The omega-3 EFA category continues to bloom. Here’s what you need to know.
In a world teeming with acronyms, EFAs (essential fatty acids), DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) are slowly but surely becoming known as good things for health by millions of Americans.
According to the Utah-based Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s (GOED), increased growth is driven by vigorous new product development, and the global EPA and DHA product market is projected to experience an annual growth rate of 6.1 percent for 2020–2021. Data from Grand View Research shows that the global omega-3 market size was valued at approximately $2.5 billion in 2019 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.7 percent through 2027.
Market research firm FMCG Gurus data showed 82 percent of global consumers are aware of omega-3s, but global consumption of EPA and DHA is significantly lower than that. And although 75 percent of global consumers say they associate omega-3 with good health, there are still attitude and behavior gaps that need to be addressed—chiefly, time scarcity, indulgence and price/cost. Only 43 percent of global consumers actively seek products containing EPA/DHA.
Research into health benefits is the engine driving the market.
Recent Studies Support EPA/DHA Supplementation
One recently published study1 found that more than two-thirds of adults and 95 percent of children in the U.S. do not currently consume enough omega-3s in their daily diet to meet their nutritional needs based on the U.S. Dietary Guidelines. Despite the large body of research indicating the benefits of omega 3s, especially EPA and DHA, regular dietary intake of omega-3s remains low in the U.S. population across all life stages. Low serum concentrations of EPA, DHA and the sum of all omega-3 fatty acids were seen across all life stages.
This cross-sectional study conducted by California-based Pharmavite (manufacturer of Nature Made), analyzed U.S. population data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2012 to determine blood biomarker reference ranges of circulating long chain (LC) omega-3 fatty acids (the 2011-2012 NHANES Survey was the most recent survey with the available data).
“Low serum levels confirm that omega-3 fatty acid intakes fall short for most Americans, particularly young children, and it reveals that more work is needed in educating the public about the important role EPA, DPA and DHA play in supporting human health,” explained Susan Mitmesser, PhD, vice president of science & technology for Pharmavite. “Healthy habits formed early in development inform and pave a healthy path later in life, so it’s critical that in addition to sleep and physical activity, young children have access to foods rich in essential nutrients, including omega-3s.”
Mitmesser pointed out that supportive but not conclusive research suggests that regularly consuming EPA and DHA may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease; however, there is a growing body of research that suggests omega-3s may play an even greater role than previously thought in supporting other areas of human health and wellbeing, particularly in supporting a healthy mood.
NHANES 2011-2012 data also served as the foundation for another study conducted by Pharmavite2 this was the first study to evaluate the relationship between depression and the levels of EPA and DHA in the circulatory system. Analysis of the data revealed that adults with higher omega-3 fatty acid levels correlated with lower risk of depression, and for adults with higher EPA there was correlation with lower risk of impact of depression on daily life.
According to February 2021 research,3 EPA and DHA consumption is associated with improved heart health. In the study, the team found that there was a 35 percent reduced risk of fatal myocardial infarction (FMI), a 13 percent reduced risk of heart attack, and 9 percent reduced risk of death from coronary heart disease (CHD). Importantly, they underscored, this risk reduction was dose-dependent for myocardial infarction, as each additional 1 g per day was linked to significant risk reduction of 9 percent. The benefits of a 35 percent reduction in FMI and 9 percent reduction in CHD mortality tended to occur at lower doses (800 to 1,200 mg per day).
“When separate analyses arrive at similar results, that’s not only validating; it also underscores the science base needed to inform future intake recommendations,” said co-author Aldo Bernasconi, PhD, vice president of data science for GOED, which commissioned this study. “Because this paper included more studies and all dosages, the estimates for a dose-response are more precise and the conclusions stronger.”
This research corroborates the results of a meta-analysis of the 13 largest clinical studies evaluating EPA and DHA consumption,4 which concluded that “Marine omega-3 supplementation lowers risk for myocardial infarction, CHD death, total CHD, CVD death and total CVD.”
An analytical review5 of human clinical studies measuring impact of omega-3 consumption and cardiovascular health parameters was a bit more conservative. The authors wrote, “Several decades and countless dollars have been spent studying the relationship between omega-3 EFAs and CVD without reaching a consensus among clinicians. There is, however, clear evidence from multiple studies that higher doses of omega-3 (2–4 g/day of EPA + DHA) appear to be safe and to reduce CVD events in multiple CVD populations.”
Omega-3 fatty acids also figure positively in promoting healthy heart rate recovery, and researchers in one study6 observed a significant association between omega-3 consumption and heart rate recovery in 13,912 healthy adults. This association was independent of fitness level and was steeper in women. These findings suggest a potential cardioprotective mechanism for EPA and DHA.
A study7 from the Fatty Acids & Outcomes Research (FORCE) Consortium examined the relationship between the omega-3 Index and risk for death from any and all causes. According to the study authors, their data showed that those individuals with higher EPA and DHA blood levels (i.e., Omega-3 Index) lived longer than those with lower levels.
Numerous studies have investigated the link between omega-3 intake and specific conditions but not many have looked at results or impact on lifespan. The new FORCE study focused on omega-3 levels and the risk for death during the follow-up period, and it is the largest study yet to do so.
The study is a prospective analysis of pooled data from 17 global cohorts totaling 42,466 individuals followed for an average of 16 years, during which time 15,720 people died. When FORCE researchers examined the risk for death from any cause, those who had the highest EPA+DHA levels (i.e., at the 90th percentile) had a statistically significant 13 percent lower risk for death than people with EPA+DHA levels in the 10th percentile. The researchers said their findings suggest that omega-3 EFAs may beneficially affect overall health and thus slow the aging process.
“We believe that these are the strongest data published to date supporting the view that over the long-term, having higher blood omega-3 levels can help maintain better overall health,” said lead author William Harris, PhD, founder of the Fatty Acid Research Institute (FARI), and co-developer of the Omega-3 Index, an objective measure of the body’s omega-3 status.
In other areas of health, EPA and DHA have been shown to work differently against chronic inflammation, according to the results of a double-blind randomized study,8 suggesting each has its own important role in regulating the immune system.
The 34-week trial compared the effects of the two omega-3s in 21 older adults with obesity and chronic low-grade inflammation. The results showed that DHA had a stronger anti-inflammatory effect than EPA:
• DHA lowered the genetic expression of four types of pro-inflammatory proteins, whereas EPA lowered only one type.
• DHA lowered white blood cell secretion of three types of pro-inflammatory proteins, whereas EPA lowered only one type.
• DHA also reduced levels of an anti-inflammatory protein, whereas EPA did not.
EPA, meanwhile, improved the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory proteins: After being metabolized, EPA produced by-products that were associated with immune function regulation and worked differently from those derived from DHA.
DHA can help support de novo synthesis of testosterone in overweight men. A recently published secondary analysis9 of a randomized controlled trial that determined the effect of a DHA-enriched fish oil supplement on insulin resistance found that testosterone levels in overweight and obese men were improved after consuming a DHA-enriched fish oil supplement.
Neuroinflammation, a characteristic of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, may be attenuated through omega-3 EFA supplementation. One review10 concluded that krill oil consumption (containing EPA and DHA) exerts benefit on brain inflammation and cognitive function in subjects who regularly consumed a high-fat diet.
Neuroinflammation is a result of sports-related concussions (SRC), an occurrence that has gained tremendous attention during the past decade. One review11 discussed emerging evidence of the role that omega-3 EFAs can have in promoting recovery following an SRC.
Overall, according to information provided by Gina Jaeger, PhD, lead writer and manager of consumer education for California-based Nordic Naturals, adults need a minimum of 500 mg EPA/DHA daily for optimal health. The American Heart Association recommends that adults consume 1,000 to 4,000 mg; but for those who have high triglycerides, AHA recommends between 200 to 4,000 mg daily. The FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) says that 3,000 mg per day of omega-3 EFAs is generally recognized as safe.
Customers may be astonished to know that there are more than 30,000 studies overall (in-vitro, animal and human clinicals, as well as multiple meta-analyses) on both EPA and DHA, and an overwhelming number have shown positive health benefits. They should be reminded that their bodies do not produce EPA and DHA, so supplementation is absolutely required; that is, unless they eat large amounts of oily fish every day.
Sustainability
Customers want to ensure that what they consume can be replaced for others, so sustainability is no longer a luxury but a requirement. It is no longer a progressive idea but a common practice.
Kristin Chapman, category manager for Florida-based Life Extension, observed, “Both sustainability and quality are important to consumers and help to build both trust and loyalty to a brand. Look for oils that are backed by third-party certification and testing to ensure claims are truthful. Plant oils are often grown and harvested in a controlled sustainable environment. For fish oil it’s a supplier who has traceability of their raw material and a commitment to management of resources. Third-party certifications to look for include Dolphin Safe, Friend of the Sea (FOS) and Marine Trust.”
Illinois-based Carlson Laboratories recently achieved sustainability certification through FOS. FOS is a non-governmental organization established in 2008, whose aim is to safeguard the marine environment and its resources, incentivizing a sustainable market and implementing specific protection and conservation projects. The certification scheme of FOS assesses fisheries and fish farms against sustainability criteria and indicators. To ensure compliance with the sustainability requirements, certification is granted by an independent body following a third-party audit.
According to Jolie Root, senior nutritionist and educator, Carlson omega-3 fish oils are processed in state-of-the-art facilities following strict quality controls and standards. They are purified without chemicals, and a touch of antioxidants such as vitamin E are added to maintain long-lasting freshness. “They are so fresh, all Carlson flavored liquid fish oils have received Superior Taste Awards from the chefs and sommeliers of the International Taste & Quality Institute (iTQi),” she related.
Carlson fish oils are also third-party tested for freshness, potency and purity by the International Fish Oil Standards (IFOS) program. IFOS is the only third-party testing facility exclusively dedicated to testing fish oils. Carlson oils receive the highest rating offered, five stars. Carlson omega-3s are also certified non-GMO (genetically modified organism) by the International GMO Evaluation and Notification (IGEN) program.
All of Nordic Naturals’ fish oils are Friend of the Sea (FOS) Certified “to guarantee that the fish we use come from healthy fisheries. They’re sourced in line with strict standards for fishing method, by-catch reduction and social accountability,” Jaeger noted.
Utah-based NutriGold Inc.’s omega-3 fish oil products are 100 percent traceable from source to shelf, according to Chad Kelly, national educator. “Most brands use fish oil from Peru (e.g. anchovy, sardine), which then travel thousands of miles to China or Norway for processing. In contrast, NutriGold’s fish oil products are 100 percent sourced and made in the USA,” he distinguished.
NutriGold’s fish oil products are sourced from Alaska pollock, a fish that is native to the cold, clean ocean waters of the Bering Sea off the coast of Alaska. The fisheries where the company’s omega-3 oil is sourced from are certified sustainable by MSC (Marine Stewardship Council), a global nonprofit committed to preserving our oceans and the wild seafood they contain. “In fact, the U.S. Alaska Pollock fishery is often considered to be one of the most well-managed in the world and continues to earn the highest scores for sustainability from the MSC program,” Kelly commented.
According to Brianne Reiss, marketing manager for Ohio-based Wiley’s Finest, Alaska is a global leader in sustainable fishing practices. Alaskan fisheries lead the world in conservative, transparent fisheries management practices. Over the 40 years since the passing of the Magnusson Stevens act in 1976, both the U.S. and Alaska state governments have collected more publicly available scientific fisheries management data than any other fishery worldwide. “Consumers who choose Alaska pollock, Alaska salmon, Alaska cod can rest assured they are making sensible choices for sustainably caught fish.”
Norway is another global leader in supplying clean, sustainable sources of cold-water fish and krill for omega-3 EFA products. Carlson Healthy Oils are sourced from wild Arctic cod off the coast of Norway whose populations number in the millions from year to year, according to Root. Other Carlson omega-3s are sourced from wild caught small fish, like sardines or mackerel—species whose populations are also reliably sustainable. “And every part of any fish caught for Carlson fish oil is used either for either human or animal consumption, so no part of the fish is wasted,” she pointed out.
The realm of EFAs is expansive, and encompasses plant-based ALA and omega 6, 7 and 9. But the 3s—DHA and EPA—dominate and are likely the ones that consumers are initially interested in. You can use these “alphas of omegas” to start them on a healthy EFA path. VR
References:
1 Murphy et al, BMJ Open May 2021.
2 Murphy et al, Journal of Affective Disorders Reports April 2021.
3 Bernasconi et al, Mayo Clinic Proceedings 2021.
4 Hu, Journal of American Heart Association October 2019.
5 Elagazi, Nutrients January 2021.
6 Farrell, PLEFA Dec. 2020.
7 Harris, Nature Communications April 2021.
8 Wu, Atherosclerosis December 2020.
9 Abbott, Prostaglandins Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids (PLEFA) December 2020.
10 Andraka, Neuroscience Research August 2020.
11 Lust, Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism August 2020.
For More Information:
• Carlson Laboratories, www.carlsonlabs.com
• Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s (GOED), www.goedomega3.com
• Life Extension, www.lifeextension.com
• Nordic Naturals, www.nordicnaturals.com
• NutriGold Inc., www.nutrigold.com
• Pharmavite, www.pharmavite.com
• Wiley’s Finest, www.wileysfinest.com
