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“Omega 3 is the new kid on the block” — I was told when I checked in with Doctors about the growing obsession with nutritional supplements. Over the past several years, the intake of omega-3s in India has been low despite the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases. But now, the Covid-19 pandemic has caused this demand.
Omega-3 is the short form of omega-3 fatty acid. Growing paranoia over post-Covid strokes, and general awareness of the importance of good health, has led many individuals to actively look for ways to boost their immune systems.
Another factor contributing to the increased demand is more vegetarian or vegan options in omega-3 pills. In a country where the majority of vegans were earlier reluctant about taking fish oil pills, the industry is now seeing a rise in plant forms of omega-3s based on ALA.
Also, given that these pills are “dietary supplements,” people do not need a prescription to purchase them. Hence, enter any pharmacy or log in to online pharmacy stores, you will find many brands offering the product in different shapes, sizes and formulations.
I recently saw a doctor—who blamed my high triglycerides on my lipid profile—and immediately prescribed the supplement saying, “There’s no harm in taking this.”
Let’s dig deeper and find out the good and the bad about these golden, pearl-like grains.
What is omega 3?
Fatty acids are essential for our body, and they are generally obtained from food via alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). While EPA and DHA are marine sources of omega-3s, which are found in fatty cold-water fish like salmon and other seafood, ALA is primarily found in vegetable oils like flaxseed, soybean, and canola oils.
These fats are beneficial in conditions such as heart disease and brain health. It is also known to reduce inflammation if taken in the required dose.
growth chart
At Tata 1mg, an online pharmacy, omega supplements make up the largest share in the nutrient category, which has shown 60 percent year-on-year growth post-Covid. This growth is attributed to the increasing customer base of e-pharmacy cardiac and mental care groups, as the primary benefits of omega-3 products are related to heart and brain health.
Of all the vendors, brands that focus solely on the nutrient showed a high importance in the omega category. Some of the best selling brands in this category are Tata 1mg, according to data shared with them News 18They are Seven Seas, Carbamide Forte, Tata 1mg, Healthkart, and Swisse.
The data shows that “aside from omega-3, variables such as omega-3 strength have seen an increasing buying trend.” While flaxseed remains the most widely accepted source of omega-3s among vegans, brands have also launched products made from marine algae to cater to the Indian market.
Krill oil, which is taken from krill, which are small shrimp-like animals and extracted from Antarctic krill bodies, has gained particular popularity in the global market.
wrote Sushil Khaitan, founder of Pure Nutrition Naturals — a company that manufactures and sells omega-3 supplements — in an opinion piece in Times of India that “the shock of Covid has increased the demand for omega-3 fatty acids”.
He said that omega-3 dietary supplements are rapidly gaining ground in India and the country may soon overtake China and the United States. Khaitan wrote: “According to the reports and in-depth research of business analysts, health experts, nutrition scientists, physicians, and nutrition experts, it has been observed that the global market size of omega-3 fatty acids is expected to reach $1.92 billion by the end of 2027.” .
The market size before the Covid outbreak was $1.45 billion.
The science behind omega 3
According to experts, omega-3 supplements have been studied extensively over the decades. Cyriac Abby Philips, who specializes in hepatology and liver transplant medicine in Kerala, tells me that omega-3 fatty acids have been extensively studied as preventive and therapeutic agents in various diseases.
“In clinical medicine, the highest level of evidence lies in meta-analysis studies,” said Phillips, who is known for busting pseudoscience myths. Studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation reduces the risk of death from heart disease. But this is low to medium quality evidence.”
However, he said, high-quality evidence suggests there are no heart health benefits if the dose is increased. “This risk reduction was better with monotherapy based on EPA fractions rather than the widely available EPA + DHA combined fractions,” he said.
As he said while citing one study, a dose of 1 to 2 grams per day is considered effective and doses lower than that were not significantly beneficial. “However, caution should be exercised when using doses of more than 1 gram per day as this has been shown to be associated with a higher risk of arrhythmias or heart rate disturbances,” he added.
There is also some modest evidence that omega-3 fatty acids—with an EPA of more than 60 percent and in doses of less than or equal to 1 gram per day—have some benefits for depression. “Most studies found no difference in health outcomes between those who took these supplements and a placebo,” said Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, former president of the Kochi ward of the Indian Medical Association.
However, it must be borne in mind that only some studies out of many have shown a positive result. “Fish like mackerel and sardines are a natural source of omega-3 fatty acids,” he said. “It is agreed that fish consumption is associated with good health in general, and it is specifically recommended by the American Heart Association as part of a heart-healthy diet.”
He added, “However, whether omega-3 supplementation would preferentially help those who do not consume fish remains to be seen.”
On point…
While the obvious benefits of an omega-3 cracker are still questionable, it can still be given in a dose – only if your medical advisor thinks so. Do not prescribe yourself even if it is a dietary supplement or herbal product because your health is important.
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