Omega-3 fatty acids are a group of polyunsaturated fatty acids that are critical for human health. The three main types are alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) — found in plant oils like flaxseed, chia seeds, and walnuts — eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which are found in fish and other seafood.

The human body can convert some ALA into EPA and then to DHA, but only in small amounts. Therefore, getting EPA and DHA from foods and dietary supplements is the only practical way to increase levels of these valuable omega-3 fatty acids, according to the National Institutes of Health.

The U.S. fish oil market was worth about $587 million in 2023, according to Circana data. While dollar sales were up due to inflation, unit sales were down, indicating some market erosion.

At the same time, supply shortages of omega-3s from sources like Peruvian anchovy have compelled producers to search for alternatives, including krill oil, marine by-products, algal oil, and certain specialty plant oils.

Plant-Based Omegas

Katrina Benedicto, communications director for Nuseed Nutritional, the seed technologies platform of Nufarm Limited (ASX: NUF), said the company’s Nutriterra canola oil (Camelina sativa) can help address the omega-3 shortfall in America’s diets and rebalance the omega-3 to omega-6 ratio.

“The fish oil supplies in the ocean are not going to meet the demand for omega-3s,” she said. “There’s just not enough fish in the sea.”

Nutriterra provides DHA and long-chain fatty acids comparable to some fish oils, Benedicto said. “Every 2.5 acres of land used to grow Nutriterra canola produces as much DHA as 10,000 kg of wild fish,” she added, representing a “massive sustainability opportunity.”

The company can scale production rapidly as well. “This year we’re producing as much DHA canola as we have in the last 4 years combined,” Benedicto said. “It’s creating a lot of economic opportunity for American farmers. And it offers a really reliable supply chain for formulators.”

While Nutriterra was developed with genetic engineering, Benedicto said that consumers are generally open to advanced technology when the methods and purpose are clearly communicated.

According to a company survey, about 40% of people in the U.S. and E.U. were initially skeptical of the product, “but once we explained the why behind the technology and how it was done, 90% of consumers saw advantages of Nutriterra oil over fish or algal oil,” she noted.

Application of advanced technology to make food more nutritious and address sustainability issues is also much different than traditional agronomic application of genetic engineering, she added.

Other notable plant sources of omega-3s include Ahiflower (Buglossoides arvensis) a naturally wild plant that was discovered growing in a hedgerow in the U.K. countryside. Today, Ahiflower is cultivated as a non-GMO agricultural crop produced exclusively by Natures Crops International.

Ahiflower is grown by a dedicated group of U.K. farmers who follow regenerative agricultural practices and traceability protocols. Throughout the entire growing season, Ahiflower crops are monitored, paying particular attention to carbon capture, soil heath, pollinator activity, and biodiversity, according to the company.

Recent research published in the European Journal of Nutrition showed that Ahiflower oil has comparable anti-inflammatory efficacy as fish oil for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) symptoms at the same intake levels.

Certified B Corp MegaFood recently launched Omega 3-6-9, a dietary supplement featuring Ahiflower and algal oil to deliver 600 mg of omega-3s for heart, brain, eye, and joint health.

The company said its plant-based omega contains a “unique array of fatty acids including DHA, SDA, ALA and GLA.”

“Every serving offers Omega-3, DHA, and fatty acids delivered in delayed release, lemon-coated capsules for a better Omega experience.”

Filling in Gaps

Despite recommendations to consume omega-3 fatty acids to support pregnancy outcomes and offspring health, one in four women either rarely or never eat fish during pregnancy, and even fewer women take omega-3 supplements, according to a recent study published in Public Health Nutrition by a team at the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute.

“Omega-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients for supporting positive health outcomes. Getting enough of these nutrients during pregnancy is vital for preventing preterm birth and promoting optimal child health and neurodevelopment,” said the study’s lead author Emily Oken, MD, MPH, Harvard Medical School professor and chair of the Department of Population Medicine at the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute.

Overall, more than 80% of Americans do not get enough EPA and DHA omega-3 fats from foods. To help bridge the gap, family-owned natural products brand NOW recently debuted its sugar-free Omega-3 Gummy Chews supplement, noting that each chew delivers 750 mg of fish oil “with an advanced delivery system that mimics the natural nutrient delivery in foods to optimize the bioavailability of EPA and DHA.”

“We know people have so many choices when it comes to their health and wellness, and it’s imperative to our mission that we offer affordable and accessible solutions they can trust,” said NOW CEO Jim Emme. “We’re proud of our latest innovations that demonstrate our commitment to bringing quality products to market that meet the needs of any health-seeking consumer.”

Personalization and Testing

There’s growing interest in personalized nutrition, and according to consumer research commissioned by the Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s (GOED), diagnostic testing can help create more custom nutrition and supplement plans that incorporate omega-3s.

Interestingly, people who are confident they’re getting enough EPA and DHA are most interested in testing.

“Our research suggests there is an opportunity to grow omega-3 supplement sales by targeting diagnostics to consumers who are confident they are getting enough DHA and EPA,” said Josh Anthony, founder and CEO of consulting company Nlumn LLC, who presented findings at the GOED Exchange in Athens, Greece in January.

Many consumers reported that they would increase supplementation if they weren’t getting enough omega-3s. In fact, 71% of current supplement users said they would increase their dose, and 61% of non-supplement users said they would start supplementing.

“There is strong alignment between clinically supported benefits and motivating health outcomes for testing, suggesting that target consumers understand and are motivated by benefits of omega-3 fatty acids,” said Anthony. “Raising awareness about the availability of reliable omega-3 testing services and target levels for health benefits is an opportunity to help drive diagnostic testing and increase omega-3 intakes.”

A review published in the May 2024 issue of the Journal of Nutrition evaluated commercially available omega-3 tests on the North American market. The goal of the narrative review, according to its authors, was to provide more context around omega-3 testing options and discuss the evidence linking increased omega-3 intake or status to improved health, in support of recommendations to increase omega-3 intake and testing.

The study authors said testing could significantly improve the interpretation of omega-3 research results and lead to an increased intake of these nutrients, especially for those with low levels. But finding common ground among the variety of omega-3 tests has been a challenge.

Currently, numerous commercial laboratories provide fatty acid testing of blood and breast milk samples by different methods and present their results in a variety of report formats: full fatty acid profile, Omega-3/Omega-6 fatty acid profiles, fatty acid ratios, as well as the Omega-3 Index, the Holman Omega-3 Test, OmegaScore, and OmegaCheck, among others.

Some of the main differences between these tests relate to the methods used to analyze omega-3s in samples, as well as the type of specimen used for analysis (red blood cells vs. plasma).

The study authors singled out the Omega-3 Index for the amount of clinical substantiation behind it, as well as the advantage of testing in red blood cells as a more long-term, stable, and reliable biomarker of omega-3 status. They also said there is good evidence to suggest that a value between an Omega-3 Index of 8% and 11% is associated with favorable outcomes and below 4% with unfavorable outcomes.

From a research standpoint, the authors believe the lack of omega-3 baseline and post-intervention testing has contributed to the neutral results for many studies. Including only those subjects with low omega-3 status would result in more accurate conclusions about omega-3s’ benefits in particular health areas as well as help identify who could benefit the most from increasing omega-3 intake.

---

About the Author: Sean Moloughney has been the editor of Nutraceuticals World since 2012. He can be reached at smoloughney@rodmanmedia.com.

---

Sponsored Content 

DELASOL^®: The Perfect Match for Omega-3 Softgels

As polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), omega-3s are highly sensitive to oxidation, leading to a degradation of product quality which also negatively affects taste and bioavailability. To counteract this, gelatin Softgels have become a common delivery format as gelatin acts as a buffer, protecting capsule content against lipid oxidation. However, another challenge is the oxidation process in the stomach, where the acidic environment can result in premature degradation of the gelatin capsules. As a result, only a small amount of the omega-3 content remains bioavailable, which necessitates the overdosing of Softgel capsules. Studies show that the highest rate of oxidation occurs during the gastric phase, where oxidative stress can result in up to 80 per cent loss of bioactivity.¹ Therefore, to protect the PUFAs during this critical stage and enhance the quantity reaching the small intestine, enteric capsules are needed.

Traditionally, the production of enteric capsules involves two steps, the second of which is the application of an enteric coating. However, DELASOL^® offers an optimal, cost-efficient alternative that delivers all the benefits of gelatin, and protects the PUFAs against oxidation, in just one step. This results in a delayed release of non-oxidized omega-3s after passing through the highly oxidative environment of the stomach, which leads to a significant dosage reduction in smaller capsules while ensuring optimal active nutritional ingredients reaching the gut. This can be hugely beneficial during omega-3 shortages, such as those experienced in recent years because of challenging fishing seasons. Manufacturers using DELASOL^® can streamline production into a single step, reduce omega-3 dosage per capsule and enjoy significant savings in terms of cost, time, and resources.

Contact marketingna@gelita.com to learn more!

1. Floro, et al. (2022) Bio accessibility and Oxidative Stability of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Supplements, Sardines and Enriched Eggs Studied Using a Static In Vitro Gastrointestinal Model. Molecules 27, 415