA
  • EPA
Infants & Toddlers (6 months to 3 years)
  • 70mg DHA per day
Children (3-9 years)
  • 125mg DHA per day
  • 250mg EPA+DHA per day
Adolescents (9 to 18 years)
  • 250mg DHA per day
  • 500mg EPA+DHA per day
Pregnant & Nursing Women
  • 250mg DHA per day
  • 500mg EPA+DHA per day

Germany

Organization (org. Type) Target Population Recommendation
German Society for Nutrition33
(Expert Scientific Organization)		 General adult population
  • 250mg LCPUFA / day for primary prevention of CVD
General adult population
  • 0.5% of energy total n-3 PUFA intake
CHD Patients
  • 1g LCPUFA/day for secondary prevention of CVD
Pregnant & nursing women
  • At least 200mg DHA/day

Japan

Organization (org. Type) Target Population Recommendation
Ministry of Health, Labor andWelfare
(Authoritative Body)		 General adult population6
  • n-6:n-3 PUFAs: 4:1
Infants (0-5 months) - boys and girls26
  • 0.9g total omega-3 per day
Infants (6-11 months)- boys and girls26
  • 1.0g total omega-3 per day
Toddlers (1-2 years) - Boys26
  • 1.1g total omega-3 per day
Toddlers (1-2 years) - Girls26
  • 1.0g total omega-3 per day
Children (3-5 years) - Boys and Girls26
  • 1.5g total omega-3 per day
Children (6-7 years) - Boys and Girls26
  • 1.6g total omega-3 per day
Children (8-9 years) - Boys26
  • 1.9g total omega-3 per day
Children (8-9 years) - Girls26
  • 2.0g total omega-3 per day
Children (10-11 years) - Boys and Girls26
  • 2.1g total omega-3 per day
Children (12-14 years) - Boys26
  • 2.6g total omega-3 per day
Children (12-14 years) - Girls26
  • 2.1g total omega-3 per day
Children (15-17 years) - Boys26
  • 2.8g total omega-3 per day
Children (15-17 years) - Girls26
  • 2.3g total omega-3 per day
Adults (18-49 years) - Men26
  • 2.6g total omega-3 per day
Adults (18-49 years) - Women26
  • 2.2g total omega-3 per day
Adults (50-69 years) - Men26
  • 2.9g total omega-3 per day
Adults (50-69 years) - Women26
  • 2.5g total omega-3 per day
Adults (Over 70 years) - Men26
  • 2.2g total omega-3 per day
Adults (Over 70 years) - Women26
  • 2.0g total omega-3 per day
Pregnant Women26
  • 2.1g total omega-3 per day
Nursing Women26
  • 2.4g total omega-3 per day

Netherlands

Organization (org. Type) Target Population Recommendation
Health Council of the Netherlands
(Authoritative Body)		 Children 0-5 months
  • Total n-3 PUFAs: 80 mg/kg per day
  • DHA: 20 mg/kg per day
Adults
  • Total n-3 PUFAs: 1% of energy7
  • DHA: 150-200 mg per day7
  • n-3 fatty acids from fish: 450mg per day27

Scandinavia

Organization (org. Type) Target Population Recommendation
Nordic Council of Ministers8
(Authoritative Body)		 Adults and children over 3 yrs
  • EPA+DHA: 450mg/day
  • Total n-3 PUFAS: 1.0% of energy/day

Switzerland

Organization (org. Type) Target Population Recommendation
Swiss Society for Nutrition Research / Swiss Nutrition Association33
(Expert Scientific Organization)		 General adult population
  • 250mg LCPUFA/day for primary prevention of CVD
General adult population
  • 0.5% of energy total n-3 PUFA intake
CHD Patients
  • 1g LCPUFA/day for secondary prevention of CVD
Pregnant & nursing women
  • At least 200mg DHA/day

United Kingdom

Organization (org. Type) Target Population Recommendation
British Nutrition Foundation9
(Expert Scientific Organization)		 Adults, 19-50 yrs
  • one to two portions of oil-rich fish per week, which will provide around 2-3g of the very long chain n-3 fatty acids
  • weekly intake of 1.5g of EPA + DHA
Committee on the Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy (COMA)10
(Authoritative Body)		 Adults
  • at least two portions of fish, of which one should be oily
  • weekly n-3 PUFAs: > 0.2 g/day
Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition11
(Authoritative Body)		 Adults
  • weekly n-3 PUFAs @ 0.2 g/day

References

  1. World Health Organization. Diet, Nutrition and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases. Technical report series 916.
  2. Simopoulos AP, Leaf A, Salem N Jr. Workshop statement on the essentiality of and recommended dietary intakes for Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2000 Sep;63(3):119-121.
  3. National Heart Foundation of Australia. Position statement on Fish, fish oils, n-3 polyunsaturated fattyacids and cardiovascular health. Presented at AIFST conference July 2008.
  4. Health and Welfare Canada. Nutrition Recommendations: The Report of the Scientific Review Committee. 1990. Ottawa, Ontario.
  5. de Deckere EA, Korver O, Verschuren PM, Katan MB. Health aspects of fish and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids from plant and marine origin. Eur J Clin Nutr 1998 Oct;52(10):749-753.
  6. Ministry of Health and Welfare, Japan. Recommended dietary allowances for Japanese, 6th edition. Tokyo: Daiichi-Shuppan Co, 1999.
  7. Health Council of the Netherlands. Dietary reference intakes: energy, proteins, fats, and digestible carbohydrates. The Hague. Health Council of the Netherlands, 2001; publication no. 2001/19 (in Dutch, with a summary and table in English).
  8. NNR (Nordic Nutrition Recommendations), 2004. Integrating nutrition and physical activity. Nord 2004:13. Nordic Council of Ministers, Copenhagen.
  9. British Nutrition Foundation Conference held on 1 December 1999 to draw attention to the briefing paper on 'n-3 Fatty acids and Health'
  10. Department of Health. Nutritional Aspects of Cardiovascular Disease. Report on Health and Social Subjects. No 46. London: HMSO 1994.
  11. Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition. Advice on fish consumption: benefits and risks 2004.
  12. Institute of Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy, Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty acids, Cholesterol, Protein, and Amino Acids. 2002. National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC.
  13. National Institutes of Health. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III). 2001. NIH Publication Number 01-3670. Washington, DC.
  14. AHA Scientific Statement: Fish Consumption, Fish Oil, Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Cardiovascular Disease, #71-0241 Circulation. 2002;106: 2747-2757.
  15. EFSA. Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Dietetic products, Nutrition and Allergies on a request from European Commission related to labelling reference intake values for n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. The EFSA Journal (2009) 1176, 1-11.
  16. Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Report, Part D: Science Base, Section 4: Fats - EPA, DHA and fish. 2005.
  17. Council for Responsible Nutrition. White Paper. Long Chain Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Human Health. Heart Health: The Role of EPA, DHA and ALA. 2005
  18. Executive Office of the President. Office of Management and Budget, Washington, D.C.. May, 2003
  19. Department of Health & Ageing, National Health & Medical Research Council. Nutrient Reference Values for Australia & New Zealand - Including Recommended Dietary Intakes. 2006
  20. Superior Health Council of Belgium. Recommendations and claims made on omega-3-fatty Acids (SHC 7945). 2005
  21. AFFSA (France). Avis de l'Agence française de sécurité sanitaire des aliments relatif à l'actualisation des apports nutritionnels conseillés pour les acides gras. March 1, 2010. http://www.afssa.fr/cgi-bin/countdocs.cgi?Documents/NUT2006sa0359EN.pdf. Accessed March 25, 2010.
  22. Simopolous, A. Summary of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Dietary w3 and w6 Fatty Acids: Biological Effects and Nutritional Essentiality. Journal of Nutrition, 1989; 521-528.
  23. American Dietetic Association and Dieticians of Canada. Position of the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians of Canada: Dietary Fatty Acids. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 2007; 1599-1611.
  24. World Gastroenterology Organisation. 10 nutritional recommendations to improve Digestive Health. Published May 29, 2008. http://www.worldgastroenterology.org/assets/downloads/pdf/wdhd/2008/events/wdhd08_cartel_10_global_nutrition.pdf. Accessed August 3, 2008.
  25. EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition, and Allergies (NDA); Scientific Opinion on Dietary Reference Values for fats, including saturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, trans fatty acids, and cholesterol. EFSA Journal 2010; 8(3):1461. [107 pp.]. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2010.1461. Available online: www.efsa.europa.eu
  26. "Japanese Nutritional Requirement - Dietary Reference Intakes ? Policy-Making Committee" (Chairperson ? Mr. Heizo Tanaka, Former Board Chairman of National Institute of Health and Nutrition). Announced October,2004 and valid from 2005 to 2010 (For 5 years)
  27. Health Council of the Netherlands, 2006. Guidelines for a healthy diet 2006. The Hague: publication # 2006/21E. Available from: http://www.gr.nl/pdf.php?ID=1481&p=1
  28. National Health and Medicines Research Council. Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand. Commonwealth of Australia, 2006. Accessed at http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/publications/synopses/_files/n35.pdf
  29. Koletzko B, Lien E, Agostoni C, Böhles H, Campoy C, Cetin I, Decsi T, Dudenhausen JW, Dupont C, Forsyth S, Hoesli I, Holzgreve W, Lapillonne A, Putet G, Secher NJ, Symonds M, Szajewska H, Willatts P, Uauy R; World Association of Perinatal Medicine Dietary Guidelines Working Group. The roles of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in pregnancy, lactation and infancy: review of current knowledge and consensus recommendations. J Perinat Med. 2008; 36(1):5-14.
  30. Wang C, Chung M, Lichtenstein A, Balk E, Kupelnick B, DeVine D, Lawrence A, Lau J. Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Cardiovascular Disease. Evidence Report/Technology Assessment No. 94 (Prepared by Tufts-New England Medical Center Evidence-based Practice Center, under Contract No. 290-02-0022). AHRQ Publication No. 04-E009-2. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. March 2004.
  31. Koletzko B, Cetin I, Brenna J. Consensus statement- Dietary fat intakes for pregnant and lactating women. Brit J Nutr. 2007; 98:873-877.
  32. March of Dimes. Omega-3 Fatty Acids During Pregnancy. March of Dimes Web Site, 2009. Accessed June 17, 2009 at http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/159_55030.asp.
  33. D-A-CH, 2008 Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung, Österreichische Gesellschaft für Ernährung, Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Ernährungsforschung, Schweizerische Vereinigung für Ernährung: Referenzwerte für die Nährstoffzufuhr, Umschau/Braus Verlag, Frankfurt.
  34. Forbes-Ewan, C. Australian Defence Force Nutritional Requirements in the 21st Century (Version 1). Human Protection and Performance Division, Defence Science and Technology Organisation, 2009.

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