Understanding the Global Omega-3 Shortfall: Measurement and Supplementation Strategies

A global review finds that more than 76% of people worldwide fail to meet recommended EPA and DHA intake, signaling a substantial population-health risk that spans pregnancy, early life, adulthood and older age.

The review links low EPA/DHA status with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes and increased cardiometabolic risk, making the prevalence clinically relevant across life stages. The scale of deficiency supports targeted screening and prioritized interventions for at-risk groups.

The review highlights a practical, biomarker-guided strategy using the omega-3 index as a tissue-level measure to inform supplementation. The index can identify individuals below target ranges, guide dose selection and enable biochemical follow-up. Testing is feasible via finger-prick blood with common laboratory or point-of-care workflows; turnaround typically ranges from days to a few weeks.

Closing intake gaps is feasible through combined measures: marine-derived EPA/DHA supplements, fortified foods, and algal or other sustainable omega-3 alternatives. Supplements deliver predictable EPA/DHA doses and consistent biochemical effects; fortification responses vary by product and population. Program design should align efficacy, sustainability and cultural acceptability with supply constraints.

Principal barriers include low seafood consumption, sustainability limits, inequitable supplement access and cultural preferences that limit diet-based solutions. Operational challenges for widescale biomarker screening and fortification — cost, laboratory capacity and the need for clear clinical pathways — will affect implementation. A measurement-first approach paired with scalable supplementation and fortification is a pragmatic pathway to narrow the gap.