SupplySide Global 2025 live: Aker BioMarine’s omega-3 Lysoveta crosses blood-brain barrier

Across several demographics, consumers are increasingly prioritizing cognitive health, and the nutrition industry is racing to deliver ingredients that meet this rising demand. According to Aker BioMarine, despite decades of research confirming the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, one challenge has persisted — most omega-3s never make it past the blood-brain barrier. 

However, the company is highlighting an ingredient that delivers eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in a form it says solves the blood-brain barrier riddle — Lysoveta.

Live on the showroom floor at SupplySide Global 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada, US (October 29–30), Nutrition Insight sits down with Simon Seward, the CEO of human health ingredients at Aker BioMarine, at booth #5073 to discuss the latest science behind the company’s Lysoveta ingredient.

“Not all omega-3s are created equal,” Seward says. “The way your body uses omega-3s depends on their form, and that determines where they go and what benefits they deliver.”

“To that end, most omega-3 supplements act as general support for overall health; however, when it comes to brain health, the story changes. Most omega-3s can’t efficiently cross the blood-brain barrier, limiting their cognitive benefits.” 

Seward believes Lysoveta represents a breakthrough in omega-3 science. “It’s the first ingredient brand featuring lyso-phosphatidylcholine (LPC)-bound EPA and DHA — a unique form that the brain can directly absorb.”

Crossing the blood-brain barrier

Seward explains that most fish oils contain omega-3s in triglyceride (TG) form (TG-DHA or TG-EPA) — a structure that’s not recognized by the brain’s transport system. Rather, they are transported to the heart, muscles, or stored in fat tissue. In contrast, he reveals that krill oil omega-3s’ phosphatidylcholine (PC) form is efficiently absorbed by body cells, benefiting the heart, liver, skin, and joints.

Yet, Seward notes that, when it comes to brain health, these conventional forms fall short.

“Lysoveta’s LPC omega-3s are specifically transported into the brain through the Mfsd2a nutrient transporter, effectively crossing the blood-brain barrier,” he underscores. “This allows EPA and DHA to reach where they matter most — your neurons.”

Once inside the brain, Seward says Lysoveta delivers a range of neuro-supportive effects, promoting direct brain delivery, neurogenesis, cognitive vitality, neurotransmitter support, and neuroprotection. 

This includes boosting brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) for neuron growth, providing choline for neurotransmitter synthesis, and boosting antioxidant defenses to preserve long-term brain function. Seward adds that these claims are supported by a growing body of evidence.

Moreover, BDNF can also help maintain the myelin sheath, the fatty, insulating layer that surrounds and protects the axons of neurons (nerve cells) in the central and peripheral nervous systems. The myelin sheath also enables faster and more efficient transmission of electrical signals between nerve cells.

Doubling DHA delivery

Findings show that the Lysoveta LPC-bound omega-3s can deliver up to twice as much DHA to the brain compared with free-form DHA. The research results also show it can “increase short-term memory up to sevenfold.” 

Furthermore, Seward says that Lysoveta’s LPC-EPA has also been shown to raise DHA levels in the brain. He further notes that the company is investing heavily in translating these findings into human data.Simon Seward, the CEO of human health ingredients at Aker BioMarine.

“Over the next five years, our clinical research program is designed to investigate how Lysoveta not only enhances cognitive performance but may also help protect against cognitive decline, highlighting the potential of targeted nutrient delivery to the brain for healthy aging and improved mood,” he emphasizes.

“In addition, Lysoveta is supported by 40 patent rights and is approved as a New Dietary Ingredient (NDI) in the US.”

Quantifying brain performance

Quantifying brain performance is an important, albeit complex, task when determining the ingredient’s efficacy. Steward says Aker BioMarine approaches this with validated tools.

“We measure cognitive outcomes using COMPASS (computerized mental performance assessment system), a gold-standard, validated computerized test system widely used in nutrition and cognitive research,” he explains.

“It evaluates key aspects like memory, focus, and reaction time through tasks such as remembering word lists or responding to visual cues that provide an objective, quantitative measure of mental performance over time.”

Additionally, Seward says the company integrates preclinical and human markers into its evaluations.

“For neuroprotection, this is best assessed in preclinical models, where markers of oxidative damage in brain neurons can be directly measured,” he notes. “In humans, we look at biomarkers such as BDNF, where higher levels are associated with stronger neuronal health, resilience, and the brain’s ability to repair itself.”

Together, he says these measures “give a comprehensive picture of how Lysoveta can support both cognitive performance and long-term brain protection.”

Targeting consumers across life stages

With brain health rapidly emerging as a growth category, Aker BioMarine is positioning Lysoveta as the go-to solution for consumers demanding both efficacy and evidence.

“As brain health becomes a major growth category in functional nutrition, Lysoveta is positioned as a scientifically advanced solution that meets the growing consumer demand for proven cognitive support,” Seward states.

“Built on nearly a decade of dedicated research and Aker BioMarine’s 15-plus years of leadership in marine-based science, Lysoveta delivers essential nutrients that directly support optimal brain function.”

The company sees brain health as a universal concern — not just the worry of older adults.

“Aker BioMarine recognizes that cognitive health is now a priority across all life stages, from younger consumers seeking support for mood, stress, and focus to older adults focused on maintaining memory and mental performance over time,” adds Seward.

Bridging mental and physical wellness

As the space between mental and physical wellness continues to narrow, Seward says Lysoveta represents a targeted approach to cognitive nutrition that is rooted in science. 

Aker BioMarine says the ingredients’ unique ability to deliver omega-3s directly to the brain could redefine what consumers — and the industry — expect from omega-3 supplements and set the stage for a new era in omega-3 innovation.

“Through Lysoveta, Aker BioMarine aims to lead the conversation on brain health and cognitive resilience, offering a product backed by rigorous science and tailored to meet the evolving needs of today’s wellness-focused consumers,” Seward concludes.

“By combining deep scientific expertise, extensive R&D, and strong academic collaborations, the company is setting a new standard in cognitive wellness.”