The Omega-6/Omega-3 ratio may be as high as 17:1 in some Western diets. It is roughly 10:1 in the U.S. diet. People with high intakes of meat, French fries, some fast-food products and foods fried in Omega-6-rich vegetable oils will have a higher Omega-6/Omega-3 ratio than average.

The Omega-6/Omega-3 ratio recommended by international agencies and some European countries ranges from 4:1 to 10:1.

ALA comprises about 57% of the total fatty acids in flax, whereas the omega-6 fatty acids comprise about 16%. Thus, flax contains more than three times as much omega-3 as omega-6 fatty acids, giving an Omega-6/Omega-3 ratio of 0.3:1. By comparison, the Omega-6/Omega-3 ratio for corn oil is 58:1, for soybean oil, 7:1, and for canola oil, 2:1. The high level of ALA in flax makes it a good source of Omega-3 fat in the North American diet. Consuming flax or foods rich in ALA, such as Omega-3 enriched eggs increases Omega-3 fat intake and improves the dietary Omega-6/Omega-3 ratio.