| https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/3-types-of-omega-3 From the linked article:- - not all omega-3s are created equal. Among 11 types, the 3 most important are ALA, EPA, and DHA. - ALA is mostly found in plants, while EPA and DHA are mostly found in animal foods like fatty fish. - Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is the most common omega-3 fatty acid in your diet. - It’s mostly found in plant foods and needs to be converted into EPA or DHA before it can be utilized by your body for something other than energy. - However, this conversion process is inefficient in humans. Only a small percentage of ALA is converted into EPA — and even less into DHA (3Trusted Source, 4Trusted Source, 5Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source). - When ALA is not converted to EPA or DHA, it is simply stored or used as energy like other fats. - Some observational studies link a diet rich in ALA to a reduced risk of death from heart disease, while others show an increased risk of prostate cancer (7Trusted Source). - This increase in prostate cancer risk was not associated with the other main omega-3 types, EPA and DHA, which seem to protect against this cancer (8Trusted Source). The linked article has links to sources. |