
EPA and DHA in fish come from algae
Smaller fish eat it, and it travels up the food chain from there
This is why algae are considered the primary source of omega-3 fatty acids in the aquatic food chain
Algae Health Benefits
Heart Function
Recent studies have demonstrated that edible algae can be an effective natural product for improving blood lipid profiles and for preventing inflammation and oxidative stress. Algae contain bioactive components, namely, carotenoids, polyphenols, EPA, DHA, fibers, and plant sterols, which can be beneficial for preventing heart diseases1 2.
Brain Function
Algae has the potential to improve your cognitive performance naturally. Its compounds provide neuroprotection against a wide range of neurotoxic stimuli, as seen in numerous preclinical studies3. In a new study, omega-3 supplementation improved cognition and modified brain activation in young adults4.
Immune System
Algae is an alternative to antibiotics that stimulates the immune response. Compounds made from microalgae have demonstrated a number of characteristics, including anticancer, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory5.
Inflammation
Omega-3s may prevent the action of substances that cause inflammation and aid in their treatment. 60 women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) participated in a 12-week research in which consuming a high dose of omega-3s daily lessened the intensity of symptoms 6.
Regulates Cholesterol
Regulates Blood Sugar
Recent findings provided evidence that algae and its extract interventions were beneficial for the regulation of human glycolipid metabolism10. The majority of the investigations on algae derived compounds, controls the blood glucose levels through the inhibition of carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes11.
Effective
Algae Omega-3s are in the form of triglycerides, which are the same form found in fish. Omega-3s from algae are on average 85% more effective than fish-based Omega-3s 12.
More Potent
Fish oil supplements contain Omega-3s in the form of ethyl esters, which are less readily absorbed. It’s an “unnatural” form, as omega-3s in nature are primarily in triglyceride or phospholipid form.
Clean
Algae-derived Omega-3s are much more sustainable and environmentally friendly, cultivated in huge indoor fermentation pools. They are free of contaminants or pesticide residues 13.
Global Overfishing
1/3 of the world’s ocean are currently overfished. 2/3 are fished to their maximum sustainable yield. Fish oil has a huge impact on marine ecosystems 14.
Ethical
Unlike sheep’s wool, the extraction process makes no use of pesticides, therefore there is no danger that algae vitamin D3 has any residual pesticides. In the US alone, 42% of adults are deficient, while 50% of children aged between 1 and 5, and 70% of children aged between 6 and 11 have low vitamin D stores 15.
Vitamin D3 Deficient
The wool industry is not a gentle place. Much of the world’s lanolin comes from farms, where animals are often kept in dire conditions. To add to the pain, the barbaric procedure of Mulesing is practiced. Mulesing is where the skin is sliced from the buttocks of lambs, without painkillers, to produce a scar-free wool 16.
Algae Oil vs Fish Oil
Plant-Based
Is it plant-based and therefore suitable for vegans or vegetarians?
Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Contains omega-3 fatty acids.
Contains Vitamin D3
Contains Vitamin D3 in significant amounts.
Free of Chemicals & Pesticides
Free of contaminants, heavy metals and pesticide residues
Form of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Form of omega-3 fatty acids in each source.
Higher AbsorptionTriglycerides
Lower AbsorptionEthyl Esters
Natural Form
Way of consuming and taste factor.
Functional Food Great Taste
Pills or Capsules Bad Taste
Sustainability
Is it eco-friendly and sustainable?
- Ku CS, Yang Y, Park Y, Lee J. Health benefits of blue-green algae: prevention of cardiovascular disease and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. J Med Food. 2013 Feb;16(2):103-11. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2012.2468. PMID: 23402636; PMCID: PMC3576896.[↩]
- Hu Y, Hu FB, Manson JE. Marine Omega-3 Supplementation and Cardiovascular Disease: An Updated Meta-Analysis of 13 Randomized Controlled Trials Involving 127 477 Participants. J Am Heart Assoc. 2019 Oct;8(19):e013543. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.119.013543. Epub 2019 Sep 30. PMID: 31567003; PMCID: PMC6806028.[↩]
- Hannan MA, Dash R, Haque MN, Mohibbullah M, Sohag AAM, Rahman MA, Uddin MJ, Alam M, Moon IS. Neuroprotective Potentials of Marine Algae and Their Bioactive Metabolites: Pharmacological Insights and Therapeutic Advances. Mar Drugs. 2020 Jul 1;18(7):347. doi: 10.3390/md18070347. PMID: 32630301; PMCID: PMC7401253.[↩]
- Bauer I, Hughes M, Rowsell R, Cockerell R, Pipingas A, Crewther S, Crewther D. Omega-3 supplementation improves cognition and modifies brain activation in young adults. Hum Psychopharmacol. 2014 Mar;29(2):133-44. doi: 10.1002/hup.2379. PMID: 24470182.[↩]
- Riccio G, Lauritano C. Microalgae with Immunomodulatory Activities. Mar Drugs. 2019 Dec 18;18(1):2. doi: 10.3390/md18010002. PMID: 31861368; PMCID: PMC7024220.[↩]
- Veselinovic M, Vasiljevic D, Vucic V, Arsic A, Petrovic S, Tomic-Lucic A, Savic M, Zivanovic S, Stojic V, Jakovljevic V. Clinical Benefits of n-3 PUFA and ɤ-Linolenic Acid in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Nutrients. 2017 Mar 25;9(4):325. doi: 10.3390/nu9040325. PMID: 28346333; PMCID: PMC5409664.[↩]
- Innes JK, Calder PC. The Differential Effects of Eicosapentaenoic Acid and Docosahexaenoic Acid on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors: A Systematic Review. Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Feb 9;19(2):532. doi: 10.3390/ijms19020532. PMID: 29425187; PMCID: PMC5855754.[↩]
- Bradberry JC, Hilleman DE. Overview of omega-3 Fatty Acid therapies. P T. 2013 Nov;38(11):681-91. PMID: 24391388; PMCID: PMC3875260.[↩]
- Jisun So, Bela Asztalos, Katalin Horvath, Alice Lichtenstein, Stefania Lamon-Fava, EPA and DHA Have Differential Effects on Cholesterol Ester Transfer Protein and Lipoprotein Lipase Activities Following Plasma Triglycerides Lowering, Current Developments in Nutrition, Volume 4, Issue Supplement_2, June 2020, Page 662, https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzaa049_055[↩]
- Ding KX, Gao TL, Xu R, Cai J, Zhang HQ, Sun YY, Zhong F, Ma AG. Quantifying the Effect of Supplementation with Algae and Its Extracts on Glycolipid Metabolism: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Nutrients. 2020 Jun 8;12(6):1712. doi: 10.3390/nu12061712. PMID: 32521609; PMCID: PMC7352414.[↩]
- Unnikrishnan PS, Jayasri MA. Marine Algae As A Prospective Source For Antidiabetic Compounds – A Brief Review. Curr Diabetes Rev. 2018;14(3):237-245. doi: 10.2174/1573399812666161229151407. PMID: 28034290.[↩]
- Bernstein AM, Ding EL, Willett WC, Rimm EB. A meta-analysis shows that docosahexaenoic acid from algal oil reduces serum triglycerides and increases HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in persons without coronary heart disease. J Nutr. 2012 Jan;142(1):99-104. doi: 10.3945/jn.111.148973. Epub 2011 Nov 23. PMID: 22113870.[↩]
- Liu, Y.; Ren, X.; Fan, C.; Wu, W.; Zhang, W.; Wang, Y. Health Benefits, Food Applications, and Sustainability of Microalgae-Derived N-3 PUFA. Foods 2022, 11, 1883. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods11131883[↩]
- Our World in Data[↩]
- Haimi M, Kremer R. Vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency from childhood to adulthood: Insights from a sunny country. World J Clin Pediatr. 2017 Feb 8;6(1):1-9. doi: 10.5409/wjcp.v6.i1.1. PMID: 28224090; PMCID: PMC5296623.[↩]
- https://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-clothing/wool-industry/mulesing/[↩]