Because of the shortfall in omega-3 intake, the health consequences that arise from such deficiencies, and also concerns regarding sustainability of many fish species, there has been great scientific interest in finding sustainable sources of plant-sourced omega-3 oils that are capable of significantly raising EPA and DHA levels. In November 2009, the European Commission acknowledged that echium seed oil complies with the Novel Food Legislation, granting it novel food status and therefore suitable for human consumption. Before November 2009, echium oil simply wasn’t available! Unlike flaxseed oil (and other plant oils), echium oil, derived from the seed of the plant Echium plantagineum, provides a rich source of the omega-3 fatty acid SDA, which is the fatty acid derived from ALA and the precursor to EPA. Simply put, this fatty acid bypasses the rate-limiting conversion step in the synthesis of ALA to EPA and then on to DHA. Indeed, SDA has been shown to be around 5 times more effective than ALA in producing EPA. Furthermore, SDA in combination with gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) – an anti-inflammatory omega-6 present in echium but not found in flaxseed oil – raises red blood cell EPA levels more efficiently than SDA alone, making echium oil a unique source of omega-3 and therefore superior to other available plant derived omega-3s. Taking echium seed oil on a daily basis provides the body with the best possible source from which essential long chain EPA and DHA can be made.
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Because of the shortfall in omega-3 intake, the health consequences that arise from such deficiencies, and also concerns regarding sustainability of many fish species, there has been great scientific interest in finding sustainable sources of plant-sourced omega-3 oils that are capable of significantly raising EPA and DHA levels. In November 2009, the European Commission acknowledged that echium seed oil complies with the Novel Food Legislation, granting it novel food status and therefore suitable for human consumption. Before November 2009, echium oil simply wasn’t available! Unlike flaxseed oil (and other plant oils), echium oil, derived from the seed of the plant Echium plantagineum, provides a rich source of the omega-3 fatty acid SDA, which is the fatty acid derived from ALA and the precursor to EPA. Simply put, this fatty acid bypasses the rate-limiting conversion step in the synthesis of ALA to EPA and then on to DHA. Indeed, SDA has been shown to be around 5 times more effective than ALA in producing EPA. Furthermore, SDA in combination with gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) – an anti-inflammatory omega-6 present in echium but not found in flaxseed oil – raises red blood cell EPA levels more efficiently than SDA alone, making echium oil a unique source of omega-3 and therefore superior to other available plant derived omega-3s. Taking echium seed oil on a daily basis provides the body with the best possible source from which essential long chain EPA and DHA can be made.
March 30, 2011 - 12:05amThis Comment
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