Omega-3 fatty acid dosage

Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids essential for many physiological functions. The most studied are alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, C18:3), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6). These molecules play a key role in cardiovascular health, inflammation regulation, and nervous system function.

Their dosage is an essential step for the agri-food, nutraceutical and animal nutrition industries, in order to guarantee the quality of enriched products or to enhance raw materials rich in omega-3.

Importance of Omega-3 Dosage

Quantification of omega-3 fatty acids allows:

• check the conformity of products with nutritional claims,
• compare the quality of oils and plant extracts (flax, chia, nuts, algae),
• evaluate the efficacy of nutraceutical formulations enriched with EPA/DHA,
• control the stability of oils and powders during storage,
• determine nutritional intakes in animal feed.

In a context where the demand for products enriched with omega-3 continues to grow, this dosage provides a guarantee of reliability for manufacturers and distributors.

Analytical techniques used

The determination is generally carried out by gas chromatography (GC-FID) after esterification of the fatty acids. This method allows for fine separation and precise quantification.

If required, additional GC-MS analysis can be used to confirm the identification of fatty acids present, particularly in complex or low-concentration matrices.

Results can be expressed as the relative percentage of each fatty acid to total lipids, or as absolute concentration (mg/g).

Analyzed matrices

Omega-3 fatty acid analysis applies to many matrices:

• vegetable oils rich in ALA (flax, chia, rapeseed, walnut),
• marine and algae oils rich in EPA and DHA,
• protein powders or plant extracts,
• food supplements (capsules, gel capsules, liquid formulations),
• functional foods (margarines, fortified dairy products, drinks),
• animal nutrition products (fish, poultry, cattle feed).

Industrial applications

• Food industry: promotion of vegetable oils and products enriched with omega-3,
• Nutraceuticals: quality control of food supplements and functional ingredients,
• Animal nutrition: formulation of feed rich in essential fatty acids to improve growth and health,
• Research and development: clinical or preclinical studies on omega-3 intake.

Related analyses in the YesWeLab catalog

The omega-3 dosage can be supplemented by other analyses offered by YesWeLab:

• Peroxide index to assess the oxidation of oils,
• Acid number to measure free fatty acids and rancidity,
• TBARS as an indicator of lipid oxidation in foods and fats.

YesWeLab Expertise

YesWeLab relies on a network of accredited partner laboratories (ISO 17025, COFRAC) to guarantee reliable and standard-compliant results. Our experts assist you in:

• choosing the method best suited to your matrices,
• the definition of analytical parameters according to your objectives,
• interpretation of results for your formulation, quality control or regulatory compliance projects.

Thanks to our digital platform, you benefit from simplified management: requesting quotes, tracking samples and retrieving results securely.