Abstract
The objective of this study was to analyze and compare the eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5n3; EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6n3; DHA) content of omega-3 supplements sold in Arab Gulf Countries with the contents claimed on the product label. Thirty-one commercial supplements purchased from stores in 3 different countries (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain) had their fatty acid composition and content were analyzed using gas-chromatograph with a 100 m SP-2560 fused silica capillary column. The range of measured EPA was 5.09 to 469.63 mg per capsule and for DHA was 10.47 to 357.26 mg per capsule. The percentage of the stated label amount for EPA and DHA ranged from 6.5 to 138.6% and 10.9 to 126.3%, respectively. Using the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) labeling requirements where a supplement must contain at least 80% of the stated label amount of each component listed, only 43.8% of the supplements were compliant for EPA and 40.6% were compliant for DHA. Additionally, only 21.9% of the measured EPA and DHA fall within the 10% of the stated label amount. These results demonstrate that omega-3 supplements sold in Arab Gulf Countries is not being properly controlled by manufacturers or government agencies and quality testing is needed to ensure compliance.
Highlights
During the past few decades, awareness towards the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids in human health and disease prevention has been increased
There were thirteen different brands of omega-3 supplements manufactured in eight different countries
The omega-3 supplements samples were from the USA (3 brands), UK (2 brands), Spain (2 brands), Canada (1 brand), Denmark (1 brand), Holland (1 brand), Egypt (1 brand), UAE (1 band) and Saudi Arabia (1 brand)
Summary
During the past few decades, awareness towards the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids in human health and disease prevention has been increased. Due to low intakes of omega-3 fatty acids rich foods in many western populations, the supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids capsules to diets seem to be the easiest and the quickest way to elevate the level of omega-3 fatty acids intake. Such products are sold in grocery retailers, pharmacies, health stores, internet retailing and others drug stores in many western societies. Rising demand for supplements and functional foods along with increasing disposable income in Arab Gulf Countries
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