International omega-3 guidelines
The American Heart Association
Summary of Recommendations for Omega-3 Fatty Acid Intake from the American Heart Association are listed in the following table below.
| Population | Recommendation |
| Patients without documented coronary heart disease (CHD) |
Eat a variety of (preferably fatty) fish at least twice a week. Include oils and foods rich in alpha-linolenic acid (flaxseed, canola and soybean oils; flaxseed and walnuts). |
| Patients with documented CHD | Consume about 1 g of EPA+DHA per day, preferably from fatty fish. EPA+DHA in capsule form could be considered in consultation with the physician. |
| Patients who need to lower triglycerides | 2 to 4 grams of EPA+DHA per day provided as capsules under a physician’s care. |
Patients taking more than 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids from capsules should do so only under a physician’s care. High intakes could cause excessive bleeding in some people.
The International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids (ISSFAL)
ISSFAL has released a number of statements regarding intakes of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Specific recommendations for long chain oemga-3s for adults are as follows:
For cardiovascular health, a minimum intake of EPA and DHA combined of 500 mg/day.
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European consensus guidelines for pregnancy, lactation and infancy
The World Association of Perinatal Medicine Dietary Guidelines Working Group recommend pregnant and lactating women consume 200mg/day of omega-3 DHA or 2 oily fish meals per week. Use of a high DHA enriched infant formula is recommended for infants who are not breastfed.
This is a European recommendation supported by many health organisations, including the European Commission, ESPGHAN, the Child Health Foundation, the Diabetic Pregnancy Study Group, the Early Nutrition Academy, the European Association of Perinatal Medicine, the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism, the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids (ISSFAL) and the World Association of Perinatal Medicine.
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