Intake of Calanus finmarchicus oil for 12 weeks improves omega-3 index in healthy older subjects engaging in an exercise programme.

Paulina Wasserfurth,Josefine Nebl,Karsten Krüger,Tim Konstantin Boßlau,Jan Philipp Schuchardt,Andreas Hahn

doi:10.1017/s0007114520002809

Paulina Wasserfurth, Josefine Nebl + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1017/s0007114520002809

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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/m2) were analysed. Of those, thirty-six performed 2×/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.

Highlights

Of all n-3 PUFA, most of those health benefits are attributed to the 20 : 5n-3 fatty acid EPA and the 22 : 6n-3 fatty acid DHA
A novel n-3 PUFA source is the marine oil obtained from Calanus finmarchicus, a copepod found in the northern Atlantic sea
The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of Calanus finmarchicus oil (CO) providing physiological EPA þ DHA doses on the omega-3 index (O3I) in a study collective of healthy elderly subjects who participated in an exercise programme

Summary

Introduction

Of all n-3 PUFA, most of those health benefits are attributed to the 20 : 5n-3 fatty acid EPA and the 22 : 6n-3 fatty acid DHA. The omega-3 index (O3I) (relative content of EPA þ DHA in erythrocytes) has been shown to be a good and reliable indicator in evaluating the fatty acid supply over a longer period of time[10,11]. In addition to being an indicator for the long-term fatty acid supply, an O3I of >8 % was linked to a lower risk for Calanus oil intake improves omega-3 index cardiovascular events[10,12]. This is of particular interest for all age groups engaging in exercise, as exercise increases the demands of the cardiovascular system. To account for potential effects of the exercise programme on the O3I, the group performing exercise only served as a control

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