OMEGA-3s
What Are Omega-3s?
Omega-3s are a shorthand way to describe a class of polyunsaturated fatty acids that is generally more highly unsaturated than others in foods. They are distinguished from all other unsaturates by the location of their first double bond (where they are missing a pair of hydrogens).
This makes it impossible for humans to make omega-3s from scratch or from other fatty acids, so we must obtain them—or at least one of them—from foods. The "3" simply says (to chemists) that the first double bond occurs 3 carbons away from the non-acid or "omega" end of the fatty acid.
Good & essential fats are a necessary nutrient for optimal health and well being. In short, our bodies need healthy & essential fats to function properly and without a sufficent intake, many of our bodies processes would fail to function, especially without the DHA & EPA from Omega-3 & Omega-6 fats.There are 3 main omega-3s in foods: alpha-linolenic acid, EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid).
Only alpha-linolenic acid is found in plants. EPA and DHA are found almost exclusively in fish and shellfish or fish oils.
How do Plant and Fish Omega-3s Differ?
Terrestrial plants have only alpha-linolenic acid. This omega-3 has some, but not all, of the health benefits associated with fish oil omega-3s. It can also be converted in the body to EPA and very small amounts of DHA.
Humans perform this conversion very poorly, less than 5%, so relying only on alpha-linolenic acid for all omega-3s risks a shortfall in EPA and especially, DHA. This topic is discussed in detail on the web page "Are All Omega-3s the Same?" The fish oil fatty acids EPA and DHA are also called "long-chain" omega-3s. This is because they have at least 20 carbons in their chain. Long-chain omega-3s have the most critical functions in health and in some cases, cannot be replaced by alpha-linolenic acid.
This is especially true for DHA, a key component of brain cells, the retina of the eye, and certain other tissues. DHA is incorporated into brain during fetal development and the first 2 years of life.
Foods Rich in Omega-3s EPA and DHA
are most abundant in fish and shellfish, particularly fatty fish such as salmon, rainbow trout, tuna, mackerel, herring, sardines, and pilchards. All seafoods have some EPA and DHA.
Fish oil capsules are a rich source of EPA and DHA, too. Egg yolks from hens fed flaxseed have alpha-linolenic acid and some EPA and DHA. These are usually sold touting The many benefits of Omega-3 EPA and DHA in fish. In the early 1970s when Danish physicans observed that Greenland Eskimos had an exceptionally low incidence of heart disease and arthritis despite the fact that they consumed a high fat diet. It was soon discovered that two of the fats they consumed in large quantities, EPA and DHA , were actually highly beneficial.
Recent research has found that EPA and DHA play a role in the prevention of atherrosclerosis, heart attack, depression and cancer. For strict vegetarians, supplements produced from microorganisms or marine algae provide EPA and DHA. Marine algae vary widely in their content of total omega-3s ranging from 17% to nearly 50%. The content of alpha-linolenic acid compared with EPA also varies widely (3% to 24%). Marine algae are not commonly available in the U.S.
Source: Fats of Life
Fish oil Q&A
Do other fish oils from salmon contain the antioxidant astaxanthin, or is it lost from over processing/ overheating?
Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil is available in the mass and in health food stores from a variety of brands, what makes New Chapter's Wholemega more desirable?
What part of the fish is pressed in the creation of Wholemega?
Is Wholemega safe for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding?
Why is the Botanical Antioxidant Stability System of rosemary and oregano not listed anywhere on the supplement facts panel?
Why do you add rosemary and oregano?
What is Omega 5? Why is it important?
How much Vitamin D is in each serving?
What are the optimal DHA and EPA ratios (amounts)?
How much whole fish oil equivalent does a serving of Wholemega provide?
Is Wholemega bioavailable?
Many bodybuilders take arachidonic acid when doing extreme weight lifting, with Wholemega claiming to reduce this, isn't it a contradiction?
What is the difference between ethyl ester and triglyceride forms?
Aren't triglycerides bad?
How can purity be assured while the oil is being extra- virgin cold pressed on the barge when it is caught?
What kind of third party testing is done to verify the purity of Wholemega?
Can Wholemega help with Bone Health?
Please provide information about your human clinical trials. How many subjects were there?
Who conducted the research on Wholemega?
What is HACCP?
What is Rancimat?
What does it mean to be certified sustainable?
Where does the wild caught salmon used in Wholemega come from?
Is all salmon oil sustainable?
Why did New Chapter select salmon vs. a smaller fish such as anchovies, hoki, herring or sardines?
Is Wholemega organic?
Doesn't enteric coating help with digestion - why doesn't New Chapter use it?
How does Wholemega compare to cod liver oil?
Do other fish oils from salmon contain the antioxidant astaxanthin, or is it lost from over processing/ overheating?
The majority of salmon oils on the market do no label or mark for astaxanthin. The most common processes - which involve high heat and other heavy processing - used to manufacture fish oils do result in a loss of natural antioxidants like astaxanthin and key vitamins such as Vitamin D.
Some companies may choose to replace those lost antioxidants with USP versions in their final product. A select few salmon oils on the market label for astaxanthin at a level lower than Wholemega - Mercola Advanced Nutrition Virgin Salmon Oil (for example, from farmed Norwegian salmon)) which has 3mcg.
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Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil is available in the mass and in health food stores from a variety of brands, what makes New Chapter's Wholemega more desirable?
Wholemega is extracted with a proprietary extra-virgin "food grade" process shortly after the salmon is caught which preserves valuable fatty acids and antioxidants. In addition to this proprietary process, Wholemega includes a patent-pending botanical antioxidant stability system (B.A.S.S.) which dramatically slows the oxidation of Wholemega and has been shown in accelerated shelf life tests to provide 3.7 times the resistance to oxidation of Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil with mixed tocopherols alone.
The extraction process and proprietary B.A.S.S. ensures that Wholemega delivers the purest, freshest and most complete wild alaskan salmon oil on the market. Wholemega extraction process is government inspected and certified food grade and is also certified by a independent third party. Retailers and consumers should inquire with competitive salmon oils to ensure these certifications exist on competing oils. In most cases they do not.
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What part of the fish is pressed in the creation of Wholemega?
In a compelling sustainability story, no incremental fish is harvested to create Wholemega. That's because after the wild caught salmon is filleted, the remaining EPA/DHA rich trim is handled in a food grade facility and immediately pressed to create Wholemega.
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Is Wholemega safe for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding?
Yes. In fact, various studies have show that women who take fish oil during pregnancy are more likely to carry their babies to term and more likely to maintain healthy blood sugar levels throughout the pregnancy. Additionally, it has recently been shown that children whose mothers took fish oil during pregnancy had higher IQs than those mothers who did not.
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Why is the Botanical Antioxidant Stability System of rosemary and oregano not listed anywhere on the supplement facts panel?
The Botanical Antioxidant Stability System is listed in the "other ingredients" under the supplement facts. One serving of Wholemega contains 4mg each of supercritically extracted rosemary and organic oregano (8mg total).
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Why do you add rosemary and oregano?
Scientific analysis has shown that rosemary and oregano are more effective in preserving and reducing the oxidation of fish oils than vitamin E alone which is commonly found in most other fish oils on the market.
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What is Omega 5? Why is it important?
Myristoleic Acid: supports a healthy balance of microbes, modulates 5LX and promotes a healthy inflammation response.
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How much Vitamin D is in each serving?
According to the NIH, very few food sources contain naturally occurring Vitamin D, and the most abundant source of naturally occurring Vitamin D is in salmon. The 100 IU Vitamin D (25% DV) in Wholemega is naturally occurring, food-derived Vitamin D and not an isolate that is added back in to the fish oil.
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What are the optimal DHA and EPA ratios (amounts)?
EPA and DHA are the major omega 3 fatty acids present in oily fish like wild salmon and mackerel. The observed health benefits of consuming a diet high in fatty fish have been well documented and include: blood thinning, mood enhancement, maintenance of normal cell growth, immune support, eye health, etc.
Over the years, in an attempt to better understand the different biological roles of EPA and DHA, experiments have been done in which EPA or DHA are used in isolation or in a manipulated ratio. From these experiments, we know that both EPA and DHA work to lower triglycerides and modulate inflammation and are synergistic when it comes to the latter. We also know that EPA and DHA have unique characteristic and function differently throughout the body.
For instance, only EPA can be used to make prostaglandin E3, an anti-inflammatory eicosanoid believed to be important for maintaining normal cell growth. And, while both EPA and DHA accumulate in the brain, DHA seems to play a more important role in cognitive function and visual health, while EPA appears to have a greater influence on psychological wellbeing.
Since one would have a difficult time trying to prove that any one of these benefit is more valuable than the other, it is important to consume both EPA and DHA and ideally, the other natural fatty acids and nutrients that are present in whole fish. Of course, these are lost when EPA and DHA are isolated. As to whether there is a more ideal ratio of EPA to DHA than the one nature has provided in foods such wild salmon, we simply don’t know.
This has not, however, stopped some fish oil companies from claiming that certain manipulated ratios are going to work better for a specified endpoint or health benefit. Until definitive clinical research comparing the effects of these manipulated products to whole food sources of EPA and DHA in their natural ratios for a targeted benefit is done, we feel it is best to deliver essential fatty acids in the form and ratios nature intended.
On a final note, while many health organizations including the American Heart Association and the Institute of Health have issued recommendations for omega 3 consumption, none specify a ratio of EPA to DHA that should be consumed for maximal benefit.
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How much whole fish oil equivalent does a serving of Wholemega provide?
One week servings Wholemega (@ 2 sg per day) = 2,940 grams omega-3 fatty acids. Therefore, one week servings Wholemega = 3 servings of 3 oz. (100grams each serving) cooked wild caught Alaskan salmon.
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Is Wholemega bioavailable?
Human clinical trials have demonstrated that Wholemega is highly bioavailable and a full complement of healthful lipids- including Omega 3, 7 and 9's are absorbed.
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Many bodybuilders take arachidonic acid when doing extreme weight lifting, with Wholemega claiming to reduce this, isn't it a contradiction?
The omega 3 fatty acids in Wholemega will displace arachidonic acid from cell membranes. This is one of the ways it promotes a healthy inflammation response. While one may argue that this displacement is not ideal for individuals using arachidonic acid supplements for the purpose of muscle building, a healthy inflammation response is essential for muscle recovery following a workout. Consequently, many bodybuilders and athletes take fish oil to enhance their performance and training.
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What is the difference between ethyl ester and triglyceride forms?
Triglycerides are the true natural form of fatty acids found in fish. A triglyceride consists of three fatty acids joined to a molecule of glycerol. Most fish oil products strip the fatty acids molecules off of the glycerol so they can isolate and artificially alter the ratios of EPA to DHA as well as cleanse the oil of contaminants such as heavy metals and pollutants.
The isolation process, which involves the use of high heat and ethanol, converts the fatty acids into semi-synthetic free fatty acid molecules called ethyl esters. The ethyl ester form of fatty acids is what is found in most commercially available fish oil products, however, in some cases, the manufacturer may chemically reattach the fatty acids back to the glycerol molecule.
The challenge in chemically reattaching the fatty acids is that much like Humpty Dumpty, man may not be able to quite get it right, like nature intended. Several studies have found that triglyceride forms of fatty acids are more bioavailable and less susceptible to oxidation than ethyl esters.
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Aren't triglycerides bad?
A triglyceride is type of fat composed on one glycerol molecule and three fatty acid molecules. Whether or not a triglyceride functions as a “good” or “bad” fat in the body depends on the type of fatty acids attached to the glycerol molecule.
For instance, a glycerol molecule that is occupied by saturated fatty acids can accumulate when in excess and contribute to inflammation, whereas triglycerides consisting of essential fatty acids like EPA and DHA will be readily utilized to modulate inflammation. It is accurate that a marker for health concerns is a high total triglyceride level, but human clinical research has shown that Wholemega actually reduces total triglyceride levels in the blood - a target many consumers are looking for in taking a fish oil.
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How can purity be assured while the oil is being extra- virgin cold pressed on the barge when it is caught?
HACCP strictly regulates how fish prepared for human consumption is handled at the sight of catch and during preparation. Third party testing confirms that purity is maintained during the entire manufacturing process from sea to softgel - without the heavy processing or molecular distillation required by leading fish oil companies.
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What kind of third party testing is done to verify the purity of Wholemega?
Wholemega is tested by independent laboratories to verify the fatty acid profile, levels of Vitamin D, astaxanthin, totox (measure of freshness), heavy metals, PCB, dioxins.
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Can Wholemega help with Bone Health?
Evidence from animal and in vitro studies suggest that essential fatty acids from fish oil have positive effects on bone metabolism.
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Please provide information about your human clinical trials. How many subjects were there?
The Wholemega study was done on 16 human volunteers. Six subjects (3 male/3 female) ingested a single 2 gram dose of Wholemega, six subjects ingested a single 4 gram dose of Wholemega, and four male subjects ingested 2 grams of Wholemega a day for four consecutive days.
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Who conducted the research on Wholemega?
The Wholemega human clinical study was conducted by Science, Toxicology and Technology Consultants, a contract research organization located in San Francisco, California. In vitro testing was performed at MD Anderson Cancer Center.
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What is HACCP?
Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points is used in the food industry to identify potential food safety hazards so that key actions can be taken to reduce or eliminate the risk of hazards being realized. The Seafood HACCP system is regulated by the FDA.
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What is Rancimat?
Over time, oxygen breaks down fats (oxidation) and volatile acids are formed, which affect purity. The Rancimat oxidative stability method accelerates this process by exposing the sample to elevated temperatures while pumping air into it. The induction time is usually a few hours instead of weeks or months. Rancimat is used to determine the oxidative stability of oils and the effectiveness of antioxidants. Rancimat is a standard industry test used for both animal and vegetable oils.
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What does it mean to be certified sustainable?
Alaska's constitution is unique in that an entire section is devoted to the management of natural resources. To protect it's fisheries, the state created the Alaska Board of Fisheries (BOF). It's responsible for maintaining the health of all Alaska's fisheries including setting limits on each seasons salmon harvest to insure no over-fishing. because the fishermen wait for the fish to spawn before fishing, over the years, wild salmon populations have actually increased. Alaska's wild salmon fishery is the first major fishery in the world to obtain the Marine Stewardship Councils' (MSC) coveted "Certificate of Sustainability".
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Where does the wild caught salmon used in Wholemega come from?
Pristine Alaskan waters. The wild salmon used in Wholemega is 100% Sustainably caught wild salmon.
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Is all salmon oil sustainable?
No, the Marine Stewardship Council has verified that Wholemega is sustainably sourced. Many non-Alaskan salmon oil is sourced from farmed salmon operations that have been called into question for its sustainability, safety and purity by the press and government organizations.
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Why did New Chapter select salmon vs. a smaller fish such as anchovies, hoki, herring or sardines?
Smaller fish, or forage fish, serve as a food source for larger fish. Given the current crisis in our ocean waters, fishing for smaller fish would reduce the food supply for larger fish thereby potential creating further imbalance in our oceans. A common argument made for sourcing these types of fish is that they quickly replenish themselves. This isn't exactly accurate. While their reproductive cycle is quick, there are strong cases of where overfishing can overpower even the natural quick reproductive cycle. The overfishing of Menhaden (a common fish oil source) in the mid-Atlantic has had devastating affects on the ecosystem in the Chesapeake Bay, for example, where crab and other predators higher in the food chain have been severely impacted by overfishing of small species.
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Is Wholemega organic?
No. Wild caught fish cannot be certified organic. However, Wholemega is one of the few fish oil supplements to be food grade certified by the FDA. This means that the fish from which the oil is sourced is suitable for sale as food for human consumption. Oil sourced from fish that is not food grade is not held to as high of standards.
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Doesn't enteric coating help with digestion - why doesn't New Chapter use it?
Enteric coatings are used to help improve tolerability of fish oil product, or to prevent unpleasant fishy aftertaste/burping. In most cases, burping and aftertaste results when the fish oil is rancid. Wholemega's botanical antioxidant stability system (BASS) optimally maintains the freshness of the oil. As a result, it was shown to be extremely well tolerated in pre-market testing. Of note, most enteric coatings are made with organic solvents.
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How does Wholemega compare to cod liver oil?
Similar to conventional fish oil products, cod liver oil is typically highly processed in order to deodorize and decontaminate the oil. Remember that the liver is largely responsible for filtering toxins, so it is there that PCBs, dioxins and other environmental contaminants accumulate. The processing of cod liver oil can involve the use of heat as high as 170-190 ̊C and can not only damage the fatty acids but often results in the removal of nutrients like vitamin A and D which are so often touted as being the main advantage of taking cod liver oil over fish oil.
Consequently, many cod liver oil companies will add USP forms of these nutrients back into the final product so they can still make the vitamin A and D claims. And, all too often, the amount of vitamin A added in will be dangerously high. Because Wholemega is made from salmon harvested from pristine Alaskan waters, it is naturally free of contaminants. Hence, it can be cold-pressed and delivered in a unadulterated form with a full spectrum of omega 3,5,6,7, and 9 fatty acids present along with naturally occurring nutrients like vitamin D.