Personalized medicine, a close cousin to personalized nutrition, is predicted to grow to US$149 billion in sales by 2020. If that’s any indication of what the future holds, then personalized nutrition will not be far behind, as consumers continue to learn more about themselves and what their specific diet and nutritional needs are.

Some experts believe self-administered testing will become the new frontier in nutrition. While home testing is not new (the home pregnancy test debuted in the early 1970s), the demand for self-administered tests to help identify various conditions and deficiencies in the nutrition space is on the rise.

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for overall health at every stage of life, playing an important role in many processes in the body, and since the body cannot create sufficient amounts of omega-3 fatty acids on its own, people need to get them from a variety of sources. These include fatty fish like salmon, and omega-3 supplements like krill or fish oil.

The lack of instant gratification or outward result from taking omega-3s makes it difficult for some consumers to understand how important these nutrients really are. The Omega-3 Index test, a tool that measures the amount of EPA and DHA in the blood, is another self-monitoring tool like the vitamin D test.

With the Omega-3 Index test, anyone can measure their omega-3 levels and then take the proper steps to devise a regimen that works well for them in order to raise that level. Whether consumers chose to consume omega-3 fatty acids as oily fish (salmon, sardines or tuna) or as a supplement, various customizable plans to fit any lifestyle are available.

Thanks to the Omega-3 Index test, everyone has the chance to take back some control of their health. Many factors come into play for raising an Omega-3 Index, such as age, sex, weight, diet, genetics, smoking, medications and other medical conditions. But one thing is certain, consumers need to know their omega-3 number before they can proactively make a change.

Learn more about personalized nutrition in the omega-3 market in INSIDER’s Omega-3 Digital Magazine.

Becky Wright is the director of marketing and communications for Aker BioMarine’s Superba™ krill oil brand. She has nearly 20 years of experience in the nutritional products industry.