The precise safe and effective doses of all types of omega-3 fatty acid supplements in children have not been established.

EPA and DHA

• EPA and DHA are naturally found in breast milk; therefore, infants that are breastfed should receive sufficient amounts of these substances.
• Formula for infants should contain less than 0.1% EPA.
• Formula for infants should contain 0.35% DHA.

ALA

• Infants that are breastfed should receive sufficient amounts of ALA if the mother has an adequate intake of this fatty acid.
• Infant formula should contain 1.5% ALA.

Flaxseed Oil

• Flaxseed oil may be added to a child's diet to help balance fatty acids. If an infant is breastfed, the mother may ingest oil or fresh ground seed to increase fat content in breast milk. See adult dosage below.

Flaxseed

• Children (2 to 12 years): 1 tsp daily of ground flaxseeds or 1 tsp of fresh flaxseed oil for constipation

Adult

EPA and DHA

• The adequate daily intake of EPA and DHA for adults should be at least 220 mg of each per day.
• Two to three servings of fatty fish per week (roughly 1,250 mg EPA and DHA per day) are generally recommended to treat certain health conditions.

Fish oil supplements

• 3,000 to 4,000 mg standardized fish oils per day. (This amount corresponds to roughly 2 to 3 servings of fatty fish per week.)
• Typically, a 1,000 mg fish oil capsule has 180 mg EPA and 120 mg DHA

ALA

• The adequate daily intake of ALA for adults should be roughly 2,220 mg per day.

Flaxseed oil

• One or two Tbsp of flaxseed oil per day is recommended for general health.
• Doses up to 3,000 mg per day are recommended to prevent certain conditions and doses up to 6,000 mg per day may be recommend to treat these conditions.

Flaxseed

• 1 Tbsp two to three times per day or 2 to 4 tbsp one time per day. Grind before eating and take with lots of water.
• Decoction (liquid prepared by boiling down the flaxseed in water): A rounded Tbsp of whole seed simmered in 1 cup water for 10 to 15 minutes, strain and drink.
• 100 grams of raw flaxseed provides 22,800 mg of ALA

Because of the potential for side effects and interactions with medications, dietary supplements should be taken only under the supervision of a knowledgeable healthcare provider.

Omega-3 fatty acids should be used cautiously by people who bruise easily, have a bleeding disorder, or take blood-thinning medications because excessive amounts of omega-3 fatty acids may lead to bleeding. In fact, people who eat more than three grams of omega-3 fatty acids per day (equivalent to 3 servings of fish per day) may be at an increased risk for hemorrhagic stroke, a potentially fatal condition in which an artery in the brain leaks or ruptures.

Fish oil can cause flatulence and diarrhea. Time-release preparations may reduce these side effects, however.

People with either diabetes or schizophrenia may lack the ability to convert ALA to EPA and DHA, the forms more readily used in the body. Therefore, people with these conditions should obtain their omega-3 fatty acids from dietary sources rich in EPA and DHA.

Although studies have found that regular consumption of fish (which includes the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA) may reduce the risk of macular degeneration, a recent study including two large groups of men and women found that diets rich in ALA may substantially increase the risk of this disease. More research is needed in this area. Until this information becomes available, it is best for people with macular degeneration to obtain omega-3 fatty acids from sources of EPA and DHA, rather than ALA.

Similar to macular degeneration, fish and fish oil may protect against prostate cancer, but ALA may be associated with increased risk of prostate cancer in men. More research in this area is needed.

It is best to use lipid extracts rather than the powder form of New Zealand green lipped mussels because there is less chance of an allergic reaction. People who are allergic to seafood should avoid New Zealand green lipped mussels. In some individuals who take New Zealand green lipped mussels, arthritis symptoms may worsen before they improve.

If you are currently being treated with any of the following medications, you should not use omega-3 fatty acid supplements without first talking to your healthcare provider.

Blood-thinning Medications
Omega-3 fatty acids may increase the blood-thinning effects of aspirin or warfarin. While the combination of aspirin and omega-3 fatty acids may actually be helpful under certain circumstances (such as heart disease), they should only be taken together under the guidance and supervision of your healthcare provider.

Cyclosporine

Taking omega-3 fatty acids during cyclosporine therapy may reduce toxic side effects (such as high blood pressure and kidney damage) associated with this medication in transplant patients.

Etretinate and Topical Steroids
The addition of omega-3 fatty acids (specifically EPA) to a drug regimen of etretinate and topical corticosteroids may improve symptoms of psoriasis.

Cholesterol-lowering Medications
Following certain nutritional guidelines, including increasing the amount of omega-3 fatty acids in your diet and reducing the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio, may allow a group of cholesterol lowering medications known as "statins" (such as atorvastatin, lovastatin, and simvastatin) to work more effectively.

Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
In an animal study, treatment with omega-3 fatty acids reduced the risk of ulcers from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). More research is needed to evaluate whether omega-3 fatty acids would have the same effects in people.