| Top Marine Ingredient Issues |
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The marine market is expanding and growing due to offerings beyond marine-sourced essential fatty acids (EFAs) that already have a long history of usage in functional foods and beverages, and supplements. What’s more is the steady introduction of novel marine ingredients, opening the doors for myriad opportunities, including condition-specific formulas and new applications.
“There has been an exponential increase in the number of companies and research groups that are turning to the sea to unlock new discoveries that address many of the top health concerns of today’s market,” said Scott Steil, president, Nutra Bridge.
Omega-3s are arguably the most well-known, pioneering the use of marine ingredients in food and beverages. According to Mintel’s Omega-3 U.S. January 2008 Executive Summary, 30 percent of all consumers say they, “Specifically buy food, drink or supplements that contain omega-3 fatty acids (which are also sometimes identified as eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] and docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]).”
Sure, consumers may be familiar with omega-3s, but what they may not know is the source. “Many consumers do not understand the difference between marine-based omega-3 fatty acids containing EPA and DHA and plant-based omega-3,” said Baldur Hjaltason, EPAX sales director. However, “the conversion factor from ALA over to EPA and DHA is so low in the body that ALA cannot alone supply the needed amount of EPA and DHA. Fish consumption or supplement intake of EPA and DHA is needed in order to supply sufficient amount of those fatty acids to the body.”
Neptune Krill Oil (NKO®) from Neptune Biotech ensures its bioavailability via a phospholipid-bonded EPA, DHA and antioxidant composition. “This allows recommending daily doses as low as 300 mg/d (one softgel),” said Wael Massrieh, director of R&D, Neptune Biotech. “Even with the highest daily recommended dose for NKO, 1,000 mg/d (two softgels), it is still at least three times less than recommended dose for standard fish oils.” He said krill is known to be the most abundant marine biomass and is rigorously monitored by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR).
“Research shows bioavailability is higher for marine phospholipids than triglycerides or ethyl esters forms,” Hjaltason commented. “This delivery form is not always clear for the consumer—not at least since the marketing of krill oil has been focused more on the source as krill and bioavailability than the phospholipid form. The focus on new sources of biofuel and extensive government funding in the area created number of innovation firms that wanted to make biofuel from algae. When funding dried up, it was clear algae oil was too expensive for biofuel uses but contained both EPA and DHA that were valuable ingredients into supplement and functional food. With demand for marine-based EPA and DHA growing faster than availability of crude fish oil, investment has increased in algae production globally and we will see within 10 years that algae oil will have replaced fish oil to some extent in supplements and functional food.”
Sourcing is important, not only to satisfy the levels required to meet specific health benefits, but for safety and sustainability, too.
