In a recent article, I covered alpha linoleic acid, the omega-3 fatty acid found in plant sources. Here, I’ll focus on two other omega-3 fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), which have also been shown to have numerous health benefits and may be good choices for your functional food or supplement product.
Both DHA and EPA are referred to as n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (often shortened to “PUFAs”). Docosahexanoic acid (DHA, 22:6 n-3) is a 22 carbon chain with 6 double bonds. This omega-3 fatty acid can be sourced from coldwater fish, algae, and specialty egg products where the hens were fed an enriched diet. DHA is found in breastmilk, and is critical for development of the brain and visual acuity in infants.
Eicosapentanoic Acid (EPA, 20:5 n-3) is a 20-carbon chain with 5 double bonds. EPA can be found in fish, fish oils, algae and other marine sources. It acts as a building block for cells in your vital organs.
DHA and EPA in combination are shown to have anti-inflammatory properties and aid in the reduction of high triglyceride levels. For toddlers, children and adults, it aids normal brain function and has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease in adults in some clinical studies. DHA and EPA can also be synthesized at a limited rate in the body from alpha-linoleic acid (ALA, 18:3 n-3), as discussed in an earlier article. In the US, DHA and EPA consumption has been lower when compared to other nations with lower heart disease rates, such as Japan.
Labeling Claims
In the US, the FDA allows structure/function claims to be made on products containing DHA and EPA, in both supplements and food. For use in food, products must meet “low saturated fat” and “low cholesterol” criteria, and must meet at least 10% Daily Value on vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, calcium, protein, or dietary fiber per reference amount prior to adding any additional fortification to the product. See the FDA’s labeling information page for additional criteria requirements.
In Canada, if a food contains a minimum of 0.3 grams or more of PUFAs, label claims can be similar to “source of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids”. See the Canadian Food Inspection Agency guidelines for specific conditions regarding claims.
In the EU, the EFSA approved health claims made on products containing DHA and EPA. The claims are in relation to maintenance of blood triglyeride levels, normal brain, blood pressure, or heart function, fetal development of brain and eyes, and infant vision. The EFSA has further requirements listed in their journal.
Recent product launches including DHA and/or EPA in their formulations include: whole milk yogurt for infants and toddlers in the US; dog treats in Canada, Spain and Finland; milk mix-in for use during pregnancy in India; deli meats in Germany; and infant cheese slices in South Korea.
Development Considerations
Omega-3 oils are prone to oxidation and development of objectionable flavors and odors, so protection from light, oxygen, heat and other catalysts is essential for products formulated with them during manufacturing and over the shelf life.
- Contact your supplier for optimizing the oil for your application – use of antioxidants with your ingredient, best practices in the manufacturing process to minimize oxidation, and proper raw material handling/packaging can be discussed in order to produce the ideal product.
- Protective packaging is essential to reduce light and oxygen. Consider the use of dark and opaque graphics, an oxygen barrier layer and/or nitrogen flushing. Temperature controlled shipping environments would be ideal for reduced risk of oxidation.
- Real time shelf life studies should be completed, and consumer acceptance testing should be completed on products closer to the end of shelf life.
If adding omega-3 to your formulas, attention to these development aspects will aid in producing a superior finished product.
Product Resources – North America
AIC Omega 3 Refined Tuna Oil 5:25
CONNOils Fish Oil EPA 10%, DHA 70% – EE (Norwegian)
ULProspector.com North America – search for DHA
ULProspector.com North America – search for EPA
Product Resources – Europe
DSM MEG-3® ’15’ n-3 High DHA Powder S/SD
Croda Health Care Incromega™ E1070 Omega 3
Croda Incromega™ E3322 Omega 3
ULProspector.com EU – search for DHA
ULProspector.com EU – search for EPA
More Resources for Your Research…
Health Benefits of Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) – Pubmed.gov
NutraIngredients USA – Omega-3 may help preserve brain volume in old age: Study
uio.no – Fatty Acids: Structures and Properties (pdf)
DHA-EPA Omega-3 Institute – Structures of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Pathway-27: Docosahexaenoic Acid
International Food Information Council Foundation – Functional Foods Fact Sheet: Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University – Essential Fatty Acids
Essential Fatty Acids & The Brain – Europe PubMed Central
IFFO – The Marine Ingredients Association – Benefits of Fishmeal and Fish Oil Use
Omega-3 Fatty Acids EPA and DHA: Health Benefits Throughout Life – Advances in Nutrition
Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3
Understanding Omega-3 Fatty Acids – foodprocessing.com
Council For Responsible Nutrition White Paper – Long Chain Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Human Health.
Heart Health: The role of EPA, DHA, ALA
n-3 Fatty Acids and Cardiovascular Disease
EPAX.com EFSA heath claims chart
Canadian Food Health Claim Roadmap
Silliker Nutrient and Health Claims U.S. & Canadian Regulatory Guide
The views, opinions and technical analyses presented here are those of the author or advertiser, and are not necessarily those of ULProspector.com or UL Solutions. The appearance of this content in the UL Prospector Knowledge Center does not constitute an endorsement by UL Solutions or its affiliates.
All content is subject to copyright and may not be reproduced without prior authorization from UL Solutions or the content author.
The content has been made available for informational and educational purposes only. While the editors of this site may verify the accuracy of its content from time to time, we assume no responsibility for errors made by the author, editorial staff or any other contributor.
UL Solutions does not make any representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy, applicability, fitness or completeness of the content. UL Solutions does not warrant the performance, effectiveness or applicability of sites listed or linked to in any content.