cardiac · O3I
Omega-3 Index
The percentage of EPA and DHA (the marine omega-3 fats) in your red blood cell membranes — a stable, longer-term reflection of omega-3 status that responds to diet and fish-oil intake over weeks to months.
This page is general wellness education, not medical advice. Your own lab’s reference range and your clinician’s interpretation always take precedence.
Typical reference range
| Group | General range |
|---|---|
| Adults | Higher-risk < 4%; intermediate 4–8%; desirable ≥ 8% |
Optimal-band note: An Omega-3 Index of 8–12% is the commonly cited desirable range, associated with lower cardiovascular risk. Below 4% is considered higher risk.
Units: %. Ranges vary by lab and assay — read yours against the range printed on your own report.
What high Omega-3 Index can mean
- Regular fatty fish intake
- Fish-oil / algae omega-3 supplements
What low Omega-3 Index can mean
- Low fish / omega-3 intake
- High omega-6 relative intake