03.03.23
The omega-3s industry is celebrating Global Omega-3 Day (03/03) with a variety of communications and promotions.
March 3 is an annual milestone to call attention to EPA and DHA omega-3s, share details about their important health benefits, and highlight why people need to increase intake. For example, an estimated 80% of people worldwide fall short of recommended intakes for these nutrients. In the U.S., it's higher than 95%.
The original International Omega-3 Awareness Day was established in 2010 by Dr. Carol Locke, founder of OmegaBrite, to raise awareness of the science and benefits of omega-3 fatty acids.
The Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s (GOED) has continued the Global Omega-3 Day tradition with an expanded goal, which is to raise awareness of the importance of omega-3s around the world through outreach to stakeholders, including those in the omega-3 industry, consumers, key influencers, and health professionals.
To mark the occasion, here’s a recap of trends, research, and other developments in the omega-3 market that have made waves in the past year.
A yet-to-be-published Cochrane review involving over 31,500 pregnant women found in pending results that omega-3s offered significant protective effects against preterm birth, according to Maria Makrides, PhD, FAA, deputy director of the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute. Across 36 trials, women who consumed omega-3s saw on average a 12% risk reduction of preterm birth compared to placebo, and in 12 trials, which followed 16,782 women, omega-3 supplementation resulted in a 35% risk reduction of early preterm birth. Some months later, the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids published a consensus statement that there is “strong evidence” about the relationship between blood concentrations of EPA and DHA and risk of preterm birth.
A three-year, multicenter, double-blind, randomized-controlled clinical trial involving 2,157 participants called DO-HEALTH found that vitamin D3, omega-3s, and exercise may cumulatively reduce cancer risk in older adults.
A meta-analysis of 13 cohort studies involving 1,353 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) found that omega-3 supplementation significantly decreased inflammatory gene expression (TNF-alpha and IL-1) and improved scores on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), compared to participants who did not take omega-3 supplements.
A review of 71 studies published in the Journal of the American Heart Association concluded that 3 grams of a combination of EPA and DHA daily may be the optimal dose in order to achieve blood pressure reductions. The review also established a dose-dependent relationship between omega-3s and blood pressure reductions, most significantly for those with hypertension.
In a meta-analysis of 884 studies, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, researchers concluded that there was strong evidence suggesting that omega-3 fatty acids reduced mortality from cardiovascular disease. The meta-analysis evaluated health outcomes from a total of over 883,000 participants, with a combined 4,895,544 person-years.
Several studies furthered knowledge of the potential role omega-3s have in cognition and mental health.
An observational study on the Framingham Offspring Cohort found that across a population of 1,490 participants aged 65 and older, people who had the highest blood DHA levels were 49% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than those with the lowest blood concentrations.
An analysis of data from the Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA Brazil) found a significant association between omega-3 fatty acids intake and the maintenance and incidence of depressive episodes. Total consumption of omega-3s, as well as consumption specifically of DHA, EPA, DPA, and ALA were all inversely associated with the appearance of depressive episodes at baseline, as well as whether depressive episodes maintained at study follow-up.
According to data from the third generation of the Framingham Offspring Study cohort, EPA and DHA blood concentrations were inversely associated with the rate at which the brain ages, based on hippocampal volumes, in a population of over 2,000 subjects.
Omega-3 status was a significant predictor of COVID-19 severity, hospitalization, and death in a group of over 100,000 subjects between 2020 and 2021, according to a recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Those in the highest quintile for DHA status were 26% less likely to be hospitalized compared to those with the lowest DHA status.
A human clinical trial confirmed the bioavailability of a plant-based omega-3 supplement containing EPA, DHA, and ALA. The supplement, branded as Nutriterra by Nuseed Nutritional U.S. Inc., is made from a genetically engineered form of canola capable of producing omega-3 fatty acids in a way similar to algae. Shortly thereafter, the ingredient succeeded in an FDA review for human and animal safety.
Natures Crops and Algarithm, two key players in the plant-based omegas market, announced a partnership to develop omega oil blends for supplements, foods, and beverages. The oils, which will contain a spectrum of omega-3s including DHA, omega-6s, and omega-9s, can serve as a plant-based sustainable alternative. Each kilogram of the oil produced is equivalent to that which is produced from 4,000 fish by weight, the companies report.
Just last month, GC Rieber VivoMega launched its first plant-based omega-3 oil. The ocean-derived extract of microalgae, which is processed in order to prevent oxidation, will be debuted at Natural Products Expo West.
March 3 is an annual milestone to call attention to EPA and DHA omega-3s, share details about their important health benefits, and highlight why people need to increase intake. For example, an estimated 80% of people worldwide fall short of recommended intakes for these nutrients. In the U.S., it's higher than 95%.
The original International Omega-3 Awareness Day was established in 2010 by Dr. Carol Locke, founder of OmegaBrite, to raise awareness of the science and benefits of omega-3 fatty acids.
The Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s (GOED) has continued the Global Omega-3 Day tradition with an expanded goal, which is to raise awareness of the importance of omega-3s around the world through outreach to stakeholders, including those in the omega-3 industry, consumers, key influencers, and health professionals.
To mark the occasion, here’s a recap of trends, research, and other developments in the omega-3 market that have made waves in the past year.
Research Highlights
Just over one year ago, GOED launched its Clinical Trials Database, which combines 4,000 human interventional studies on EPA and DHA. The database includes an advanced search in which users can stratify their results by population sizes, demographics of a study population, health outcomes, and more. Complex search results are also downloadable and shareable.A yet-to-be-published Cochrane review involving over 31,500 pregnant women found in pending results that omega-3s offered significant protective effects against preterm birth, according to Maria Makrides, PhD, FAA, deputy director of the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute. Across 36 trials, women who consumed omega-3s saw on average a 12% risk reduction of preterm birth compared to placebo, and in 12 trials, which followed 16,782 women, omega-3 supplementation resulted in a 35% risk reduction of early preterm birth. Some months later, the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids published a consensus statement that there is “strong evidence” about the relationship between blood concentrations of EPA and DHA and risk of preterm birth.
A three-year, multicenter, double-blind, randomized-controlled clinical trial involving 2,157 participants called DO-HEALTH found that vitamin D3, omega-3s, and exercise may cumulatively reduce cancer risk in older adults.
A meta-analysis of 13 cohort studies involving 1,353 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) found that omega-3 supplementation significantly decreased inflammatory gene expression (TNF-alpha and IL-1) and improved scores on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), compared to participants who did not take omega-3 supplements.
A review of 71 studies published in the Journal of the American Heart Association concluded that 3 grams of a combination of EPA and DHA daily may be the optimal dose in order to achieve blood pressure reductions. The review also established a dose-dependent relationship between omega-3s and blood pressure reductions, most significantly for those with hypertension.
In a meta-analysis of 884 studies, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, researchers concluded that there was strong evidence suggesting that omega-3 fatty acids reduced mortality from cardiovascular disease. The meta-analysis evaluated health outcomes from a total of over 883,000 participants, with a combined 4,895,544 person-years.
Several studies furthered knowledge of the potential role omega-3s have in cognition and mental health.
An observational study on the Framingham Offspring Cohort found that across a population of 1,490 participants aged 65 and older, people who had the highest blood DHA levels were 49% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than those with the lowest blood concentrations.
An analysis of data from the Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA Brazil) found a significant association between omega-3 fatty acids intake and the maintenance and incidence of depressive episodes. Total consumption of omega-3s, as well as consumption specifically of DHA, EPA, DPA, and ALA were all inversely associated with the appearance of depressive episodes at baseline, as well as whether depressive episodes maintained at study follow-up.
According to data from the third generation of the Framingham Offspring Study cohort, EPA and DHA blood concentrations were inversely associated with the rate at which the brain ages, based on hippocampal volumes, in a population of over 2,000 subjects.
Omega-3 status was a significant predictor of COVID-19 severity, hospitalization, and death in a group of over 100,000 subjects between 2020 and 2021, according to a recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Those in the highest quintile for DHA status were 26% less likely to be hospitalized compared to those with the lowest DHA status.
From Sea to Land
A new class of plant-based omega-3 supplements sourced from algae or bioengineered plants have gained a significant foothold in the marketplace of late.A human clinical trial confirmed the bioavailability of a plant-based omega-3 supplement containing EPA, DHA, and ALA. The supplement, branded as Nutriterra by Nuseed Nutritional U.S. Inc., is made from a genetically engineered form of canola capable of producing omega-3 fatty acids in a way similar to algae. Shortly thereafter, the ingredient succeeded in an FDA review for human and animal safety.
Natures Crops and Algarithm, two key players in the plant-based omegas market, announced a partnership to develop omega oil blends for supplements, foods, and beverages. The oils, which will contain a spectrum of omega-3s including DHA, omega-6s, and omega-9s, can serve as a plant-based sustainable alternative. Each kilogram of the oil produced is equivalent to that which is produced from 4,000 fish by weight, the companies report.
Just last month, GC Rieber VivoMega launched its first plant-based omega-3 oil. The ocean-derived extract of microalgae, which is processed in order to prevent oxidation, will be debuted at Natural Products Expo West.
