Essentially for Everyone

by Lisa Schofield | July 31, 2019

EFAs are embraced by consumers, but there’s still some proper education that needs to be done.

Essential fatty acids—EFAs—continue to enjoy a moment: just about everyone knows they need these compounds. Expectant mothers to the active elderly are seeking EFAs in some form. Unlike newer nutraceuticals, there isn’t much convincing retailers need to do to encourage customers to add EFAs or try a new EFA product.

At Boulder, CO-based retailer Pharmaca, customers have a good understanding about the importance of including EFAs in their diet to improve their general health and well-being, according to Don Summerfield, vice president of integrative medicine. Plant-based EFAs haven’t made too much of an impact among Pharmaca’s customers.

Over the years, customers have moved more toward marine-based EFAs due to the large body of clinical research on the immediate benefits of consuming EPA/DHA compared to plant-based EFAs, which still require a final conversion step to be absorbed by the body,” he commented. Marine-based EFAs are also popular because they’re available in much higher potencies, which can be beneficial when addressing specific health conditions, such as heart and brain health or general inflammation.”

Jolie Root, senior nutritionist and educator, Carlson Labs, Illinois, emphasized, “We find that the EFA category spans the entire lifespan. Women planning to have children know that omega-3s are important for a healthy pregnancy and for the health of their baby. Children who have learning challenges benefit from additional omega-3 intake. Young adults support healthy mood and the health of their eyes, brains and hearts. Older adults are interested in maintaining and sharp mind and aging gracefully.”

According to the June 2017 report, “Essential Fatty Acids Market: … Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2017-2027” from Future Market Insights (FMI), consumers continue to rapidly adopt EFAs for their significant health benefits, and in such wide forms as infant formulas, to every day health support and condition-specific such as brain and vision support and cardiovascular health. FMI’s study stated that the global EFA market “is set to witness an impressive CAGR of 9.5 percent of revenue over the forecast period (2017-2027). During this decade of the forecast, the dynamics of the market will be shaped by factors such as government policies and regulations, incessantly rising demand and improvement in supply chain management of essential fatty acids.”

At the time of its publication, FMI valued the EFA market at more than $4,072 million, anticipating growth to $10 billion toward the end of 2027. Further, the demand for EFA products will also surge upward thanks to innovations in food and beverage processing technologies, allowing for EFA inclusion in convenience foods and beverages.

By end of 2027, FMI expected the global production of omega-3 EFAs to reach a little more than 417,500 metric tons. By end of 2017, the forecasters believed that more than 97,300 metric tons were expected to be used for dietary supplements.

“EFAs are part of the mainstream now with several prescription fish oils in the pharma sector,” Root observed. In the natural sector more emphasis is being placed on high-potency capsules that provide 1,000 mg either combined EPA/DHA or 1,000 mg EPA or DHA alone per serving,” she added.

Chris Gearheart, director of member communications and engagement for GOED (Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3) pointed to a recent Cochrane review showing that a daily dose of 500 to 1,000 mg of EPA and DHA for pregnant women can decrease the risk of early preterm birth by 42 percent, preterm birth by 11 percent, and low birth weight by 10 percent. “The evidence was so strong that the authors stated that ‘no further research is needed’ to be sure of the benefit. It’s never been clearer that EPA and DHA consumption is vital to a healthy pregnancy.

Thanks to continued health education, people are beginning to understand that they obtain more than enough omega-6 EFAs, which are easily found in typical Western diets. However, these diets are not high enough in omega-3 EFAs, which the body cannot manufacture on its own. And if not in the diet on a regular basis, lack of sufficient EPA and DHA can reduce optimal function of the body.

Hank Cheatham, vice president, marketing and sales, with California-based Daiwa Health Development, pointed to the results of the Industrial Revolution that shifted the typical diet to become more abundant in refined grains, fats and oils themselves rich in omega-6 EFAs, while deficient in omega-3 EFAs. “The current fatty acid imbalance of Western diets hinders the conversion of ALA to omega-3 long-chain EFAs, an already inefficient pathway utilizing non-evolved enzymatic machinery.”

Recently, he noted, several professional health organizations have outlined recommendations for omega-3 EFAs, with the latest dietary guidelines targeting a minimum intake of 250 mg per day of EPA and DHA for adults. Despite these recommendations, Westerners are still not consuming enough, and Cheatham added that there are challenges regarding availability, safety and sustainability of fish resources. “Taken together, a new era of omega-3 EFA-enriched functional foods and dietary supplements is emerging to enhance consumption,” he asserted. “As a result the EFA product category has experienced a steady high single digit growth especially over the past five years and is expected to continue to increase gradually each year going forward.”

A Multifunctional Category

Brain, vision and heart support, as well as healthy pregnancy, are top-of-mind in individuals considering EFA supplementation, but this is a category that can do more than that. In fact, according to California-based Nordic Naturals, more than 30,000 studies provide evidence that EPA and DHA play “important roles throughout the body as influential structural components of cell membranes.”

Not only do EFAs help pregnant women carry to full term, said Root, but they are also associated with reduced allergic response in the children of women who take them during pregnancy. EFAs, she added, are among a category of nutrients including vitamin D, curcumin and vitamin K that balance the inflammatory response and help to reduce chronic inflammation.

EFAs extracted from krill oil have been shown to help provide protection for the skin against ultraviolet rays from the sun, as well as also providing health benefits for those with from ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), according to Cheatham.

It is widely known that ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in sunlight has negative effects on skin. The clinical impact of sun exposure includes a yearly increase of skin cancer incidence and, noted Cheatham, topical sunscreens alone are an inadequate means of combatting overexposure to UVR. As a complement to topical sunscreens, novel methods of sun protection are being investigated, with growing interest in the potential of systemic sun protection through naturally sourced nutrients, such as EFAs.

Omega-3 fatty acids show potential to protect the skin from UVR injury through a range of mechanisms. Exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation induces inflammation and skin cancer in humans. DNA has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory and chemo-preventive properties in the skin.

Therefore, people who are going to face high exposure to sunlight (such as vacationers or outdoor workers) can further protect their skin by supplementing with krill oil omega-3 EFAs for an inside-outside approach. “Omega-3 fatty acids are important skin nutrients for several reasons,” he commented. “On one hand, the fatty acids are needed to build the fatty barrier against the environmental influences and to reduce the loss of water through the skin. A shortage in certain fatty acids decreases the fatty barrier which leads to dry skin.”

Another reason to promote omega-3 EFAs for sun protection comes from a sustainability organization, Friend of the Sea, a non-profit, non-governmental organization whose mission is to conserve marine habitats worldwide. Friend of the Sea is a leading international certification project that is known for its strict guidelines and procedures, noted Root.

According to the watchdog organization, the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Admisitration) and E.U. regulations note that sunscreens labeled and promoted as water resistant can lose up to 50 percent of their SPF after only 40 minutes of submersion in water. Further, recent studies have demonstrated that a chemical in sunscreens – benzophenone-3 (BP-3, oxybenzone), which protects against UVR, also contributes to bleaching of coral and damaging the reefs as it also disrupts coral reproduction and growth. These studies, according to Friend of the Sea, the equivalent of one drop in six and a half Olympic swimming pools can damage coral. (Friend of the Sea also certifies nutraceutical EFA manufacturers, a recent one being Daily Nutra’s Neptune Krill Oil.

And because aging causes the gradual loss of the ability to maintain this healthy fat barrier causing drier skin, omega-3 fatty acids are also needed to produce cell hormones that play an integral part in skin health and in maintaining the structural integrity of the skin, according to Cheatham. These hormones have an impact on inflammatory events that developed in response to environmental factors, such as exposure to ultraviolet radiation and inflammatory and allergic disorders, including psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.

According to Daily Nutra, krill EFAs can help promote healthy blood sugar balance, as one study showed that consuming 1 to 1.5 grams of krill oil caused a 6.3 percent decrease in blood sugar levels. Further, a 2013 study of men who had the highest levels of EPA and DHA had a 33 percent lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

EFAs for Women and Children

Another solid use for EPA and DHA, according to the company, is to lessen symptoms of menstruation—omega-3 EFAs stimulate production of prostaglandins, which lessen inflammation, as well as encourage production of muscle-relaxing hormones that reduce uterine contractions that cause cramping. One study of women with intense PMS symptoms found that supplementing with krill oil EFAs before and after menstruation dramatically reduced their need to take pain medications for the cramps; krill oil also was found to help manage other symptoms such as breast tenderness and irritability.

DHA may offer ADHD management potential, according to Cheatham. “A new study from Spain suggested that six months of supplementation with a high dose DHA emulsion may help children and adolescents with ADHD,” he said.

The evidence for the health-promoting benefits for DHA and EPA is so strong, the FDA this past June just updated its Qualified Health Claims, according to Gearheart. “The FDA’s regulatory update will allow omega-3 marketers to link seafood, fortified food & beverage, and dietary supplement products containing at least 800 mg of both EPA and DHA to a reduction in blood pressure using very specific language,” he explained.

They are:

• Consuming EPA and DHA combined may help lower blood pressure in the general population and reduce the risk of hypertension. However, FDA has concluded that the evidence is inconsistent and inconclusive. One serving of [name of the food or dietary supplement] provides [ ] gram(s) of EPA and DHA.

• Consuming EPA and DHA combined may reduce blood pressure and reduce the risk of hypertension, a risk factor for CHD (coronary heart disease). However, FDA has concluded that the evidence is inconsistent and inconclusive. One serving of [name of the food or dietary supplement] provides [ ] gram(s) of EPA and DHA.

• Consuming EPA and DHA combined may reduce the risk of CHD (coronary heart disease) by lowering blood pressure. However, FDA has concluded that the evidence is inconsistent and inconclusive. One serving of [name of the food or dietary supplement] provides [ ] gram(s) of EPA and DHA.

• Consuming EPA and DHA combined may reduce the risk of CHD (coronary heart disease) by reducing the risk of hypertension. However, FDA has concluded that the evidence is inconsistent and inconclusive. One serving of [name of the food or dietary supplement] provides [ ] gram(s) of EPA and DHA.

• Research shows that consuming EPA and DHA combined may be beneficial for moderating blood pressure, a risk factor for CHD (coronary heart disease). However, FDA has concluded that the evidence is inconsistent and inconclusive. One serving of [name of the food or dietary supplement] provides [ ] gram(s) of EPA and DHA.”

The FDA also updated its upper limit of allowable EPA and DHA in dietary supplements from 3 grams/day to 5 grams/day.

Beyond the Sea

As the science continues to grow demonstrating nutritive and health-promoting benefits of essential fatty acids, it is important to realize that this category is much more than simply marine-based DHA and EPA. In fact, according to the aforementioned FMI report, in 2016, EFAs extracted from marine source accounted for nearly 64.4 percent value share of the market. That means approximately 35 percent were sourced from terra firma.

Root provided a Carlson EFA product as an example of blending EFA sources: Its combination of Greek extra virgin olive oil and Norwegian fish oil, Olive your Heart. “There is a great deal of interest in the Mediterranean diet for longevity. Olive your Heart allows the consumer to get the essential fats featured in that diet, omega-3 from fish and omega-9 from olive oil, together,” she noted.

Oleic acid found in olive oil is one of the most important healthful components of the Mediterranean diet. Oleic acid via the inclusion of olive oil as the primary fat is believed to be a potent factor in the increased longevity seen among those who primarily consume the Mediterranean diet. “Also boosting omega-9 (in the olive oil) and omega-3 from fish and fish oil actually benefits the individual by improving the omega-6/omega-3 balance,” she explained. “This is due to the reduced use of omega-6 cooking oils when olive oil is favored as the primary cooking oil.”

Omega-6 EFAs may have a bad rap, but they are not detrimental to health; and like omega-3s, we need to obtain them from diet. When in proper ratio with omega-3 EFAs (1:1 to 4:1; the typical Western diet creates a ratio between 10:1 and 50:1), are used for energy. The most common omega-6 is linoleic acid, which can be converted into longer-chain omega-6 fats such as arachidonic acid (ARA), found commonly in red meats. ARA, explained Cheatham, is similar to EPA in that it is used to produce eicosanoids. However, the eicosanoids produced by ARA are more pro-inflammatory. Pro-inflammatory eicosanoids are important chemicals in the immune system. However, when too many of them are produced, they can increase inflammation and inflammatory disease.

Several omega-6 fatty acids have benefits in treating symptoms of chronic health conditions, especially when the omega-6 is in the proper ratio with omega-3. For example, the omega-6 gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) is found in certain oils, such as evening primrose oil and borage oil. Cheatham reported that one study showed that taking a high dose of GLA supplements significantly reduced several symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

Another example is conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). One large study found that taking 3.2 grams of CLA supplements per day effectively reduced body fat mass in humans.

Omega-9 fatty acids are produced by the body so they are not considered essential. Oleic acid is the most common omega-9 fatty acid and the most common monounsaturated fatty acid in the diet.

Sustainability

Sustainability isn’t just “nice to have,” but a requirement among millions of eco-conscious consumers and international fishing regulations.

When it comes to krill as a source for EFAs, said Cheatham, unlike fish sourced for EFAs, there is a quota of 9 percent of krill that can be harvested annually. In fact, he emphasized, less than 1 percent of the krill population is currently being harvested. The harvesting is regulated by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). CCAMLR and other governing agencies have a mission to ensure sustainability and to protect krill from becoming endangered. “Concerns over EFAs from krill being unsustainable are unwarranted,” he stated.

Carlson uses IFOS, AOCS (American Oil Chemists’ Society) and IGEN testing, and the company only sources from Friend of the Sea-certified entities, according to Root. The International Fish Oil Standards (IFOS) program is the only third-party testing and certification program exclusively for fish oil supplements. This voluntary program tests the purity, potency, and freshness of fish oils. “Carlson consistently receives IFOS’ highest five-star rating on our fish oils,” she said.

Pharmaca has very strict quality and transparency standards, so we stock only a limited assortment of premium EFA brands. “We choose brands that have invested heavily in sourcing the highest purity, Non-GMO (genetically modified organism), certified organic plant-based EFAs and Marine Stewardship Council and IFOS certified marine-based EFAs,” Summerfield said. “Even with those guidelines in place, EFAs are one of Pharmaca’s top five selling dietary supplement categories.” VR