Omega-6 and Omega-3 Imbalance: Smarter Supplementation

Omega-3s come in a few forms—ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). Most supplements focus on EPA and DHA, usually from fish or algae. But ALA, found abundantly in plants like chia and camelina, is the master omega-3 molecule in nature.

Why? Because EPA and DHA are downstream metabolites of ALA. In a healthy system, your body should be able to convert ALA into EPA and DHA as needed. That conversion is performed by the enzyme delta-6 desaturase (D6D)—and here’s where it gets interesting.

Your body doesn’t just passively convert ALA into EPA and DHA—it learns from it.

Men and women have different conversion efficiencies, and the act of forcing your body to cleave ALA via D6Dactually programs metabolic and hormonal pathways differently depending on sex, age, and health status.

In other words, using whole, ALA-based omega-3 sources challenges your body to stay metabolically engaged. It’s not just about consuming pre-formed EPA and DHA—it’s about maintaining the machinery that allows you to make them.

Omega-3 supplementation is not one-size-fits-all. If you're adding omega-3s without knowing your omega-6 intake, you could still be behind the curve.

Here’s the deal:

• Most people today consume far too much omega-6, primarily from seed oils and processed foods.
• That throws the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio wildly out of balance—often 20:1 or higher, when 4:1 or even 1:1 is ideal.
• So even if you're supplementing with omega-3s, you're still losing the biochemical tug-of-war if omega-6 dominates your diet.

That’s why knowing your omega-6 intake and ideally even measuring your omega-3/omega-6 ratio in blood can be critical to designing an effective supplementation strategy.

There’s another often-overlooked issue with omega-3 supplements: oxidation.

Omega-3s—especially ALA, EPA, and DHA—are highly unsaturated fats, which means they’re extremely prone to rancidity when exposed to light, oxygen, or heat. An oxidized omega-3 supplement is not just useless—it can be harmful, creating oxidative stress in the body.

That’s why quality omega-3 supplements must include antioxidant protection. Without it, they will degrade over time—no matter the source.

At TrueMedX, our omega-3 formulation is rooted in chia seed oil and camelina oil—two of the best plant-based ALA sources available. But not all plant oils are created equal. Chia oil is rich in ALA but very delicate—it oxidizes quickly. Camelina oil has a similar omega-3 profile but comes naturally fortified with polyphenols and vitamin E, offering built-in antioxidant protection. To further protect and enhance our formula, we’ve added CBG (cannabigerol)—a potent antioxidant compound found in hemp. You’ll find CBG in our Calm tinctures and our omega-3 blend, where it helps preserve the oil and adds therapeutic benefits.

If you're looking for an omega-3 supplement that will actually help you, make sure it checks these boxes:

• Built on ALA-rich oils that challenge your body to maintain its own EPA/DHA conversion
• Includes antioxidant protection: like rosemary extract, polyphenols, CBG, or vitamin E
• Encourages a balanced omega-6 intake, not just more omega-3s
• Sourced and stored properly (dark bottles, low-temp processing)

Omega-3 supplements aren’t just about pouring in more EPA or DHA. They’re about supporting your body’s own metabolic intelligence, protecting those delicate fats from rancidity, and—above all—balancing the full picture of dietary fats.

At TrueMedX, we build our formulas to work with your biology, not against it. That’s why our omega-3 supplement isn’t just another capsule—it’s a smart, functional oil that delivers what your body actually needs.

🧠 Inside this White Paper:

• Why most Americans have a dangerous 22:1 Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio

• How this imbalance drives inflammation, obesity, immune dysfunction, and cognitive decline

• The critical connection between dietary fats and the endocannabinoid system — your body's master regulatory system

• A call to federal leadership to rebalance our food system, educate providers, and reform industry practices

👩‍⚕️ About the Authors

Dr. Artemis P. Simopoulos, M.D.

Founder of the Center for Genetics, Nutrition and Health in Washington, D.C., Dr. Simopoulos is a world authority on Omega fatty acids. A former NIH researcher and nutrition advisor to the White House, she has published over 370 scientific papers , authored and edited 60+ books , and helped shape modern understanding of how fats influence genetic expression and chronic disease.

🧬  Explore her published works:

•  The Healthiest Diet for You: Scientific Aspects 

•  The Omega Diet: The Lifesaving Nutritional Program Based on the Diet of the Island of Crete 

•  The Omega Diet 

•  Health Effects of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Seafoods 

•  Health Effects of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Seafoods 

Chip Paul

Chip Paul is a leading theorist on human physiology and the endocannabinoid system. As co-founder of TrueMedX , he combines nutraceutical innovation with research-backed insight to help the body return to balance. His work has been instrumental in shaping policy, science, and public understanding of the ECS and its role in inflammation, disease, and dietary health.

Download Chip's free e-book:  The Endocannabinoid System for Dummies: An Operations Manual for Humans