Food better than supplements for omega-3, says ADA

7/24/2008- The American Dietetic Association (ADA) has said that a food-based approach to receiving adequate fatty acid levels is recommended, but careful supplementation is a feasible alternative if dietary intake falls short.

Published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, ADA's commentary provides an overview of the group's position on the food vs supplement debate for n-3 fatty acids, including ALA, EPA, DHA and DPA.In line with its position paper on fortification and supplementation, ADA highlighted a number of issues that need to be considered when determining the preferred 'delivery system' for n-3 fatty acids.

These include the fact that not all forms of a nutrient function equivalently; that natural sources of nutrients may not be the most functionally effective; that sources of nutrients in a food matrix may function differently than the isolated form; and that nutrient balance must be considered. MORE