According to an animal study recently published in Food and Function, total omega-3 uptake into tissues and plasma is equivalent between krill oil and the microalgae-sourced Almega PL.
 
In the study, rats were fed for seven days an omega-3 dosage of either Almega PL (7.3 g total omega-3, all of it EPA), or krill oil (7.24 g of total omega-3, 4.8 g EPA, 2.4 g DHA). The polar lipid content of the Almega PL was 15% polar lipids (phospholipid/glycolipid combination), while the krill oil polar lipid content was 40% phospholipids. Fatty acid levels were checked in the blood plasma, brain tissue, liver, retroperitoneal adipose tissue and gonadal adipose tissue, which represent transport, functional and storage pools of omega-3 fatty acids. 
 
While the uptake of total omega-3s in plasma, brain, liver and gonadal adipose tissues was similar between Almega PL and krill oil, in retroperitoneal adipose tissues the levels were statistically significantly higher in the Almega PL group. There was an average 3-fold differential in EPA content of retroperitoneal adipose tissue between groups, which is much greater than the difference in EPA content in the two oils. Tissue availability of Almega PL containing 9% glycolipids and 6% phospholipids is similar to that of krill oil containing 40% phospholipids. Researchers hypothesized that glycolipids may be a more effective carrier for omega-3s and specifically EPA. 

 
“It’s exciting to see yet another peer-reviewed study showing that Almega PL has similar bioavailability to krill oil and highlighting the power of polar lipids—especially glycolipids,” said David Hart, Qualitas Health VP of marketing. “Almega PL is the only omega-3 ingredient with glycolipids, giving it enhanced consumer benefits far beyond its vegetarian, non-GMO source and high sustainability.” 
 
Last year, Qualitas Health performed a human clinical trial published in Lipids in Health and Disease (Kagan et al., 2013) that directly compared the absorption of omega-3s between Almega PL and krill oil. When looking at total omega-3s, Almega PL had a trend (p=0.08) towards better absorption. When looking specifically at EPA, the results showed that, on a gram-per-gram basis, Almega PL offered a statistically significant, higher level of EPA bioavailability.
 
Almega PL, manufactured by Qualitas Health, is a vegetarian, EPA-rich, polar lipid-structured omega-3 oil. Sourced from Nannochloropsis oculata, a researched strain of microalgae selected for its high level of EPA omega-3 and unique polar-lipid structure, Almega PL contains omega-3 fatty acids with phospholipids and glycolipids that provide superior absorption and digestibility. Almega PL is sustainably produced, using renewable sunlight, non-arable land and low-energy processes. 
 
For more information: www.qualitas-health.com, www.almegapl.com