The present invention is in the fields of lipid metabolism and dietary supplementation and provides methods and compositions to improve heart health of a mammal by orally administering stearidonic acid and related compounds to the mammal. The improved heart health is evidenced by the enrichment of cardiac tissue with eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5, .omega.3) and docosapentaenoic acid (22:5, .omega.3) following the administration. Also provided are methods for promoting a stearidonic acid containing product by advertising its heart health benefits.