The role of omega-3 fatty acids in maintaining human health – optimal dietary sources and appropriate ratios relative to omega-6 fatty acids in contemporary nutrition
Max Müller
2026-03-19
4 min. read
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Adipose tissue constitutes a fundamental component of the human body, accounting for approximately ten to fifteen percent of total body mass in males and fifteen to twenty-five percent in females. Its primary physiological roles include the storage of energy in the form of reserve fat as well as serving a protective function for critical internal organs—such as the heart, liver, and kidneys—against mechanical trauma and thermal fluctuations [1]. In accordance with the formal guidelines established by the World Health Organization (WHO), the contribution of saturated fatty acids to total daily energy intake should not exceed seven percent, whereas polyunsaturated fatty acids (including members of the omega-3 and omega-6 families) should provide between six and ten percent of dietary energy. Monounsaturated fatty acids, by contrast, should comprise ten to fifteen percent of total caloric consumption, a balance that is essential for maintaining lipid homeostasis and preventing metabolic disorders [2].
Omega-3 fatty acids
As mentioned above, omega-3s belong to the NNKT group. The name of the fatty acids included in this group is related to their chemical structure. The first double bond (including the methyl group) is found in omega-3 acids with the third carbon. Among the omega-3's most important for the human body are: ALA a-linolenic acid, EPA eicosapentaenoic acid and DHA docenohexic acid. The last two acids cannot form de novo in a human body. They are made from other NNKTs [3].
Omega-3 fatty acids properties
The action of omega-3 fatty acids in the human body is multifaceted. They have a number of anti-health properties: they reduce the concentration of triglycerides in blood plasma by inhibiting their resynthesis in the liver and intestines by up to 30%, they normalize blood pressure, they exhibit anticanceral activity, they inhibit the development of coronary heart disease and coronarian disease, they act as an anti-inflammatory and anti-allergenic agent by suppressing the biological immune response, they have anti-carcinogenic effects, they are anti-depressant agents by maintaining the proper function of the nervous system by stimulating the growth of malignant nerve cells in the brain stem cells, they can produce anti-canceral agents by preventing the spread of infectious tissue, and they can inhibit the function of fatty tissue in the body.
Omega-3 fatty acids are the source
Omega-3 fatty acids in food can be divided into vegetable and animal sources. Vegetable sources include edible oils rapeseed, soybean, wheat seed, nuts. In small quantities, they are also found in sunflower, crocodile, and maize oils.[5] A good source of omega-3 can also be Spanish sauce seeds (i.e. chia seeds) and flaxseed. A certain amount is also present in the green vegetable leaves of fish. Omega-3 acid found in plant sources is also available.
The ratio of omega-3 to omega-6
In the human body, omega-6 and omega-3 acids are competing substrates of the same enzymatic systems. This means that the metabolites of both acids have antagonistic effects. Omega-3 metabolites are anti-inflammatory and inhibit platelet aggregation. Omega-6 metabolites have pro-inflamatory effects and promote the formation of fatty acids. Therefore, it is very important to maintain an adequate dietary ratio between these fatty acid systems. The ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 is one of the best indicators of the quality of a fish's diet. Considering the biological properties of fish acid, the ratio of nutrients supplied to omega-3s, which results in omega-1 to omega-4-6s, is 1: 5. In order to achieve this, we must take into account the fact that in our diet, the number of fats contained in the omega-3 diet should be proportional to the amount of protein supplied.