Question

I've been feeding EO-3 for just over a year now. I've recently been persuaded to start feeding ground flax oil for the anti-inflammatory properties, but I'm wondering if EO-3 is comparable, meaning I wouldn't need to switch to or add the flax oil.

Answer

Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids must be balanced within the body for both to be effective. The significant biological difference between omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids is related to their roles as precursors of inflammatory and immune intermediaries. The inflammatory response that originates from omega-3 fatty acids is moderate compared to the more “pro-inflammatory” response driven by omega-6 fatty acids.

Feedstuffs have varying levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. The natural diet of horses—primarily fresh and dried forages—contains more omega-3 fatty acids than diets consisting of a mixture of forage and grains.

There are multiple forms of omega-3. Short-chain fatty acids (such as alpha-linolenic acid or ALA) are found mostly in plants and plant byproducts, such as flax. ALA must be converted to long-chain fatty acids, notably eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), by the horse for optimal benefit. Conversion of ALA to EPA and DHA is not an efficient process in the horse, which is why a direct source of those essential fatty acids is preferred. EO-3 supplies a direct source of EPA and DHA, and does not depend on the conversion of ALA, making it a superior source of these fatty acids. In short, flax oil and EO-3 are not comparable.

In one head-to-head study, researchers pit flax oil and EO-3 against one another. Read the results here.

In sum, by feeding flax oil, you are providing the horse the precursors to make EPA and DHA. The EPA and DHA that is produced by the conversion of ALA can then be incorporated into cells and utilized by the body. EO-3 provides a direct source of these essential fatty acids, bypassing the conversion step completely and making it the preferred supplement.

We would not recommend feeding EO-3 and flax concurrently, as EO-3 alone provides sufficient omega-3s.

These two articles may be of interest to you:

Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Horses

Marine-Derived Oils and Omega-3s: Source Matters