Industry spots technology solutions, delivery methods and up-and-coming omega-3 alternatives

Omega-3 fatty acids are well-researched and established dietary supplements worldwide, but the market trends in this space continue to evolve. We speak to experts from leading supplier dsm-firmenich, omega-3 encapsulation expert Gelita and Norwegian omega-3 producer GC Rieber VivoMega.

“There is a strong consensus in the scientific community that omega-3 eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are essential nutrients that provide a vast array of critical health benefits ranging from heart health, triglyceride reduction, brain and eye development for infants as well as cognitive protection in later stages in life,”Brent MacDonald, business development director for algal lipids at dsm-firmenich’s Health, Nutrition & Care, tells Nutrition Insight.

“There are also emerging areas of research demonstrating benefits for sleep, mood and muscle recovery, which provide potentially interesting market development opportunities.”

Martin Junginger, product manager for pharma at Gelita, adds that demand for omega-3 is “continuing to soar,” stating that this growth is “driven by health-conscious consumers’ increasing awareness of the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids.”

Meanwhile, Ståle Søfting, sales and marketing director at GC Rieber VivoMega, states: “Omega-3s continue to be one of the most popular dietary supplements for consumers. We believe omega-3s are a leading supplement due to the thousands of clinical studies that have been shown to support various areas of health, particularly cognitive, heart, joint, prenatal and maternal health.” 

Trends in plant-based omega-3s

MacDonald points to the increasing consumer and customer interest in plant-based sources of omega-3s as a key trend in this space.

“We are seeing tremendous growth globally in dsm-firmenich’s ‘life’s’ portfolio of products, which offers sustainable and potent algal omega-3 EPA and DHA products that can be an alternative to traditional fish oil-based products.”

Martin Junginger, product manager for pharma at Gelita (Image credit: Gelita).“The interest in this portfolio was in part driven by the supply shock that the fish oil market suffered last year with the closing of the Peruvian fishery and rapid increase in costs and prices.”

According to MacDonald, in some markets, consumers’ growing preference for plant-based diets is driving their consumption patterns.

“Given the recent supply shock that took place in the fish oil market, I think brands will continue to diversify their consumer portfolios to bring more algal products to the market.”

Gelita’s Junginger adds: “Amid growing concerns around the sustainability of fish oil sources due to overfishing, alternatives such as krill oil, algae oil and other plant-based omegas are becoming increasingly popular in the nutraceutical industry. We anticipate that this shift toward diverse omega-3 sources will likely continue.”

Growth in fish and vegan sources

GC Rieber VivoMega’s Søfting also observes that consumers’ changing diets and their increased focus on environmental sustainability are boosting interest in plant-based omega-3 alternatives. However, he notes that the company’s fish-derived omega-3 products are doing as well as its their plant-based alternatives.

“We see that both supply and demand are growing for fish and vegan alternatives. Our algae EPA and DHA omega-3 oils are part of our strategic mission to improve human health through sustainable and innovative omega-3 solutions. Both our vegan and marine-derived concentrates have industry-leading total oxidation value parameters, and we put an extreme focus on raw material utilization, leaving little to no waste,” he details.

Søfting highlights: “Our proprietary processes for both products ensure quality, consistency and stability for a better sensory profile. VivoMega Algae Oils also exceeds all recognized quality standards set by GOED (Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s) and IFOS (International Fish Oil Standards) 5 Star on oxidation and environmental parameters. In addition, VivoMega Algae Oils fully aligns with the EU Green Deal initiatives and the UN Global Compact guidelines.”

The latest tech advancements 

The experts from GC Rieber VivoMega and dsm-firmenich spotlight technology as essential in enabling ingredient and product innovation.

MacDonald comments: “Firstly, by being efficient and maintaining costs the consumer market can continue to afford to choose omega-3 supplementation. Secondly, technology plays a role in enabling more novel consumption formats. For example, we recently launched a high-dose powder that enables high dosages of our algal omega-3 EPA and DHA in gummies.”

“Historically, a challenge in the gummy market was that low dosages were necessary because of taste and sensory challenges, and this undermined the credibility of that market.”

Emerging research demonstrates omega-3s’ benefits for sleep, mood and muscle recovery.He also highlights that dsm-firmenich is currently focused on expanding its “life’s” portfolio and bringing new products to the market that offer the widest array of health benefits with various EPA and DHA potencies and concentrations. 

“As global demand for EPA and DHA continues to grow with the global population it is imperative that we have alternative sources of omega-3 (other than the traditional fish oil) so that consumers can make choices without compromise.”

Søfting also states that GC Rieber VivoMega is looking into improving quality through new technologies and innovations driven by R&D. “Recently, we introduced VivoSens, a world-first technology that objectively analyzes the components contributing to the taste and smell of omega-3 oils.”

He explains that this method separates the volatile components responsible for the sensory profile (if present) from the oil and then identifies and quantifies them using a standard curve with known concentrations. 

“This sophisticated process allows VivoMega to provide an objective sensory performance rating and a reproducible specification limit from batch to batch. VivoSens complements both oxidation analysis and sensory panel evaluation, and, together, allows VivoMega to guarantee the best quality and taste profile.”

Encapsulation trends

As an expert in gelatin and collagen peptides, Gelita highlights the latest encapsulation trends for omega-3 supplements. 

Junginger details: “Among various delivery formats, softgels are the most popular as they are easy to swallow and tasteless. The most common excipient used for softgels is gelatin, which is ideal for encapsulating omega-3 oils. Due to its stability and high oxygen barrier, it can serve as a protective buffer in these capsules, effectively limiting or preventing lipid oxidation of such highly oxidative fillers and their polyunsaturated fatty acids.”

Gelita's Delasol is made from a blend of the natural hydrocolloids gelatin and pectin, eliminating the need for coating (Image credit: Gelita).

Highlighting Gelita’s latest tech innovations in this space, he points to the company’s enteric solution, which was developed to protect omega-3 fatty acids from oxidation until they reach the gut while making the manufacturing process more efficient and resource-friendly. 

Junginger sees challenges in developing omega-3 encapsulation, including their high susceptibility to oxidation, which can affect the quality, taste and bioavailability of omega-3 products. 

“While softgels are commonly used to protect these oils from oxidation before consumption, a major issue arises during digestion. The acidic environment in the stomach can lead to premature degradation of the gelatin capsule, causing up to 80% loss of bioactivity, as demonstrated by studies,” he explains.

“This often requires manufacturers to overfill softgels, increasing costs and material use. Enteric capsules offer a solution by passing through the stomach intact, thus protecting the omega-3 oils until they reach the small intestine, where they dissolve. This not only improves fill absorption but also reduces the need for overdosing.”

Additionally, he details that traditional enteric capsule production requires two steps — making and coating the capsules. This second step is often outsourced to third-party providers, leading to longer processing times, increased emissions and higher production and transport costs. 

Lastly, Junginger highlights the company’s customized gelatin product: “Delasol is made from a blend of natural hydrocolloids — gelatin and pectin. This formulation offers a promising alternative by eliminating the need for coating, allowing for a one-step production process. As a result, manufacturers can reduce the omega-3 dosage per capsule and create smaller capsules with a brilliantly clear appearance and premium quality.”

“Ultimately, this leads to more streamlined production,” he concludes.