Microalgae Oil: A Vegetarian Omega-3 Source
Omega-3 is an essential fatty acid for humans due to the fact that the the physiology of humans makes us incapable of manufacturing them. This means that we must supplement omega-3 fats through supplements or diet. Omega-3 fats consist of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Both eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid are typically found in fatty fish, such as salmon. On the other hand, alpha-linolenic acid is most often found in non-animal sources, such as, flaxseed, walnuts, and soybeans. Because alpha-linolenic acid is derived from plant sources, such as flax, vegetarians often depend upon flax seed oil as a source of omega-3 fats even though it doesn’t contain within it any DHA or EPA. The human body is able to convert ALA into EPA then, subsequently, into DHA, but this conversion process is extremely inefficient. This is partly because the protein that converts alpha-linolenic acid into EPA is rate limiting, due to the fact that the same protein also binds to omega-6 fatty acids (thus, the problem is worse if your diet is relatively high in omega-6 fatty acids).
In fact, many research studies have shown that this process is so inefficient that only 5% of alpha-linolenic acid is converted into eicosapentaenoic acid and only 0.5% of ALA finally makes it into DHA. What this essentially means is that most vegans who assume that they are getting the daily required quantities of docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid from flax oil, are in fact deficient in both eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid omega-3. You may ask why isn’t ALA enough to satisfy the daily requirement? Actually, there most essential omega-3 fatty acids are eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid and most of the necessary functions are done by EPA and DHA.
Here’s where the really good news comes in (for vegetarians). There is another vegetarian or vegan source of omega-3 fats, called microalgae, which has a very high content of both eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid omega-3. What is algal oil and why is it a good vegetarian source of omega-3 fatty acids? Microalgae are microscopic algae that live in marine and freshwater. While fish oil is well known for containing an unusually high amount of EPA and DHA omega-3, fish do not actually produce omega-3 fats by themselves. Fish eat microalgae, which have a high content of omega-3, then store the EPA and DHA in their adipose tissues, and this is why fish oil is high in omega-3. Algae are also a much more sustainable source of EPA and DHA fats relative to fish oil. This is because they’ve got 5 times more biomass than even land plants and as much as 40% of that is in fats. Microalgal sources of omega-3 fats are the future supply of omega-3 fats.
Microalgae oil that’s rich in docosahexaenoic acid is now available at your local market, whereas, microalgae oil that is high in eicosapentaenoic acid is still limited. The very best vegan supplements that have EPA come from the microalgae, Spirulina. DHA-microalgae oil is obviously a far superior source of DHA, when compared to flaxseed oil. This is because flax seed derived ALA has to go through two inefficient conversion steps to become docosahexaenoic acid, whereas, algal derived DHA doesn’t need to go through any whatsoever. It has also been proven through documented research that algal supplements are able to raise bloodstream levels of EPA and DHA. This was scientifically proven by one study where vegans (or vegetarians) with very low levels of omega-3 fatty acids, supplemented with a single gram of microalgal supplements daily for 8 weeks, and significantly increased their levels of both eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid(Lipids 40 (8): 807-814). This is clear evidence that microalgae oil is an exceedingly better vegan source of omega-3.
It is very well documented that DHA omega-3 taken from fish oil is very good for the cardiovascular system. Likewise, DHA ingested from microalgae oil has the same heart benefits. For example, vegetarians that took 1 gram of microalgal docosahexaenoic acid daily for 8 weeks, were able to reduce their triglyceride levels by twenty-three percent (The British Journal of Nutrition 95 (4): 779-786). So there you have it, algal oil is a far better source of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid and has very similar health benefits as fish oil! These statements have not been evaluated by the F.D.A. This information is not medical advice, if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your physician.
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