In the ever-evolving health and wellness landscape, omega-3 has been a focal point since the 90's. Renowned for its diverse health benefits, specifically EPA & DHA, Omega-3 forms the cornerstone of numerous health brands and products. Nonetheless, beneath the surface, there's trouble brewing. While fish oil has historically been the trusted source, developments in the last two years in Peru raise questions about its (near) future availability and pricing. This forces the food supplement industry to explore alternative solutions. With algae-based omega-3 emerging as the only viable and sustainable alternative.
For years, the fish oil (and meal) animal feed and human supplement industry have heavily relied on Peru's anchovy catch to meet global omega-3 demand. Anchovies are the single largest fish catch in the world, contributing up to 15%-20% of the global haul. At Lus Health we are not big fans of catching fish. But in all honesty, the Peruvian government has installed various policies to manage the catch in a sustainable way. In 2022, all things seemed pretty normal, with a moderate-to-good catch (4,25 million MT fish landed!). That being said, upon closer inspection something was very much off.
You will have difficulty finding articles on it: in the second 2022 catch, the fat percentage of anchovy was much lower than other years. Normally the yield of fish oil is roughly 3-4%, the long term average, while in the second fishing season this went down to 1%. A staggering 3-4-fold lower, which directly impacts the availability of oil for fish farming and human consumption world-wide. Consequentially, the price of crude fish oil roughly doubled compared to 2021.
What nobody talks about is WHY it was so much lower. Could it be that the warming of our oceans has something to do with it? As explained in a recent article from Science.
This is clearly the elephant in the room and NO ONE in the fish oil industry is willing to talk about it. The science is clear: with raising water temperature, the entire marine food chain could be interrupted. This means that fish can't find their meal, they will have less fat (reserves) and therefore less reproduction.The entire biodiversity and marine food chain is under threat and no, it will not get better any time soon.
The above graph shows the amount of heat absorbed by the oceans in the last 6 decades. Not a pretty picture and there's no indication of this going down. The 2023 data are now even record-breaking and are called a fever by Nasa.
(Graph: Courtesy of NOAA Climate.gov graph, based on data (0-700m) from the NCEI Ocean Heat Content product collection)
To make things worse, 2023 will be an El Niño year, which historically has meant a much lower anchovy catch. This recurring climate phenomenon, leads to unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. These warming waters have shown to disturb weather patterns but also threaten the anchovy (and other species) habitat.
The recent cancellation of the first anchovy fishing season by the Peruvian government is therefore a symptom of the oceanic event that could be expected. Peru rarely cancels anchovy harvests, although it has happened before, like in 2014 also due to the El Niño event that year.
Before this cancellation, Peru's Ministry of Production had authorized a 1.09-million-metric-ton anchovy quota for the first season of 2023 in north central waters. Already a staggering 60 percent reduction compared to last year. The return of Peruvian anchovy fishers for the second season in October remains uncertain.
It looks like the lower catch is simply a certainty leading to lower fish oil availability for an industry already in crisis.
The impact of this crisis is already felt across the Omega-3 supplement manufacturers. As last years' fish oil stock levels are decreasing and new supply is becoming scarce, pricing of crude fish oil is further on the rise. Global omega-3 health brands are now faced with enormous issues. Either they can't get materials, or when they do, the price may be so high consumers may no longer buy.
But as Winston Churchill said "Never waste a good crisis" and this is the time for Omega-3 brand owners to get creative!
The past 5 years algal based EPA & DHA have been a major driver for the growth in the Omega 3 supplement market. This was not out of necessity, but driven by consumer behavior for a more sustainable choice. As is clear from the above, future growth of the Omega-3 market may now arise of necessity as well. Brand owners may have to replace current fish oil (concentrate) soft gels with algal based forms of EPA & DHA. Not over time, but as soon as possible. And the good news: they can!
Algal Omega-3 sources have usually been more expensive than fish oil but the gap is closing. On the algal Omega-3 side, production is becoming more efficient as the industry is growing. With increased fish oil prices, the reasons NOT to switch disappear. The future needs to become sustainable and end consumers want to buy it, so why not take the leap?
As Lus health we want to be part of YOUR sustainable solution by offering a range of different Algal based omega 3 solutions. Both our ingredients like Dmax 500® or Algal Omega3to1® are available as Vegan Soft gels (off-the-shelf and customized), Liquid formula's and droppers. See for yourself what we can do in our brochure and reach out directly to our team via our contact form or email at info@lushealth.com
Recent developments in Peru serve as a compelling loud call for change in the omega-3 industry. It's time to challenge existing conventions and explore innovative solutions. This by embracing the considerable potential of alternative sources like algae-based omega-3 oils. As we navigate these turbulent waters, companies that adapt, diversify, and champion sustainability are in it for the long run. They are not only here to weather the storm, but to flourish in the ever-evolving omega-3 supplementation landscape. The information from this article is not just food for thought but vital in the considerations of your journey towards a resilient and sustainable future. Lus Health delivers Algae-based Omega-3, aiming to play a crucial role in averting a supply crisis and promoting sustainability within the fishing industry.
Adrian Hughes is a DHA expert that has been working for the past 12 years as the owner of ADH Lipid Consulting. He has a PhD in Physical Chemistry and previously worked for a number of companies, including Unilever and Bioriginal, all in the area of oils and fats. During all these years he has gained a large amount of knowledge and experience in the field of oil and fats processing and their application. As a consultant, he provides services to other companies who require lipid expertise, mainly in Food, Dietary Supplements and Pharmaceutical sectors.
Hi, Adrian, we all know that there is a lot of misperception about the role of Omega 3 and particularly around the difference between EPA & DHA. Can you share your opinion about this?
Adrian: The term ‘Omega 3’ refers to a group of fatty acids not one specific type. I personally feel there are 3 specific Omega 3 fatty acids which are both important and widely studied these are; Alpha -Linolenic acid (ALA), Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). ALA is important because it cannot be produced by the body and has to be obtained through dietary means. Hence it is often referred to as an essential fatty acid. Both EPA and DHA can be produced in the body from ALA although the conversion is poor and so direct consumption of the EPA and DHA is advised to raise the levels of these two fatty acids in the body. Omega 3 fatty acids have been shown in general to be important for cardiovascular health, neural health and inflammation control. The most widely studied area of use is of course cardiovascular health.
I can understand that there is a great difference between the two of them. How much of each do you think we need?
Adrian: There is no simple answer to this question and it depends very much on the reason for taking EPA and or DHA. The European Union for example recommends 250mg EPA and or DHA daily for adults wishing to improve general health. However other organizations around the world recommend 500mg so the general consensus seems to be between 250 - 500mg EPA and or DHA daily for adults wishing to improve general health. For other specific conditions or applications higher doses of either EPA, DHA or EPA+DHA may be recommended.
In principal alpha-linoleic acid is the only “true” essential of the Omega’s 3 group. Can you share how the bioconversion is in the body? Towards EPA but especially DHA?
Adrian: The ALA is converted in a cascade to EPA and DHA in the body through a number of steps. It starts being converted to first EPA and latterly DHA. Basically, the body takes the ALA fatty acid and repeatedly adds double bonds (desaturation) and carbon atoms (chain elongation). The conversion, particularly to DHA, is very inefficient, so relying solely on conversion from ALA to DHA is not wise and it is why the direct intake of DHA is often advised.
Highlights to the fact that there is also a specific gender influence in this, as it seems that women can still make some DHA (especially when during the pregnancy) whereas in men, DHA production is extremely low.
The body can convert DHA back into EPA in circumstances where the body does not have sufficient EPA, so it can use the pool of DHA and retro-convert it by taking away carbon atoms and a double bond to reform EPA.
What could you share about the role in Brain?
Adrian: Actually, the exact role DHA plays in the brain is not well understood. That said nature is very elegant and DHA is the most prevalent unsaturated fatty acid in the brain accounting for between 40 – 60% of all unsaturated fatty acids in brain and retina tissue, nature would not do this without a good reason. We know that DHA is particularly important in the development of the brain and cognitive development in the fetus and babies which is why DHA is mandated to be included in Infant formula’s in Europe.
Can you explain how does the anti-inflammatories properties of DHA in the brain and outside work?
Adrian: All Omega 3 fatty acids basically exhibit anti-inflammatory effects in the body to a lesser or greater extent. In the case of DHA it is the pre-cursor to a group of molecules know as ‘protectins’ which have powerful anti-inflammatory effects as this class of molecules is relatively new the exact mode of action is not well understood with most work concentrating on understanding the biochemical pathway that leads to their formation.
"There is some science out there that specific looks at the potential protective effects of DHA in stroke, which is really exciting"
And to get these effects you’ve mentioned above, does the 250mg of EPA and or DHA advice suffice?
Adrian: This is a very difficult question to answer (sort of like how long is a piece of string!). There are so many factors to consider when setting a daily intake levels eg. How much the person consumes as an average in their diet? Or what is a safe maximum dose? The EU settled on 250mg EPA & DHA but other organisations recommend higher levels for adults and general health use. The reality is (and this is my own personal view) a person who consumes a typical western diet probably does not consume sufficient EPA & DHA daily and so I would say moving to a higher (500mg EPA+DHA) daily intake is preferable.
All really interesting and helpful, Adrian! Maybe one last closing question for you… If you look towards the future and would address fish vs algal source, what would it be your point of view?
Adrian: Both sources of DHA are important although moving forward, I think DHA from Algal source will become more important as environmental and sustainability issues come increasingly to the foreground. As humans we need to have our DHA and if sources from the sea are under pressure we need to find innovative commercially viable alternatives of which Algal is one.
Great! thank you for your time today Adrian. I am sure we will be in touch! It seems that we are definitely in the right space with our Dmax Algal DHA oil which we will continue to build upon throughout the coming years.
The majority of fish oil omega 3 supplement comes from overexploited fish species like Cod, Sardine, Tuna, Shark and Anchovies. Surely, more programs have come in to place to monitor or improve fish stocks (MSC, Friends of the Sea) and although many fisheries eagerly try to get approved, the fishing still continues.
To make matters worse, the major fish oil consumers (aquaculture farms, especially salmon) have found an ineffective way of transporting omega 3 fatty acids from Peruvian anchovies to the farmed salmon on your plate. Certification like ASC or “organic salmon” have further confused the customer and many believe that eating farmed salmon is actually a sustainable & healthy choice. It couldn’t be further from the truth. Omega 3 levels in Salmon have dropped by 50% the last 4 years and it depletes wild fish stocks.
Then take algal oil. Not perfect yet. Not the full range of EPA & DHA variations as seen in Fish. But a huge improvement in sustainability and a perfect way of getting the health omega 3 fatty acids in your diet. Pure. Clean. Label friendly, just the way we like it. A healthy population deserves a real omega 3 vegan alternative. It deserves algal oil, so why not get it from the experts at Lus Health ingredients?
Get the latest insights & best offers by subscribing to our newsletter.
© 2024 | LUS Health
Design RDM Design | Realisatie: DIGIWEDO
