Metabolic health
Omega-3 to omega-6 ratio
n-3/n-6 ratio
Included in Complete.
Compare membershipsHow your omega-3 and omega-6 fats compare.
This ratio divides your total omega-3 fats by your total omega-6 fats, two families of polyunsaturated fats. It's calculated from your other results, and a higher number means more omega-3 relative to omega-6.
A ratio can hide which side changed.
The same ratio can come from very different patterns. A higher number could mean you eat more omega-3 fats, or that your omega-6 levels are lower, and those two situations aren't equivalent for health.
For that reason, researchers have questioned how useful omega-3 and omega-6 ratios are. A 2006 review concluded that measures based on omega-3s alone, especially EPA and DHA, hold more promise.
Check both sides of the ratio before drawing conclusions.
Questions
What does a higher omega-3 to omega-6 ratio mean?
It means you have more omega-3 fats relative to omega-6 fats. Look at your total omega-3 and total omega-6 results to see which one is driving the number.
Is this the same as the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio?
Yes. It's the same information turned upside down, so when one ratio goes up, the other goes down.