Omega-3 with Vitamin D₃

What are EPA and DHA?

EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) are considered the two most important omega-3 fatty acids. They are essential nutrients which means they must be obtained through your diet. EPA and DHA are found in many of the body’s organs and tissues and are vital to long-term health.* They are found naturally in fish, especially cold-water fish. EPA and DHA are the most-often-studied omega-3 fatty acids and are considered to be very important to health.

What are the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids?

The best sources of omega-3 fatty acids are cold-water, fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines and anchovy. These cold-water fish provide rich amounts of EPA and DHA, which are the long-chain fatty acids believed to be responsible for most of the health benefits associated with omega-3s. Small cold-water fish are also preferred because they provide a natural balance of both EPA and DHA with less risk of mercury contamination.

When it comes to obtaining omega-3s through the diet, one should note that not all fish are rich in omega-3s; farm-raised fish that are grain-fed provide omega-6 fatty acids, further contributing to the unhealthy imbalance of omega-6 to omega-3. Supplementing with fish oil is a convenient and safe way to add omega-3s to your diet.

Since there is not an established RDA for omega-3s, how do I know how much fish oil to take?

The general consensus among experts seems to be a minimum of around 500 mg a day of EPA/DHA for the maintenance of good health. However, higher amounts have returned positive results in some studies. The FDA recommends that no more than 2,000 mg per day be consumed in supplement form.

Why did Mannatech decide to add vitamin D to its omega-3 product?

Vitamin D was added to Mannatech’s omega-3 product for a number of reasons. Most importantly, and much like the case with omega-3s, an enormous amount of recent research and data suggests that not only are most people deficient in vitamin D, this deficiency may also be having a significant impact on long-term health. In addition, our omega-3 fish oil product perfectly complements vitamin D because both products are oil-based and can be combined into a single, easy-to-take gel capsule. Finally, vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that can be better absorbed when taken or combined with another fat- or oil-based food or supplement, such as omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil.*

What is vitamin D3 and how is it different from other forms of vitamin D?

Vitamin D has two basic forms, D₂ (ergocalciferol) and D₃ (colecalciferol). Both forms are natural and equally effective when consumed in moderate amounts. Vitamin D₃, is naturally produced in your skin during exposure to direct sunlight and is thought to be the more beneficial form of vitamin D when consumed in higher amounts. Some animal products such as fish, eggs and fortified milk provide some vitamin D₃ as well. Vitamin D₂ is a plant-sourced form of vitamin D and is the form found in Mannatech’s PhytoMatrix® and PhytoBurst® products.

Many doctors and healthcare practitioners are recommending very large servings of vitamin D, in some cases thousands of IUs per day. Why did Mannatech choose to provide only 830 IU per serving?

While some experts recommend quantities of vitamin D that exceed the Institute of Medicine’s new recommended daily intake (RDI) of 600 IUs for adults up to 70 years of age, no current research indicates a single larger serving size that would be optimal for the population as a whole. This is significant because vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin and can be toxic when consumed at very high levels. In addition, some of Mannatech’s other popular products provide substantial amounts of vitamin D, so many of our Associates and customers will be receiving more vitamin D than what’s provided by the Omega-3 with Vitamin D₃ product alone. We also know that many consumers seek to take more omega-3 than the minimum serving size, so we wanted to provide an amount of vitamin D that would safely allow for additional servings of omega-3. With all these factors to consider, Mannatech chose to provide a serving size that is safe yet effective for all levels of product use.

Is Omega-3 with Vitamin D3 suitable for vegetarians?

Currently, omega-3 supplements that provide higher and balanced amounts of concentrated EPA and DHA are fish derived. Omega-3 with Vitamin D₃ is derived from fish oil and lanolin and is contained within a capsule sourced from bovine gelatin.

If I’m currently taking other Mannatech health products, do I really need omega-3s and vitamin D?

Yes. Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D are essential nutrients and are necessary in order to ensure long-term health. No other Mannatech health product currently provides an adequate amount of omega-3 fatty acids, so unless you’re eating the appropriate species of fish on a regular basis, you should supplement with Omega-3 with Vitamin D₃.

Can I take Omega-3 with Vitamin D₃ if I’m currently taking medications or being treated by a doctor?

You should consult with your physician before taking this product if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, have a health condition or are planning a medical procedure. Mannatech’s Omega-3 with Vitamin D₃ is natural and safe, but because quality omega-3 products can be very effective and can have a blood-thinning effect, they may interact with other medications.

Does Omega-3 with Vitamin D₃ contain vitamin A?

Mannatech’s Omega-3 with Vitamin D₃ does not contain a measurable amount of vitamins A. The vitamin A in some fish oil products comes primarily from the livers of fish. The oil in Omega-3 with Vitamin D₃ is made from the whole fish. The livers of these small cold water fish are very small, so there are only trace amounts of vitamin A in them. Once the oil goes through the molecular distillation, most of the remaining vitamins A is removed.

Why didn’t Mannatech use a plant-sourced omega-3, like flaxseed? 

Plant-sourced omega-3s provide alpha linolenic acid (ALA), which has a shorter fatty acid chain than EPA and DHA. While ALA is healthy and beneficial, most of the benefits associated with consuming omega-3s are related to increased consumption of the longer-chain fatty acids EPA and DHA. ALA can be converted to EPA and DHA by an enzymatic process inside the body, but the body is not very good at this process, and the conversion occurs at such a low rate that you would need to consume large amounts of ALA in order to satisfy your EPA/DHA requirements.

Why does Omega-3 with Vitamin D₃ contain vitamin E, and why is the amount different than what is found in other fish oil brands?

Vitamin E is added to fish oil products because of its antioxidant properties. Fish oils are very susceptible to oxidation, so vitamin E is added to preserve the freshness of the oil. In most cases, vitamin E is not added for any purpose other than to preserve the freshness, so a large amount is not required. The amounts may vary from product to product depending on the purity of the oil and the amount of antioxidant protection deemed necessary to ensure freshness.

I’ve seen products that provide omega-3 and omega-6 or omega-3, -6 and -9. If omega-3 is good for me, wouldn’t the addition of omega-6 and omega-9 provide even more benefit?

For most people, the answer to this question is no. People eating a normal diet that includes fats and vegetable oils do not need omega-9 fatty acids as they are not essential and can be made by the body. Omega-6 fatty acids are essential, but they are already over-abundant in our food sources and are being over-consumed by those eating the typical Western diet. In fact, the over-consumption of omega-6 fatty acids and the subsequent unhealthy imbalance of omega-6 to omega-3 is a primary reason behind the need for omega-3 supplementation. Products that provide omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids may benefit individuals on a very fat-restrictive diet or those with special health concerns that require supplementing with omega-6 and/or -9. However, this is not the case for the average consumer on a normal diet that includes fats from vegetable oils.