Most people who take omega supplements take fish oil, and fish oil is an excellent source of EPA and DHA, the two long-chain omega-3 fatty acids with the strongest clinical evidence for cardiovascular health, brain function, and inflammation reduction. But fish oil covers only one part of the essential fatty acid spectrum. It provides no GLA, the omega-6 fatty acid from borage oil that has distinct anti-inflammatory and hormonal effects through a different metabolic pathway. And it provides no ALA, the plant-based omega-3 that is an essential fatty acid the body cannot synthesize and must obtain from diet or supplementation.
A three-oil blend combining fish oil, borage oil, and flaxseed oil covers the full omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9 spectrum in a single daily serving. Understanding what each oil contributes, why each fatty acid has a distinct role, and why the combination is more comprehensive than any single oil alone provides a clear picture of who benefits most and why.
Fish Oil: EPA and DHA, the Long-Chain Omega-3s with the Strongest Evidence
Fish oil from sardines, anchovies, and mackerel provides EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), the two long-chain omega-3 fatty acids that are the most extensively studied lipids in nutritional medicine. Each serving provides 144mg of EPA and 96mg of DHA from 800mg of fish oil.
EPA is the primary anti-inflammatory omega-3. It competes with arachidonic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid, for the same cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase enzymes that produce inflammatory eicosanoids. By displacing arachidonic acid from these pathways, EPA reduces the production of pro-inflammatory prostaglandins and leukotrienes. EPA is also the precursor to resolvins and protectins, a class of specialized pro-resolving mediators that actively resolve inflammation rather than simply suppressing its initiation. This resolution activity is distinct from the mechanism of anti-inflammatory drugs and is one of the reasons omega-3 supplementation has effects on chronic inflammatory conditions that pharmaceutical anti-inflammatories do not replicate.
DHA is the structural omega-3, comprising approximately 30 to 40 percent of the fatty acids in the cerebral cortex and 50 to 60 percent of the fatty acids in the retina. It is a structural component of neuronal cell membranes that determines membrane fluidity and the efficiency of synaptic transmission. DHA is also the primary omega-3 in cardiac muscle cell membranes, where it supports the electrical stability of the heart and reduces the risk of arrhythmia. The cardiovascular evidence for combined EPA and DHA is among the most consistent in nutritional research, with meta-analyses finding significant reductions in cardiovascular mortality, triglycerides, and blood pressure.
Borage Oil: GLA, the Most Overlooked Essential Fatty Acid
Borage oil from Borago officinalis seed is the richest plant source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an omega-6 fatty acid that is not found in significant amounts in most common dietary oils. Each serving provides 160mg of GLA from 800mg of borage oil, alongside 296mg of linoleic acid and 168mg of oleic acid.
GLA occupies a unique position in fatty acid metabolism. Most omega-6 fatty acids in the diet are linoleic acid (LA), which the body converts to arachidonic acid through a series of enzymatic steps. Arachidonic acid is the precursor to pro-inflammatory eicosanoids, which is why high omega-6 intake from vegetable oils is associated with increased inflammatory signaling. GLA bypasses the first step in this pathway, being converted directly to dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA), which is the precursor to a different class of eicosanoids: the series-1 prostaglandins, which are anti-inflammatory rather than pro-inflammatory.
This metabolic distinction makes GLA an omega-6 fatty acid with anti-inflammatory rather than pro-inflammatory effects, which is counterintuitive given the general framing of omega-6 as inflammatory. The key is the specific pathway: GLA goes to DGLA and anti-inflammatory prostaglandins, while excess linoleic acid goes to arachidonic acid and pro-inflammatory eicosanoids. Supplementing with GLA from borage oil increases DGLA levels and shifts the eicosanoid balance toward the anti-inflammatory series-1 prostaglandins.
The clinical evidence for GLA spans several applications. For skin health, GLA is essential for the production of the ceramides and other lipids that form the skin barrier. GLA deficiency is associated with dry, flaky skin and impaired barrier function, and GLA supplementation has been found to improve skin hydration, reduce transepidermal water loss, and improve symptoms of atopic dermatitis in multiple clinical trials. For hormonal health, GLA supports the production of prostaglandin E1, which modulates the hormonal signaling involved in the menstrual cycle, and GLA supplementation has been found to reduce the severity of premenstrual symptoms including breast tenderness and mood changes. For joint health, GLA's anti-inflammatory activity through the DGLA pathway has been studied in rheumatoid arthritis, with trials finding reductions in joint tenderness and morning stiffness.
The conversion of dietary linoleic acid to GLA requires the enzyme delta-6-desaturase, which is inhibited by aging, high saturated fat intake, alcohol, stress, and certain nutritional deficiencies. Many people have impaired delta-6-desaturase activity and therefore cannot efficiently produce GLA from dietary linoleic acid, making direct GLA supplementation from borage oil the most reliable way to ensure adequate DGLA levels.
Flaxseed Oil: ALA, the Essential Plant Omega-3
Flaxseed oil from Linum usitatissimum seed provides ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), the plant-based omega-3 fatty acid. Each serving provides 424mg of ALA from 800mg of flaxseed oil, alongside 136mg of linoleic acid and 160mg of oleic acid.
ALA is classified as an essential fatty acid because the human body cannot synthesize it and must obtain it from diet or supplementation. It is the parent omega-3 fatty acid from which EPA and DHA can theoretically be synthesized through a series of elongation and desaturation steps. In practice, this conversion is highly inefficient, with less than 5 to 10 percent of ALA typically converted to EPA and less than 0.5 percent converted to DHA in most adults. This is why fish oil is necessary for meaningful EPA and DHA supplementation and why ALA from flaxseed cannot substitute for marine omega-3s.
However, ALA has biological roles independent of its conversion to EPA and DHA. It is incorporated into cell membrane phospholipids, where it contributes to membrane fluidity and the regulation of membrane-bound enzyme activity. It has direct anti-inflammatory effects through its influence on inflammatory gene expression, independent of its conversion to longer-chain omega-3s. And it is the primary omega-3 available to people who do not consume fish or fish oil, making it the essential fatty acid baseline for plant-based diets.
Research has found that higher ALA intake is associated with reduced cardiovascular risk, with a meta-analysis finding that higher dietary ALA was associated with a 10 percent reduction in cardiovascular disease risk and a 20 percent reduction in fatal coronary heart disease. These effects are partly independent of EPA and DHA conversion, suggesting that ALA has cardiovascular benefits through its own mechanisms in addition to serving as a precursor to the marine omega-3s.
Oleic Acid: The Omega-9 That Completes the Spectrum
Oleic acid (OA), the primary omega-9 monounsaturated fatty acid, is provided by both borage oil (168mg per serving) and flaxseed oil (160mg per serving), totaling 328mg of oleic acid per daily serving. Omega-9 fatty acids are not essential in the same sense as omega-3 and omega-6, because the body can synthesize oleic acid from saturated fats. However, adequate oleic acid intake is associated with cardiovascular protection, reduced LDL oxidation, improved insulin sensitivity, and anti-inflammatory effects that complement the omega-3 and omega-6 components of the formula.
Oleic acid is the fatty acid most associated with the cardiovascular benefits of the Mediterranean diet, where olive oil is the primary fat source. Its inclusion in a comprehensive omega formula ensures that the monounsaturated fatty acid component of the essential fatty acid spectrum is represented alongside the polyunsaturated omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
Why the Three-Oil Combination Is More Comprehensive Than Fish Oil Alone
Fish oil alone provides EPA and DHA but leaves two significant gaps. It provides no GLA, which means the anti-inflammatory DGLA pathway and the skin, hormonal, and joint health applications of GLA are not addressed. And it provides no ALA, which means the essential plant omega-3 baseline is not covered for people who want comprehensive fatty acid supplementation rather than targeted EPA and DHA supplementation.
The three-oil blend addresses all three gaps simultaneously. Fish oil covers the marine omega-3s with the strongest cardiovascular and brain health evidence. Borage oil covers GLA and the anti-inflammatory DGLA pathway that fish oil does not reach. Flaxseed oil covers ALA as the essential plant omega-3 and contributes additional linoleic acid and oleic acid to the formula.
The equal 800mg contribution from each oil source reflects a balanced approach to the omega fatty acid spectrum rather than maximizing any single fatty acid. For people who want targeted high-dose EPA and DHA for specific cardiovascular or neurological applications, a dedicated fish oil product at higher doses is the more appropriate choice. For people who want comprehensive coverage of the essential fatty acid spectrum in a single daily supplement, the three-oil blend provides a breadth of fatty acid coverage that no single oil can match.
The addition of d-alpha tocopherol (natural vitamin E) as a non-medicinal ingredient protects the polyunsaturated fatty acids in the formula from oxidation, maintaining oil freshness and preventing the rancidity that reduces the quality and tolerability of omega supplements. Refrigerating after opening further protects the oils from oxidative degradation.
Who Benefits Most and How to Use It
This formula is most relevant for people who want comprehensive essential fatty acid coverage rather than targeted high-dose EPA and DHA supplementation. It is particularly suited to people who want fish oil alongside GLA from borage oil, which is not available in standard fish oil products, and ALA from flaxseed oil as the plant omega-3 baseline.
People with skin concerns including dryness, eczema, or impaired barrier function benefit from the GLA component, which supports ceramide production and skin barrier integrity through the DGLA pathway. People with hormonal health concerns, particularly premenstrual symptoms, benefit from GLA's role in prostaglandin E1 production. People with joint inflammation benefit from the combined anti-inflammatory activity of EPA from fish oil and GLA from borage oil through complementary pathways.
The recommended dose is 2 softgels once per day with a meal. Taking with food enhances the absorption of fat-soluble fatty acids and minimizes the possibility of gastrointestinal discomfort. The 300-softgel count provides a 150-day supply at 2 softgels per day, making it practical for the sustained daily use that produces the most meaningful effects on fatty acid status and the health outcomes associated with it.
People taking anticoagulant medications such as warfarin or blood pressure medications should consult a healthcare practitioner before use, as high-dose omega-3 fatty acids can have blood-thinning effects that may interact with these medications. People with known fish or seafood allergies should not use this product due to the fish oil component.
Omega 3·6·9 2400mg | Fish, Borage and Flaxseed Oil | EPA, DHA, GLA, ALA | 300 Softgels provides a balanced three-oil blend covering the full omega fatty acid spectrum, Health Canada licensed under NPN 80081427, with 300 softgels for a 150-day supply at the recommended daily dose.