The importance of the ratio of omega-6:omega-3 fatty acids

Omega-3s and omega-6s are two types of polyunsaturated fats. Both are required for the body to function, but they have opposite effects when it comes to the inflammatory response and cardiovascular health. Most modern diets are too high in omega-6 and too low in omega-3, often in the range of 15+ parts of omega-6 for every 1 part of omega-3¹.

A ratio of omega-6:omega-3 fatty acids of 4:1 has been associated with a 70% decrease in total mortality¹, and with decreased ratios between 2:1 to 5:1 also have been associated with lower risks of common diseases¹. Importantly, these studies indicate that the optimal ratio may vary with the disease under consideration, but all ratios are lower than what is common in Western diets.

The body metabolizes common omega-3 fatty acids ALA and EPA into DHA at a rate of roughly 4%². So to achieve, for example, a 2:1 ratio of omega-6:omega-3 using DHA, the ratio of omega-6:DHA should be roughly 50:1 (2:1 omega-6:omega-3 ratio, where omega-3 is converted to DHA at 4% = 2/(4%), or 50:1).

Ripple contains 8mg DHA omega-3 and 350mg of omega-6 fatty acid in each serving of Ripple plant-based Half & Half. We have chosen those amounts based on scientific evidence. However, these studies have not been validated by the FDA for specific health claims, so Ripple makes no claim of a specific health benefit from our decision to use these ratios of fats in our plant-based Half & Half.