Forbes Magazine Names Omega-3 Fish Oil ‘One Supplement That Works’

According to the Forbes article, “Not all omega-3s are created equal. Flax oil, for instance, is rich in omega-3s but not the EPA and DHA forms. It contains alpha-lineolic acid, which is converted to EPA and DHA in small amounts. The cardiac benefit may not be as big as the Eskimo effect.”

1 Oct 2009 --- Forbes Magazine (Sept. 7) in a cover story on omega-3 fish oil, “One Supplement That Works,”  highlights the “steady stream of research indicating that people should eat oily fish and maybe consume fish oil pills to protect their hearts.” Drs. Jørn Dyerberg and his colleague, Hans Olaf Bang, are credited with the ground-breaking discovery behind omega-3s based on their research with Greenland’s Inuit or Eskimo population.

The doctors’ discoveries began in the 1970s when they hypothesized that the rarity of coronary heart disease among the Inuit could be due to the omega-3 fatty acids found in their staple diet, based on cold-water oily fish. Dr. Dyerberg went on to demonstrate the unique physiological effects of these fatty acids, specifically EPA and DHA. His work opened a whole new field of medical research and, since then, thousands of studies have been published and many are currently in progress.
 
He believes that the fatty acids EPA and DHA provide significantly more health benefits than plant-based omega-3.  According to the Forbes article, “Not all omega-3s are created equal.  Flax oil, for instance, is rich in omega-3s but not the EPA and DHA forms.  It contains alpha-lineolic acid, which is converted to EPA and DHA in small amounts.  The cardiac benefit may not be as big as the Eskimo effect.”

Dr. Dyerberg is sharing his expertise on an exclusive basis with customers of Cognis Nutrition & Health and Marine Nutriceutical Corporation (MNC).  In North America, MNC is Cognis’ exclusive partner for fish oil supplements. In 2006, Cognis acquired Napro Pharma to add fish oil to their extensive portfolio of lipid-based nutrients.  Since then, the two companies have combined their know-how to produce safe, high quality omega-3 ingredients with superior taste for dietary supplements and functional foods. 

Sharrann Simmons, Cognis’ Senior Marketing Manager, noted the significance of the Forbes article given its conservative coverage of dietary supplements.  “As an industry educator, Cognis recognizes the element of controversy the business media sometimes associates with dietary supplements, so we must continue to work with them to help communicate the critical benefits of health-enhancing ingredients like omega-3s.”

 In the United States, only about 15 percent of adults meet their daily omega-3 requirement and Cognis is working with major food manufacturers on new product concepts to help close this nutritional gap. 

“Products made with Omevital (o-may-vee-tall) omega-3 fatty acids make a vital contribution toward meeting the daily needs of EPA and DHA,” said Ms. Simmons.  “Over the last few years we have refined our product line so Omevital ingredients, including kosher oils and powders, can be easily incorporated in a range of foods without affecting their sensory qualities.  The bottom line is that taste trumps health benefits when it comes to food and our technical advancements with Omevital mean that there’s no need to forfeit one for the other.”