Now is the time for a DRI for EPA and DHA

In 2005, the National Academy of Medicine established an Adequate Intake level and an Acceptable Micronutrient Distribution Range (AMDR) for ALA omega-3 and noted that approximately 10% of the total AMDR can come from longer-chain, or EPA and DHA, omega-3 fatty acids. ALA is found in plant foods. EPA and DHA are primarily found in seafood and in dietary supplements.

Since then, thousands of prospective, population, and randomized trials with EPA and DHA omega-3s have documented health benefits over the lifespan. EPA and DHA reside in cell membranes; they are lipid mediators, eicosanoids, inflammation resolving mediators, and DHA is concentrated in human eyes, brain, and sperm. Maternal seafood consumption is associated with improved neurocognitive development in offspring and may have a protective effect against adverse neurocognitive outcomes. Seafood consumption reduces risk of macular degeneration. A randomized fish oil supplementation trial that followed more than 25,000 generally healthy mature adults for 5 years found significant reductions in risk of heart attack and fatal heart attack and greater reductions in heart attack among subjects consuming less than 1.5 servings of fish per week. Dietary patterns that include fish and randomized trials with fish oil supplements have shown lower rates of depression, anxiety, and aggression. 

Dietary patterns that include two servings of fatty fish per week provide about 250 mg EPA and DHA per day. The strength of evidence and lack of evidence of harm for EPA and DHA in human health has driven many US government and health organizations to recommend seafood consumption. This presentation will detail these studies and more to demonstrate that the time is now for a DRI for EPA and DHA omega-3s.