Omega-3 ALA, % (RBC)

The proportion of ALA, a plant omega-3 fatty acid, in your red blood cells.

Last reviewedJune 16, 2026

Whole blood

sample type

~5 mL

blood needed

~7 days

results in app

Any time of day

best timing

INCLUDED WITH ANIVA

199 € / year

0.55 € a day

Get Started

100+ biomarkers. Cheaper than a comparable test at your doctor. Guaranteed, or we match the price.

German PKV insurance usually reimburses.

On this page

Why test Reference ranges What you'll learn What affects it How testing works Sources FAQ

In short

ALA, or alpha-linolenic acid, is the plant-based omega-3 fatty acid found in foods like flaxseed, walnuts, chia, and rapeseed oil. It is an essential fat, meaning your body cannot make it and must get it from food. This test reports how much ALA sits in your red blood cell membranes, as a percentage of all fatty acids there.

Your body can convert a small amount of ALA into the longer-chain omega-3s EPA and DHA, though this conversion is limited.

Heart & Cholesterol

Reviewed against DGKL reference practice.

Why test this?

ALA reflects your intake of plant omega-3 sources. Because the body converts only a small fraction of ALA into EPA and DHA, a good ALA level does not guarantee a high Omega-3 Index. This is useful to know for people who rely on plant foods rather than fish.

Seeing ALA separately helps explain your omega-3 picture, especially in vegetarian and vegan diets.

What is a normal result?

Aniva reads your result against research-backed ranges, not just the lab's wide normal. The reference shown below is specific to this biomarker.

Adult reference values as used by Aniva. Ranges are guidance and can vary by laboratory and method.

Group	Normal range
Adults	0.1 to 0.3 %

Your Aniva report reads your result against these values together with your age, sex and the rest of your panel.

Ranges are guidance and vary by lab and assay, aligned with DGKL practice. Always read your result against your own lab's reference interval.

What insights will this test give you?

You learn your plant-based omega-3 status and how it relates to your longer-chain EPA and DHA levels. This helps tailor advice on flax, walnuts, algae oil, or fish within a personalized action plan, especially on plant-based diets.

What can affect this result?

What can skew the result

Recent changes in diet take weeks to show in the membrane value. Conversion of ALA to EPA and DHA is limited and varies between people. Methods differ between labs, so compare results from the same assay.

Best interpreted with

Best read alongside the Omega-3 Index, EPA percentage, and DHA percentage.

How is this tested?

Sample

Whole blood

Blood needed

~5 mL

Method

Gas chromatography (fatty-acid analysis)

Best timing

Any time of day

Sources. The evidence behind this

NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung (DGE)

Harris WS, von Schacky C: The Omega-3 Index as a risk factor

Common questions

Which Aniva panels include this marker?

Omega-3 Index

This test measures your Omega-3 Index, the percentage of EPA and DHA in red blood cells.