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Algal-Oil Capsules and Cooked Salmon: Nutritionally Equivalent Sources of Docosahexaenoic Acid

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2008.04.020Get rights and content

Abstract

Food and nutrition professionals question whether supplement-sourced nutrients appear to be equivalent to those derived from natural food sources. We compared the nutritional availability of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from algal-oil capsules to that from assayed cooked salmon in 32 healthy men and women, ages 20 to 65 years, in a randomized, open-label, parallel-group study. In this 2-week study comparing 600 mg DHA/day from algal-oil capsules to that from assayed portions of cooked salmon, mean change from baseline in plasma phospholipids and erythrocyte DHA levels was analyzed and DHA levels were compared by Student's t tests. In post-hoc analyses to determine bioequivalence, least-squares mean ratios of percent change from baseline in plasma phospholipid and erythrocyte DHA levels were compared. DHA levels increased by ∼80% in plasma phospholipids and by ∼25% in erythrocytes in both groups. Changes in DHA levels in plasma phospholipids and erythrocytes were similar between groups. As measured by delivery of DHA to both plasma and erythrocytes, fish and algal-oil capsules were equivalent. Both regimens were generally well-tolerated. These results indicate that algal-oil DHA capsules and cooked salmon appear to be bioequivalent in providing DHA to plasma and red blood cells and, accordingly, that algal-oil DHA capsules represent a safe and convenient source of non–fish-derived DHA.

Section snippets

Study Design

This study was a randomized, open-label, parallel-group design to compare plasma phospholipid and erythrocyte DHA in subjects supplemented with either encapsulated algal oil or cooked salmon. Because of obvious differences in the study materials, the study was not blinded. Subjects were interviewed by a study coordinator to obtain a self-reported date of birth, sex, race, height, weight, medical history, pregnancy status, smoking history, dietary supplement use, alcohol consumption, exercise,

Baseline Demographics and Compliance

There were no differences in mean age (35.7±7.3 and 35.5±6.1 years), weight (74.6±14.0 and 81.3±17.8 kg), height (170.9±12.0 and 173.6±7.4 cm), body mass index (calculated as kg/m2; 25.4±3.3 and 26.9±4.6), race (88% and 100% white), or sex (56% and 54% female) between algal-oil and fish groups, respectively. There were also no differences in the intakes of DHA or EPA in the baseline diet as determined by food frequency questionnaire. Total long-chain n-3 fatty acid intakes (DHA+EPA) were

Discussion

In contrast to our findings in this study, Visioli and colleagues (30) reported that plasma EPA and DHA concentrations after salmon intake were considerably higher than after administration of fish-oil capsules containing EPA and DHA ethyl esters. Although net increments of EPA and DHA in plasma lipids were linearly and significantly correlated with dose after capsule administration, it appeared that the DHA present in capsules as an ethyl ester fish-oil extract was not bioequivalent with DHA

Conclusion

Algal-oil capsules and cooked salmon represent nutritionally equivalent sources of DHA. That is, blood levels of this nutrient increased by equivalent amounts resulting in comparable blood levels of DHA after consuming either source. Algal-oil capsules appear to be a safe and convenient source of DHA and represent a suitable alternative to dietary fish for DHA delivery.

L. M. Arterburn is senior director, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Alba Therapeutics, Baltimore, MD; at the time of the study, she was director, Clinical Research, Martek Biosciences Corporation, Columbia, MD.

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      A study in healthy children 4 to 12 y of age in the United States reported an increase in phospholipid DHA contents by 40% to 50% and 65% to 70% after 6 wk supplementation of 180 mL/d juice fortified with 50 and 100 mg/d microencapsulated-algal DHA, respectively [60]. Algal oil provide an equivalent amount of DHA to the bloodstream as cooked salmon, whereas bioavailability of 600 mg/d DHA from salmon or algal oil are equivalent for incorporation into plasma erythrocytes and phospholipids [159]. In this study, we reviewed evidence that humans are able to synthesize ω-3 LCPUFAs from ALA, albeit limited, especially to DHA.

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    L. M. Arterburn is senior director, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Alba Therapeutics, Baltimore, MD; at the time of the study, she was director, Clinical Research, Martek Biosciences Corporation, Columbia, MD.

    H. A. Oken is clinical professor of medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore.

    J. A. Hamersley is clinical study coordinator, Charter Medical Group, University of Maryland, Baltimore.

    E. Bailey Hall is laboratory manager, Clinical Research, C. N. Kuratko is principal scientist, medical affairs, and J. P. Hoffman is director of medical services, Martek Biosciences Corporation, Columbia, MD.

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