First GOED Exchange on Omega-3 a Success

The Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s (GOED; Salt Lake City, UT) hosted its first GOED Exchange conference on omega-3s on January 13 to 14 in Salt Lake City.

With more than 150 attendees and 19 educational sessions, the event brought together an unprecedented roster of omega-3 researchers, government officials, regulatory body representatives, and dieticians to hear about the latest omega-3 healthcare innovations, marketing tips and trends, and contamination and sustainability issues facing the industry.

"Our first GOED Exchange served as a powerful reminder of how expansive the omega-3 industry is becoming," said Adam Ismail, GOED executive director. "From omega-3 researchers' findings in the early 1970s to the latest developments in omega-3's role in reducing healthcare costs and its emerging uses in helping children with motor skill disorders, this conference also reminded us that there's still much to discover when it comes to omega-3's health benefits."

Attendees heard from a range of speakers, including: Richard Carmona, MD, MPH, 17th Surgeon General of the United States, who gave the keynote address; Michael Crawford, PhD, one of the earliest innovators in omega-3 studies; and Capt. Joseph Hibbeln, MD, National Institutes of Health. Capt. Hibbeln's message focused on omega-3 advocacy on behalf of enlisted U.S. soldiers and noted that the average soldier's diet includes fewer omega-3 than the average American seven-year-old's – a demographic that is also not meeting recommended intakes.

"Capt. Hibbeln's address on how few omega-3s are included in the average soldier’s diet-and furthermore, how few are in the average American diet-is cause for concern given omega-3s' clinically backed benefits for cardiovascular health and cognitive function. Establishing recommended dietary intakes and enacting measures to ensure omega-3-rich options are available-to soldiers and civilians-remains a top concern for both Capt. Hibbeln and the entire omega-3 industry," Ismail noted.

Ismail also remarked that planning is underway for the next GOED Exchange, with details to be announced later this year. To request materials from this year's conference, including video footage and presentations available for purchase, call 801/746-1413.