Natures Crops International, a producer of specialty oils for nutraceuticals, food and animal nutrition products, has published a whitepaper highlighting research led by Richard Bazinet and Adam Metherel at the University of Toronto.
The whitepaper aims to promote these findings in omega science, the company says, and presents evidence supporting plant-based omega sources as a substitute for fish oil.
In research sponsored by Stratum Nutrition, using specialised carbon isotope ratio mass spectrometry, preliminary evidence shows plant-based dietary ALA and SDA sources, such as flax and Ahiflower, convert to circulating plasma DHA at relatively efficient turnover rates compared to a fish oil based DHA source. Owing to its SDA content, Ahiflower oil converts to DHA more efficiently than flax oil, according to the study. Mice consuming preformed DHA demonstrated declines in circulating EPA levels from baseline while those consuming flax maintained levels. Ahiflower oil significantly elevated circulating EPA, Natures Crops says.
The whitepaper contradicts the generally held consensus that plant-based omega-3 sources convert inefficiently to DHA, while questioning the theory humans have somehow evolved with an innate inefficiency in converting essential fatty acids to their longer chain, downstream metabolites. It also re-examines the question of how much circulating EPA/DHA is optimal in the human diet, and aims to make the case that plant-based omega-3 are adequate for DHA uptake in key tissues.