Fish Oil vs Flax Seed Oil

The fish oil vs flax seed oil debate continues among health supplement providers. Some say that flax oil is better. Others say a fish oil dietary supplement is best. No one denies that they both contain omega-3 fatty acids which are essential to many systems, organs and tissues of the human body. The flax oil vs fish oil conflict concerns which omega-3 is best and why.

Most current scientific study involves the benefits of certain omega-3 fatty acids to heart and brain health. The omega-3s used in these studies are DHA and EPA. These are found in a high quality fish oil dietary supplement. Flax oil contains an omega-3 called ALA and other fatty acids. The benefits of flax oil and fish oil are somewhat different and each can be beneficial, but for different reasons.

Flax oil vs fish oil

However, for heart health, a fish oil dietary supplement is recommended by most medical experts and naturopathic practitioners. ALA needs to be converted to DHA and EPA in the body....and this conversion does not always take place, especially for people who are in less than optimal health. This would include many elderly folks. On the other hand, if you're in good health flax seed ALA may be converted by the body to DHA and EPA.

Thus, when the heart is concerned in the flax oil vs fish oil debate, fish oil wins in our opinion since you can get the crucial DHA and EPA directly through a quality fish oil. For brain health and symptoms like depression, a fish oil dietary supplement is recommended for much the same reasons.

The brain needs large amounts of DHA, but if the body needs the ALA for some other reason, it may not ever be converted to DHA.

So, when the brain is discussed in the fish oil vs flax seed oil debate, fish oil wins again.

Having said all of this, some people prefer flax oil over fish oil for various reasons. For example, strict vegetarians must supplement their diet with some type of omega-3, but will not take a fish oil dietary supplement.

Flax seed oil may help to alleviate hot flashes in menopausal women. It would be nice if there were one supplement that did everything for everyone, but there is no such supplement.