How Much do DHA do we need?

Is UDO’S CHOICE Perfected Oil Blend getting our needs meet?

Rationale of using only Udo's Choice Oil for a person's required daily oil intake.  So even if one regularly uses the regular blend (no DHA added) there should be enough DHA and here is why.

According to the current research, if more DHA is required, the physical body converts a minimum of about 2% of the ingested ALA into DHA.  Women tend to convert more efficiently. 

It does not look like much, but let's do the math.
 1 Tbsp. of Udo's Oil regular blend contains 6 grams of ALA.  So (6000mg x 2%) = 120mg.  Therefore, using 3 Tbsp. of Udo's Oil, a normal amount for a 150 lb. person, will give after conversion, about 360mg of DHA, which is about the amount in 2-3 capsules of fish oil.

In evaluating the validity of the information from ALA to DHA conversion studies consider the following:

  • The studies were measuring conversion in body tissue.
  • Brain tissue converts ALA to LA faster.
  • Some studies showing higher conversion rates.
  • But two percent is a conservative figure.
  • DHA is only one of a number of end products of ALA metabolism; the body only produces it when needed.

What if the studies were done without considering whether or not the subject's body needed more at the time of the measurement?
 If one subject's body does not need more DHA, and another one's does, the test results can be skewed to the low side.

  • Adding dietary DHA can reduce the conversion of ALA to DHA.
  • Since the body will realize it already has enough DHA, it will use the ALA for other purposes.  
  • The body benefits in many other ways with adequate ALA.
  • A consistent optimal supply of ALA is rare, occurring in less than one per cent of the population. 

 Some believe that while conversion is occurring, the real issue is the efficiency of ALA to EPA, and then to DHA.  They are correct.  Only a small percentage of DHA is made from EPA.  However, those factors which inhibit the conversion are mostly related to diet.  According to Udo, there is enough production of EPA whenever there is adequate ALA.  The body can also “back-convert” DHA to EPA if necessary.  The real issue has always been about converting to enough DHA.