Journal article

Publication year: 2021

Pages: 432-439

Journal: British Journal of Nutrition

Volume number: 125

Issue number: 4

ISSN: 0007-1145

eISSN: 1475-2662

Open access status: Hybrid

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114520002809

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Abstract: 

The n-3 PUFA, EPA and DHA, play an important role in human health. As the intake of EPA and DHA from the diet is often inadequate, supplementation of those fatty acids is recommended. A novel source of n-3 PUFA is Calanus finmarchicus oil (CO) which contains fatty acids mainly bound in wax esters. To date, no data are available on the effects of long-term intake of this marine oil on n-3 PUFA blood levels. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of CO on the n-3 PUFA blood levels using the omega-3 index (O3I). The data originate from a larger randomised controlled trial. For this analysis, samples from seventy-two participants (59.2 (sd 6.2) years, BMI 27.7 (sd 5.28) kg/m(2)) were analysed. Of those, thirty-six performed 2x/week exercise and received 2 g of CO, which provided 124 mg stearidonic acid (SDA), 109 mg EPA and 87 mg DHA daily (EXCO group), while the other group performed exercise only (EX group) and served as a control for this analysis. The O3I increased from 6.07 (sd 1.29) % at baseline to 7.37 (sd 1.10) % after 12 weeks within the EXCO group (P < 0.001), while there were no significant changes in the EX group (6.01 (sd 1.26)-6.15 (sd 1.32) %, P = 0.238). These data provide first evidence that wax ester-bound n-3 PUFA from CO can significantly increase the O3I despite relatively low EPA + DHA amounts. Further, the effects of exercise could be excluded.

Harvard Citation style: Wasserfurth, P., Nebl, J., Bosslau, T., Krüger, K., Hahn, A. and Schuchardt, J. (2021) Intake of Calanus finmarchicus oil for 12 weeks improves omega-3 index in healthy older subjects engaging in an exercise programme, British Journal of Nutrition, 125(4), pp. 432-439. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114520002809

APA Citation style: Wasserfurth, P., Nebl, J., Bosslau, T., Krüger, K., Hahn, A., & Schuchardt, J. (2021). Intake of Calanus finmarchicus oil for 12 weeks improves omega-3 index in healthy older subjects engaging in an exercise programme. British Journal of Nutrition. 125(4), 432-439. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114520002809