Most people worldwide aren’t getting enough omega-3 fatty acids, leaving a major gap between scientific recommendations and daily diets. Researchers emphasize the critical role of EPA and DHA across all life stages and note that food alone often can’t meet these needs. The review calls for clearer global guidelines and easier access to sustainable sources of omega-3 fatty acids. It also highlights the challenges different populations face in reaching healthy intake levels.
More than three-quarters of the global population aren’t getting enough Omega-3 fatty acids, according to new research from the University of East Anglia, the University of Southampton, and Holland & Barrett.
The collaborative review highlights that 76 percent of people worldwide are not meeting recommended intakes of EPA and DHA, revealing a significant global public health gap.
The study is the first global review of omega-3 intake recommendations for generally healthy people across all life stages, both national and international.
Global omega-3 intake falling far below recommendations
Prof Anne Marie Minihane, from UEA’s Norwich Medical School, said: “Our research looks at recommendations for omega-3 fats and how they compare to what people are actually eating.
“We found big gaps between what’s advised and what most of us consume. To close that gap, we need easier, sustainable ways to get these important nutrients — like foods enriched with omega-3s or supplements. These changes could help more people enjoy the health benefits linked to higher intakes.
“We hope this work will help inform nutritional scientists, clinicians, food and supplement industries, policy makers, and consumer communities,” she added.
Why EPA and DHA matter for health
Dr. Abbie Cawood, Science Director at Holland & Barrett and Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Southampton, said: “The health benefits of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, specifically eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are too important to ignore.
“Achieving recommended intakes from diet alone can be challenging, highlighting the need for accessible, sustainable sources of EPA and DHA. Omega-3s play a vital role in health, helping people meet their needs through diet or supplementation, which is essential at every life stage.
“In fact, our review highlights that supplementation is often required to meet recommended intakes, especially in pregnancy and those with low fish intakes. We are hopeful that this publication can act as an enabler to inform omega-3 dietary guidelines and shape future nutrition policy and public health strategies.”
How much omega-3 do people actually need?
Prof Philip Calder from the University of Southampton added: “The omega-3s EPA and DHA are essential for health throughout the life course. But to benefit from these nutrients, people first need to understand how much they should be consuming.
“In this review, we brought together all the recommendations for EPA and DHA intake in healthy populations from authorities around the world to help answer the important question: ‘How much do I need?’ What is clear is that most people are not meeting these recommendations.”
Lifelong benefits of omega-3 intake
Omega-3 consumption supports a healthy lifestyle throughout all stages of life — from reducing the risk of preterm birth and supporting visual and cognitive development in infants, to improving cardiovascular health and immune function. It is also associated with reduced risk of depression and cognitive decline, including Alzheimer’s disease.
This global review highlights the lack of alignment between current evidence, public health guidance, and actual population intakes and aims to address confusion around omega-3s recommendations, highlighting the health benefits of increased intake across all life stages in healthy populations.
While previous guidance often focused on key stages such as pregnancy, birth, and age-related disease, this publication covers all life stages, making it relevant and accessible to the general population.
Confusing and inconsistent omega-3 guidelines worldwide
It highlights that guidance on omega-3 intake currently varies by country, creating significant confusion worldwide, and reinforces the importance of consistent, evidence-based guidance.
The paper aims to support public health globally and offers guidance to countries outside Europe and North America, such as Latin America and parts of Asia, including India, on developing public guidelines for safe intake levels and supplementation advice.
Recommended intake targets and real-world barriers
The review found that the most frequently recommended intake for adults is 250 mg per day of combined EPA and DHA, with an additional 100-200 mg of DHA advised for pregnant women. These targets can be achieved by eating more oily fish, such as salmon or mackerel, or through supplementation where needed.
The paper also identified challenges that different populations face in meeting current omega-3 recommendations, such as difficulties meeting oily fish recommendations due to low seafood consumption, sustainability concerns, and limited access to supplementation advice.
Supporting future nutrition policy and product development
The retailer hopes this publication will serve as a valuable resource for nutritional science, medical, and industry professionals, and will help underpin its future product development.
This review was conducted in partnership with Prof Philip Calder (University of Southampton Faculty of Medicine), Prof Minihane (University of East Anglia and Norwich Medical School), Fionna Page and Claire James, expert dietitians from at First Page Nutrition Ltd, and Dr. Cawood, Science Director at Holland & Barrett and Dr. Sophie Putnam, Head of Science at Holland & Barrett.’An overview of national and international long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake recommendations for healthy populations’ is published in the journal Nutrition Research Reviews.