The Omega-3 Debate Presented by Terry Lemerond
Quick Review of Omega-3 Fatty Acids Essential Human body can t make them Must be acquired through food Benefits Reduce risk of many chronic diseases Cancer, Alzheimer s disease, heart disease, etc Other uses Arthritis, ADD/ADHD, depression, etc
How Popular Are They? Annual sales in 2013 are expected to reach over $500 million dollars Experiencing significant annual growth even after the recession up to 12% United States is the leading global consumer of omega-3 Frost and Sullivan Fishing for Opportunities in the Omega-3 Market http://www.slideshare.net/frostandsullivan/frost-sullivan-analyst-briefingfishing-for-opportunities-in-the-omega3-market
The Consequence of Popularity More than 40% of world fish production is unsustainable!
Mercury and other heavy metals accumulate in the ocean As large fish eat small fish, the heavy metal burden increases Tuna, swordfish, shark and mackerel can have mercury concentrations in their bodies that are 10,000 times higher than those of their surrounding habitat. Purity Issues
Other Contaminants Dioxin By-product of waste incineration, pesticide and chemical manufaturing, and pulp and paper bleaching Carcinogen, hormone disruptor, etc PCBs Popular from the 1930s to 1970s Used in manufacturing (plastics and lubricating oils) Endocrine disruptors, carcinogens, developmental disorder in children These toxins don t break down easily and remain in the environment for a long time even if no longer in industrial use Accumulate in the fats of animals, including fish The higher up the food chain, the greater the potential for contamination
8 Brands Sued for PCB Contamination
Stability Most fish oils become unstable (rancid) when exposed to air Chemically modified oils spoil very quickly in as little as one day, even with added antioxidants such as vitamin E Oil Stability (days)* Vitamin E content (IE/g) Fish Oil 1 1 6.8 Fish Oil 2 3 20.0 Fish Oil 3 4 4.4 Fish Oil 4 4 5.0 Stability = time to rancidity (peroxide value 20) after exposure of the oil to air at room temperature. Adapted from Saldeen T. Fish oil and health. http://www.positivehealth.com/article/essential-fatty-acids/fishoil-and-health
Bioavailability Omega 3s from fish OIL are bound to triglycerides These are inefficient carriers The best absorption of omega 3 fatty acids is obtained by those with a natural bond to phospholipids
What Are The Omega-3 Options? Marine lipids Best known fish Krill Squid Plant-based Flax and Chia Algae
Traditional Omega-3 Delivery Systems
How About Omega-3 from Plants? Flaxseed does not contain preformed EPA/DHA Source of ALA (alpha linolenic acid) which can be converted in the body to EPA and DHA Approximately 1-5% conversion rate 1,2 Process is not efficient and does not yield high amount of EPA/DHA Chia seeds Like flax, a source of ALA which can be converted to EPA/DHA Also contains fiber, protein and other minerals such as calcium Why is ALA so poorly converted? Both ALA and the omega-6 fatty acid, linolenic acid (LA), require the same enzyme for conversion This enzyme (delta-6-desaturase) converts LA first Diets high in omega-6 mean less enzyme activity for ALA conversion 1. J Lipid Res. 2005 Feb;46(2):269-80. ; 2. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010 Aug;92(2):284-93.
Omega-3 from Algae Primarily a source of DHA enriched (spiked) to raise the DHA levels Algal oil can also be a source of EPA It depends on the species of algae used. Very difficult to obtain an algal oil rich in both EPA and DHA. Algal oil can be compare to a typical fish oil for its composition in triglycerides and its process of extraction.
Fish Oil Processing
Issues with Traditional Fish Oils Processed unstable Produced with use of undesirable solvents Triglyceride based Altered molecular form, low absorption No longer in the natural EPA/DHA ratios Manufacturers can order any ratio they wish and vendors can supply it
Why Not Squid? Sustainable? Argentina banned squid fishing in May of this year because of low populations; other areas have few concerns yet Do contain omega fatty acids, but at low amounts Up to 80% less than salmon (0.3 0.6 g/100 g versus 1.4 g/100 g in Atlantic salmon) 1 Otherwise the same issues as fish oil.. Refined, triglyceride carrier (no phospholipids) Potential for toxin contamination as squid consume contaminated mollusks 1. Omega-3 fatty acids content in fish and seafood per 100-gram portion. http://thepaleodiet.com/nutritionaltools/omega-3-fats-fish/
Why Not Krill? Krill = shrimp-like sea animals Are better absorbed than traditional fish oil Bound to phospholipids (more on phospholipids in just a minute ) BUT... Often processed with hexane to remove high levels of cholesterol Toxic chemical made from crude oil Released into the atmosphere after use (produces ozone) Dangerous for workers who must use it (highly toxic, flammable, and carcinogenic) Residue can be left on ingredients after extraction Toxic to the nervous system
Other Concerns with Krill Sustainable source? Krill fishing now banned off coast of California, Oregon and Washington Whole Foods banned krill products in What about whales and other marine life? Blue whales feed exclusively on krill Penguins, fish, squid and other animals and birds also use krill as an important food source
Krill Fight Global Warming Krill feed on phytoplankton at the surface of the ocean Sink to the depths to digest food and deposit carbon-rich waste on the ocean floor Transport an amount of carbon equivalent to the annual emissions of 35 million cars
Phospholipid Omega-3 from Salmon Project of the Government of France Investigated by Drs. Parmentier, Liner and Fanni world experts on lipid research Conducted at the University of Nancy Goal extract omega-3 fatty acid-rich tissue bound to phospholipids from salmon heads without solvents or changing the molecular profile Method Processed within one hour of harvest Cold water and enzyme extraction - No chemicals or solvents
Sustainable Production
Vectorization
Caco-2 Testing Predicts human permeability of drug or supplement ingredients using human intestinal cells in a laboratory test model In other words will the ingredient pass the intestinal wall and enter the bloodstream? Caco-2 permeability assay is considered to be the industry gold standard for in vitro prediction of in vivo human intestinal permeability and bioavailability of orally administered drugs. Test compound goes in top layer; sample extracted from bottom layer to verify compound passed the cellular barrier
Phospholipid Form = Better Absorption Caco-2 testing 5 times greater intestinal absorption vs triglyceride fish oil Intracellular levels 50 times greater intracellular increase vs.triglyceride fish oil
A Perfect Match Exposure to heat, pressure and solvents alters the position of the fatty acids on the TAG carbon chain, redistributing them from the preferred sn-2 position to the less desirable sn-1, sn-3 positions. When EPA or DHA is located in the sn-2 position on the carrier chain, better effects have been reported than when found in the sn-1,3 positions. Omega-3 that is not subjected to harsh processing methods remain in their original positions on the carbon chain (sn-2), which is in turn bioidentical to the positioning of Omega-3 fatty acids in the human brain. This allows for a perfect match with how the body utilizes DHA and EPA.
The Power of Phospholipids Traditional fish oils Carried on triglycerides Altered molecular form (sn- 1, sn-3 position) Not efficiently absorbed High intake levels required for benefits (spoonfuls of oil or multiple capsules) Vectorization Carried on phospholipids Natural, preferred molecular form (sn-2) Efficiently absorbed Brain tissue preferentially absorbs DHA as sn-2 vs. other forms Higher increase of DHA/EPA serum levels vs triglyceride carriers 1 or two tablets daily
Clinical Research Two tablets daily of phospholipid omega-3 40 participants Results 16% decrease in triglycerides 10% decrease in total cholesterol 13% increase in HDL levels. In fish oil studies, 4 grams or more of fish oil daily was needed to achieve similar results.
Who can really benefit from Phospholipid omega-3? You have diabetes Need to avoid the triglycerides from fish oil You have had your gall bladder removed You might have problems digesting fatty oils You have had weight loss surgery or have had to have part of your intestines removed Might have problems digesting fatty oils You have damaged intestinal lining because of gluten sensitivities or other intestinal problems Might have a problem digesting fatty oils
Recap Omega-3 are ideal of treating Chronic inflammatory conditions Brain and Neurological function Immune support Fish oils are on triglyceride carriers Poorly absorbed; stability issues Plant omega-3s must be converted to EPA/DHA Phospholipid omega-3 from salmon is Well absorbed Effective Identical to what is found in the human body
Final Thoughts When selecting an omega-3 supplement, there is no choice free of environmental consequences We are all stewards of our planet and its resources It is up to each of us to make wise decisions to ensure a healthy future for ourselves and our planet