Q: Dear Dr Sears,
First may I offer congratulations on your very significant contribution to the understanding of disease aetiology, particularly those processes modulated by diet and lifestyle.
My question relates to body mass, body composition and suggested recommendations for daily fish oil consumption. For example, a 300-pound person and a 90-pound person may both have a body composition that is 38 percent fat and 62 percent non-fat/lean.
Equally, two people with the same body mass, say 150 pounds, may have very different body compositions; e.g. 12 percent body fat on a highly trained athlete and 40 percent body fat on the couch potato.
I wonder if you have a comment on these differences in body mass, body composition and daily lifestyle patterns, with respect to recommended daily fish oil consumption. It seems intuitively logical that larger people and more active people might require larger amounts. But perhaps you view it as a little more complex. I would value your comments. Thank you again for your informative and influential efforts over many years.
Harry B., Melbourne, Australia
A: Dear Harry,
The amount of fish oil required has little bearing on the weight, age, or gender of the individual. It is primarily dependent on the extent of silent inflammation and the location of that inflammation. This is why children with ADHD need very high levels of fish oil, whereas active athletes who have a much greater lean body mass may need relatively low levels.