DHA, Krill Oil & Green-Lipped Mussel – Which is Best?

[Islander]

February 22, 2009
Byron J. Richards, CCN

DHA is the most biologically useful omega 3 fatty acid. Over the past year sellers of dietary supplements have promoted various forms of DHA-containing oils such as krill oil or green-lipped mussel as superior to DHA-containing fish oil. The purpose of this brief review is to set the record straight as well as explain the extreme value of DHA to your health.

Fish Oil is now recognized as an important nutrient for the prevention of heart arrhythmias that lead to sudden death. These omega 3 oils have significant scientific proof that they can extend your life. They are also a superior nutrient to assist fat-related calorie burning. They promote the health of your white adipose tissue so that you can lose weight or maintain a healthy weight more easily, as well as helping you not become type II diabetic.

What are Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids and How Much Do You Need?
Omega 3 essential fatty acids are a unique type of fat that cannot be produced by your body from other fats and thus must come from your diet. All cell membranes in your body can use them to regulate health, and minimally they are needed for growth – which is the original reason for them being termed essential.

The length of an omega 3 fatty acid, in terms of its carbon spine, is very important. The shorter omega 3 is called α-linolenic acid (ALA). It is 18 carbons long with three unsaturated bonds (starting at the 3rd carbon – thus the name omega 3). ALA is the type that is found in non-animal omega 3 oils such as flax, chia seeds, perilla, and walnuts. Another 18 carbon omega 3 is called stearidonic acid, and this time has four unsaturated bonds. Black current seed oil is a rich source of stearidonic acid.
Fish oil is composed of two main types of omega 3 oils, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These oils are longer in length (EPA is 20 carbons, DHA is 22) and they have more unsaturated bonds (EPA has 5, DHA has 6). The number of unsaturated bonds in an essential fatty acid is also important, as these are points of interaction in your metabolism.
DHA is by far the most biologically active omega 3 oil, due to its length and the number of unsaturated bonds it possesses. It is the dominant type that is found in your cell membranes. DHA, not EPA, is the primary fatty acid associated with cardiovascular health and improved circulation.

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