Research links Ahiflower omegas to better gut and liver health than medical nutrition fish oil blend

A blend of refined Ahiflower oil (Buglossoides arvensis seed oil) and plant oils offers advantages over conventional fish oil as a source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in parenteral nutrition — intravenously administered nutrients. 

Although these fatty acids are essential to parenteral nutrition, commonly used lipid emulsions have been linked to increased hyperglycemia, gut-liver inflammation and bloodstream infections. 

Aiming to improve nutritional support in patients receiving parenteral nutrition, researchers developed a new plant-based lipid emulsion, Vegaven. The blend used Ahiflower oil as the main omega-3 and -6 source, as well as coconut and olive oil. 

The team tested Vegaven in neonatal piglets, which have similar intestines, livers and overall metabolism to infant humans. 

Vegaven performed “significantly better” than the composite nutrition lipid blend SMOFlipid, a mixture of soybean, olive and fish oils and medium-chain triglycerides from coconuts. The product was well tolerated, lowered liver, pancreas and brain inflammation, enhanced insulin signaling and improved whole-body glucose control. 

The study’s lead researcher, Michael Zaugg, a professor at the University of Alberta, Canada, says: “Ahiflower oil elicits in the body a different response compared to fish oil, one with superior anti-inflammatory, immunity-enhancing and metabolic properties.” 

“Mechanistically, this superior response is due to the different profile of lipid mediators generated from fatty acids released from Ahiflower oil as opposed to fish oil. This opens up major opportunities in evidence-based nutrition.” 

Anti-inflammatory activity

The study, published in The Journal of Nutrition, finds that the plant oil blend administration was safe based on overall end organ growth, blood cell counts and chemistry. 

The research states: “The collection of these data on safety will help facilitate a path to Vegaven’s successful clinical application.” 

The new plant-based option was better at protecting the liver than SMOFlipid. It provided more abundant anti-inflammatory omega-3 derivatives in the liver and better glucose control by enhancing insulin signaling in the liver. 

Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids are essential to parenteral nutrition — intravenously administered nutrients.In addition, Vegaven mitigated the consequences of a leaky gut and toxins that lead to liver, pancreas and brain inflammation. Some emulsions used for parenteral nutrition have been linked to leaky gut toxins escaping outside the intestine, leading to brain inflammation and increasing insulin resistance. 

Moreover, piglets consuming Vegaven maintained as much omega-3 DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and omega-6 ARA (arachidonic acid) levels in the brain as SMOFlipid, even though the product did not contain these fatty acids. Both DHA and ARA are critical for neonatal brain development. 

The more extensive animal study is consistent with the researchers’ findings in a mouse model comparing the benefits of Vegaven with soybean oil (rich in omega-6) and fish oil (rich in omega-3). 

The researchers speculate: “We infer from our current data that the comparison with other mixed-oil lipid emulsions supplemented with fish oil available on the market and differing only slightly from SMOFlipid’s composition would result in similar findings.”

Parenteral nutrition options for omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids on the market include single oils, such as soybean, or oil blends of soybean, olive and fish oils. 

Potential of plant-based omegas

Natures Crops International, a producer of Ahiflower oil, highlights that Ahiflower oil is a commonly used, safe food ingredient that holds US FDA generally recognized as safe status and has been authorized as a novel food in the EU. 

Earlier research indicated that the company’s Ahiflower oil was as efficient as purified marine-based DHA in developing omega fatty acids in areas such as the liver, adipose and brain tissues. 

Although the oil does not contain DHA, the study detailed that it can form DHA in tissues where mammals make, store or deploy DHA from plant-based omegas due to its omega-3 stearidonic acid (SDA) composition. Referred to as “the most effective plant-based omega,” SDA allows for superior conversion to DHA and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) omega-3 fatty acids. 

A literature review also suggests that Ahiflower oil is a reliable alternative source of bioactive omega-3 fatty acids, which have seen supply shortages in recent years. 

In interviews with Nutrition Insight, industry experts cautioned that fish oil supplies — primary sources for EPA and DHA — cannot keep up with the growing demand for omega-3s as fisheries safeguard sustainable production. The Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3s and krill oil specialist Aker BioMarine highlighted opportunities for alternatives, such as algal and canola oils.