Nutrinova DHA reduces CVD risk factors in vegetarians – study

The omega-3 index indicates the blood level of the omega-3 fatty acids EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA.

25/11/05 A recent clinical study1 on behalf of Nutrinova, the international supplier of food ingredients, demonstrated that a supplementation of its omega-3 fatty acid DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) oil, Nutrinova DHA, has a positive impact on blood lipids and, thus, significantly enhances the so-called omega-3 index. The omega-3 index indicates the blood level of the omega-3 fatty acids EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA. A low omega-3 index has recently been described as an indicator for increased risk of coronary heart disease.

The clinical study was designed to investigate the nutritional and health benefits of a DHA supplementation with vegetarians. The Nutrinova DHA that was used is a natural DHA source derived from microalgae and is suitable for the vegetarian diet. Vegetarians usually have a very low dietary intake of natural DHA. Although most of the participants reached recommended intakes for essential fatty acids, such as alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), none of them reached a recommended omega-3 index of at least 8%. After supplementation with Nutrinova DHA over a period of 8 weeks, the omega-3 index increased significantly: 69% of the group supplemented with DHA reached an omega-3 index above 8%. Contrarily, this level could not be reached by any participant of the placebo group.

This suggests that the in vivo conversion of ALA (as available from plant sources such as flax) to EPA and DHA is not adequate to reach a desirable EPA and DHA status. Thus, a dietary supplementation of EPA and DHA seems to be necessary to enhance the omega-3 index. Moreover, as the increase of DHA levels could have been expected during the supplementation, the results of the study showed that there was also a significant increase in the EPA level after DHA supplementation. This suggests that Nutrinova DHA is also suitable for enhancing both the DHA and EPA status.

The results of this study are in line with other recent findings, indicating that DHA may promote cardiovascular health. Nutrinova DHA is a plant-based omega-3 fatty acid oil derived from microalgae. It contains at least 43% (of total fatty acids) DHA, has a pleasant taste and no contaminants that may be found in common fish oils. Nutrinova DHA is suitable for products supporting a vegetarian or vegan diet and is included in numerous functional foods and supplements around the world.

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