Omega 3 FFA (EPA+DHA)

What is Omega-3?

Omega-3 fatty acids, specifically EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), are long-chain polyunsaturated fats essential for physical and mental resilience. Both are primarily found in marine sources and are considered critical nutrients for inflammation control, cardiovascular support, brain health, and recovery (1,8,10).

EPA is most renowned for its anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular properties, while DHA plays a more structural role, particularly in the brain, eyes, and mitochondria, supporting mental clarity, visual acuity, and cellular resilience (1,5,8). Together, they provide complementary benefits for those pushing their body and mind.

Why Do Outdoor Adventurers Need EPA & DHA?

Whether you're battling altitude, elevation gain, or exposure to the elements, Omega-3s have your back. Their combined benefits address multiple pain points encountered during intense outdoor pursuits:

• Anti-inflammatory action for sore joints and muscles (3,8,12)

• Cognitive clarity, focus, and mood balance while you’re under fatigue or stress (2,4,13)

• Cardiovascular support to handle exertion (2,9)

• Visual and neurological resilience in variable light and trail conditions (4,10)

• Oxidative stress reduction, aiding in recovery and adaptation (1,5)

EPA is all about recovery, while DHA supports your brain. Both are crucial, but their effects are not interchangeable.

Dietary Sources of Omega-3?

• Fatty fish (salmon, sardines, herring, mackerel, tuna)

• Fish oil supplements (in triglyceride or ethyl ester form)

• Algal oil (DHA only, suitable for vegans)

Most people, especially those on the trail, don’t consume fish regularly enough to get all the omega-3 their bodies require for optimal functioning. Supplements are the most reliable way to meet daily requirements, but bioavailability varies significantly depending on the formulation.

What’s the Best Form of Omega-3 For Hikers?

Not all omega‑3s are equal. Here’s how the forms compare:

• Ethyl ester (EE): Cheap and shelf-stable, but poorly absorbed and oxidises easily (2,14). Its absorption is highly dependent on the presence of dietary fat.

• Triglyceride (TG): More natural and better absorbed than EE, but still dependent on fat and enzymes for uptake (2,14).

• FFA Lysine Salt (AvailOm®): Free-fatty-acid bound to lysine - provides superior bioavailability and shelf-stability (1,2).

Clinical studies show AvailOm® delivers 8 times higher EPA/DHA absorption than EE and 1.5-2 times higher than TG within 24 hours (2).

More broadly, FFA forms of omega‑3 have been shown to offer 4 to 6 times greater bioavailability than EE forms under low-fat dietary conditions, making them especially effective for people who may not consume large or fatty meals, like outdoor adventurers on a hike (17,18).

Optiventure uses:

• AvailOm® FFA Lysine Salt (Sunset capsule) – fast-acting and stable even without food

• DHA & EPA FFA powder (Sunrise capsule) – shelf-stable form that retains integrity without refrigeration

These forms were selected to ensure bioavailability, shelf stability, and ease of use, regardless of whether you’re eating trail mix or a full-fat breakfast.

Note that when buying omega-3 supplements, the 1000 mg dose on the bottle doesn’t mean you’re getting 1000 mg of combined EPA and DHA. A standard 1000 mg fish oil capsule will usually only contain about 300 mg DHA + EPA, with around 120 mg DHA and 180 mg EPA (8). The rest of the capsule’s weight is made up of other fats and oils naturally present in fish oil.

Key Information About DHA Omega-3

Solubility	Fat-soluble
Optimal Intake	Recommendations vary widely depending on the required effect you’re chasing. For heart health and general consumption, 250-500mg of combined DHA and EPA (7) is the most common dosage.
Best Dietary Sources	Fatty fish like mackerel, salmon, and herring (9,10). Can also be found in nuts, and flax seeds.
Best Form for Hikers	FFA Lysine Salt DHA & EPA
Time of Day	Morning (DHA), evening (EPA), though both forms have benefits in the AM and PM.
Dietary Considerations	No fat is required for absorption with the AvailOm® lysine form, but taking any omega‑3 with food is generally beneficial when possible (10). Best results for physical performance have been observed after consistent usage of 6-8 weeks (9).

Deficiency Stats

Modern diets are notoriously low in EPA and DHA.

• Up to 90% of Australians and 74% of Europeans fall short of the recommended intake (8,9)

• Our bodies convert less than 8% of ALA into EPA, and even less into DHA (6)

• Nutrient deficiencies (zinc, B-vitamins, magnesium, vitamin C) can further impair this conversion (5)

Minimum Recommended Intakes (combined EPA + DHA):

• Women: 90 mg/day

• Men: 160 mg/day

The upper limit is 3,000mg (8), although multiple studies have found no harmful effects at dosages up to 5,000mg per day (9).

Optiventure provides a total of 165 mg (EPA + DHA) from supplements, covering baseline needs, and allows for additional intake from nuts, seeds and salmon/tuna packets on trail.

Why Optiventure Has 165mg of EPA & DHA Omega-3

Together, EPA and DHA offer complementary performance support for adventurers. Optiventure’s innovative 165mg daily dose ensures:

• Inflammation and joint recovery from EPA (3)

• Mood and brain support from DHA (1,2,4)

• Cardiovascular and oxidative protection (2,5,9)

• Fast, effective absorption from FFA forms (2)

• A shelf-stable, practical form for real-world use without requiring refrigeration or storage in a dark place. 

With optimal doses of EPA & DHA in a reliable powdered form, Optiventure provides an easy way to ensure your omega-3 needs are maintained without having to carry weighty gel capsules or worry about quality loss.

References

1. Evonik Industries AG. (n.d.). AvailOm® 50 High EPA omega‑3 powder: high-load, fish-oil based FFA lysine salt. Evonik. Retrieved July 23, 2025, from company website.

2.Schön, C., Micka, A., Gourineni, V., & Bosi, R. (2024). Superior bioavailability of EPA and DHA from a L‑lysine salt formulation: A randomized, three-way crossover study. Food & Nutrition Research, 68, Article 11028. https://doi.org/10.29219/fnr.v68.11028

3. Ramprasath, V. R., Eyal, I., Zchut, S., & Jones, P. J. H. (2013). Algal oil is similar to fish oil in increasing omega‑3 index in healthy individuals. Journal of Functional Foods, 5(1), 174–180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2012.08.016

4. Grosso, G., Pajak, A., Marventano, S., Castellano, S., Galvano, F., Bucolo, C., … Caraci, F. (2014). Role of omega‑3 fatty acids in the treatment of depressive disorders: A comprehensive meta‑analysis of randomized clinical trials. PLoS ONE, 9(5), e96905. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0096905

5. Elgar, K. (2022). EPA/DHA: A review of clinical use and efficacy. Nutritional Medicine Journal, 2(2), 95–130. https://ewhde.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/13.-PDF-13-PURE_HeathReview_EPA_DHA.pdf

6. Burdge, G. (2004). Alpha-linolenic acid metabolism in men and women: Nutritional and biological implications. Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care, 7(2), 137–144. https://doi.org/10.1097/00075197-200403000-00006

7. Heart Foundation. (n.d.). Omega-3 & omega-6 and heart health. Heart Foundation. https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/healthy-living/healthy-eating/omega-3-omega-6-heart-health

8. Choice. (n.d.). Omega-3 supplements. Choice. https://www.choice.com.au/health-and-body/medicines-and-supplements/vitamins-and-supplements/articles/omega-3-supplements

9. Thielecke, F., & Blannin, A. (2020). Omega-3 fatty acids for sport performance—Are they equally beneficial for athletes and amateurs? A narrative review. Nutrients, 12(12), 3712. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12123712

10. Tomczyk, M., Heileson, J. L., Babiarz, M., & Calder, P. C. (2023). Athletes can benefit from increased intake of EPA and DHA—Evaluating the evidence. Nutrients, 15(23), 4925. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15234925

11. Calder, P. C. (2018). Very long-chain n-3 fatty acids and human health: Fact, fiction, and the future. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 77(1), 52–72. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0029665117003950

12. Abdulrazaq, M., Innes, J. K., & Calder, P. C. (2017). Effect of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on arthritic pain: A systematic review. Nutrition, 39–40, 57–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2016.12.018

13. Grosso, G., Pajak, A., Marventano, S., Castellano, S., Galvano, F., Bucolo, C., … Caraci, F. (2014). Role of omega‑3 fatty acids in the treatment of depressive disorders: A comprehensive meta‑analysis of randomized clinical trials. PLoS ONE, 9(5), e96905. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0096905

14. Mörlein, D., Myrcka, A., & Smith, R. (2015). Oxidation rates of triacylglycerol and ethyl ester fish oils. Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society, 92(5), 513–523. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11746-015-2612-9

15. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society. (2010). Algal-oil supplements are a viable alternative to fish-oil supplements in terms of docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3; DHA). Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 69(OCE2), E127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2014.06.023

16. Dempsey, M., Rockwell, M. S., & Wentz, L. M. (2023). The influence of dietary and supplemental omega-3 fatty acids on the omega-3 index: A scoping review. Frontiers in Nutrition, 10, 1072653. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2023.1072653 

17. Maki, K. C., Orloff, D. G., Nicholls, S. J., Dunbar, R. L., Roth, E. M., Curcio, D., ... & Davidson, M. H. (2013). A highly bioavailable omega-3 free fatty acid formulation improves the omega-3 index in hypertriglyceridemic subjects: The ECLIPSE II study. Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids, 89(5), 195–201. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plefa.2013.08.004

18. Mohamed, M. I., Golovko, S. A., Golovko, M. Y., Mehra, M., & Hamazaki, K. (2024). Superior bioavailability of EPA and DHA from free fatty acid-based omega-3 in comparison to ethyl ester and triglyceride forms: A randomized crossover trial. Nutrients, 16(6), 1222. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16061222