Nordic Naturals targets emerging EPA-only omega-3 sector with new supplement
The company has launched EPA Elite, which provides a whopping 1600 mg of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) per serving, to support healthy triglyceride levels and heart health.
“To date, concentrated DHA has probably been given greater emphasis than EPA because of its targeted support for brain health, and its importance for children,” said Keri Marshall, MS, ND, and Nordic Naturals Chief Medical Officer.
“But, as more becomes known about EPA—such as its cardiovascular health benefits—demand for EPA-only products grows. We believe Nordic Naturals EPA Elite is the ideal EPA-only formulation.”
Triglycerides vs ethyl esters
EPA Elite is an EPA-only formula that contains a similar dose of fish oil to a much-studied ethyl-ester EPA formulation, said the company. Clinical trials have indicated that this dose of EPA may reduce triglycerides and other cardiovascular risk factors.
“Omega-3 essential fatty acids are naturally found in the triglyceride molecular form, and must be concentrated in order to make a high-potency product,” explained Tone Larsen, Nordic Naturals Product Development Manager.
“During this process, the triglyceride bond is necessarily broken, and must be reassembled after concentration to reconstitute the body’s preferred form of this essential fat—a triglyceride.
“If you forego this step during production, you end up with a cheaper product that’s easier to make because you are skipping the last step, but that does not mean an ethyl ester product delivers the same bioavailability as a triglyceride. Studies show that triglycerides are up to 70% more bioavailable than ethyl ester omegas.”
Sustainable sourcing
The company chose Peruvian anchovies as the source for its omega-3 product, “which not only meet the omega-3 potency criterion, but are also in abundant supply, so there’s no concern around sustainability,” said Larsen.
“As a matter of practice, all fish used to make Nordic Naturals products meet these criteria, so that we can be confident that the products we offer to maintain optimal health are not indirectly diminishing the health of the ocean or its fish species.”
