Fish Oil and Flax Seed Oil What is the difference between fish oil and flaxseed oil? Both fish and flax are good sources of omega-3, and for people who will not consume fish for any reason, flax will do. Flaxseed oil is also less expensive, which can be an important consideration as well. The main difference is that flaxseed oil contains only alpha-linoleic acid (ALA), which is the parent compound from which other omega-3 fatty acids are derived. This leaves it to your body to do the conversion to the other forms it needs, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The problem is that the conversion is not always that efficient, and the body often uses the ALA for extra energy, leaving less for conversion to the other types. Fish oil, on the other hand, contains the other forms and delivers them directly to your body with no conversion necessary. Whatever form you decide to take, nutritionists recommend to back it up with an extra 400 IU of vitamin E (as mixed tocopherols) to prevent the fatty acids from breaking down too rapidly in your body.  See also What is Flax Seed?

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