USA
April 26, 2023
Fish oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Studies show they have an overall positive impact on brain, eye and heart health, as well as aiding in inflammation management. These fatty acids are also essential as a feed additive to farmed salmon to support animal health and welfare, as well as conferring omega-3 nutrition in the filet.
But there’s been a problem in recent years. The fish oil supply is declining as wild populations are impacted by environmental pressures and overfishing. This means the aquaculture industry has replaced some fish oils with vegetable oils which lack these essential fatty acids. New omega-3 sources are needed to support fish health.
Nuseed Omega-3 Canola varieties are helping do this. Two new studies conducted by the Norwegian Institute of Food, Fisheries and Aquaculture Research (NOFIMA) found that salmon fed a diet that replaced standard canola oil with oil that includes Aquaterra — derived from Nuseed Omega-3 Canola for use in fish feed — produced better quality filets with more nutritional value.
“Our oils are still new to the market,” notes Katrina Benedicto, Director of Marketing and Communications for Nuseed’s nutritional division.
“Research with fish and human clinical trials continue to verify the safety and efficacy of Nuseed Omega-3 Canola. This research is showing that omega-3 canola oil is as effective as any other omega-3 oil source,” she says.
What’s more, a recent survey indicates that 64% of U.S. vitamin consumers prefer plantbased omega-3 supplements when offered an alternative to marine-based oil.
Not only that, but Benedicto notes that omega-3 canola oil has many things going for it that put it in a special category and set it apart from traditional fish oil.
Each year, the nutraceutical magazine Nutra Ingredients recognizes the most innovative ingredients, finished products and research in the nutrition and dietary supplements industry. They field hundreds of submissions from companies looking to bring attention to new products and projects. Finalists are selected within 17 categories.
In 2022, Nuseed’s Nutriterra Total Omega-3, an oil derived from Nuseed Omega-3 Canola for human consumption, was honored as a finalist for the specialty award Nutrition Research Project of the Year. Nutriterra was shown to work raising indices of omega-3 status in study participants. The recognition showed that Nuseed’s innovation is essential to increasing access to high quality omega-3 nutrition.
“We set out to create a new source of omega-3 to close the gap between how much is needed to support aquaculture and human health and how little the ocean can provide. We ended up with a unique oil that provides benefits of marine-based and plant-based omega-3. It’s always exciting when new research proves that our products offer more than a new source of omega-3, but an actual advancement in the category,” Benedicto adds.
“People who don’t consume fish due to allergies, dietary preference, or concern about ocean health, now have access to this alternative. To have a plant-based version of an omega-3 product that can supply the nutritional benefits of traditional fish oil is huge.”
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