High concentrate omega 3 product shown to help manage non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, BASF study finds

30 Oct 2018 --- The use of BASF’s Hepaxa can correct nutritional deficiencies of omega 3 fatty acid in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), thereby offering a viable option for managing the condition, a BASF study has found. Several studies have previously shown that NAFLD patients have lower levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), both of which are in omega 3. The findings from the study support the use of BASF's Hepaxa for managing NAFLD.

BASF launched Hepaxa in February this year in the US as the first-to-market, dedicated product for the dietary management of patients with NAFLD. Hepaxa increases the levels of EPA and DHA in patients with NAFLD, which improves the liver’s ability to process fat in the liver. According to the company, these data support the use of Hepaxa for patients with NAFLD, and together with diet and exercise, Hepaxa offers a viable and dedicated option for managing NAFLD.

Published in Nutrients, the study, involving 176 patients, demonstrated that intervention with high concentrate omega 3 for 24 weeks significantly raises the omega 3 index in adults with NAFLD compared to placebo, thereby correcting the patients’ nutritional deficiency.

Patients showed reductions of up to 44 percent in liver fat after placebo correction, providing evidence that clinical management of NAFLD with high concentrate omega 3 has a beneficial outcome on liver fat. This intervention study supports a recently published meta-analysis that concluded that omega 3 fatty acids are associated with significant improvements in liver fat and liver function tests with approximately 3g of EPA and DHA daily.

“Science has always been the backbone of all our development work and efforts in the area of liver health, and this study is further evidence that Hepaxa can significantly reduce liver fat content, which is crucial in managing NAFLD,” says Derek Tobin, Team Leader for Innovation, Advanced Health Solutions, BASF.

“We are excited about the growing and solid scientific basis for our product and its beneficial effects in the dietary management of NAFLD. Hepaxa can truly help millions of patients today with what has become a growing chronic disease,” adds Christoph Garbotz, Head of Commercial Management Advanced Health Solutions, BASF.

Hepaxa's patented technology
Hepaxa is manufactured using a patented purification technology, which removes persistent organic pollutants and other unwanted lipids, such as cholesterol, that are naturally found in many fish oil-based products.

Research has shown that one specific pollutant, PCB 153, is particularly harmful in NAFLD. As the liver function of NAFLD patients is compromised, it is important to limit exposure to unwanted components that are present in many less-refined fish oils. Hepaxa is GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) for use as a medical food for the dietary management of NAFLD at intakes of up to 3 g/day of EPA & DHA for both adults and pediatrics 10 years of age and older.

“BASF is currently developing a portfolio for medical foods with a focus on science-based solutions for patients with specific conditions, such as NAFLD. We are very excited about the prospects we are working on and the much-needed value they can bring to millions of patients around the world,” Christoph Garbotz, Head of Commercial Management Advanced Health Solutions at BASF tells NutritionInsight.

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