Plant based diets have been reported to have many benefits including reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity and certain cancers. However, for those who adopt a plant based diet there are often deficiencies in specific essential nutrients. One of those nutrients include the omega 3 (n-3) fatty acids.
DHA, also known as docosahexaenoic acid is found in fish and to a lesser extent eggs and dairy products making consumption of omega 3’s difficult. DHA has been well document in the scientific literature as being low in vegans and vegetarians. Studies have reported that consumption of DHA protects against cardiovascular disease, reducing age related brain function, reducing age-related macular degeneration, ADHD, reducing, anxiety, and depression.
For those not consuming fish oil and attempting to supplement and increase DHA, algae oil has been suggested as an alternative. Until this recent study published in the Journal of Functional Foods there have not been any studies to determine if DHA supplementation with algae oil is equivalent to fish oil.
In this clinical trial in England 31 healthy adults (11 males, 20 females) were enrolled in the study and consumed 600 mg of DHA from either algae oil capsules or fish oil capsules. Twenty nine subjects completed the study as two were non-compliant due to personal reasons (i.e. vacation). After two weeks of supplementation with fish oil capsules and algae oil capsules the levels of DHA were analyzed. The results reported that the fish oil and algae oil were equivalent in increasing DHA levels. This study adds to the growing evidence that algae oil can be a source for DHA supplementation.
Take away message. For those following a plant based diet they will consistently have lower levels of omega-3 fatty acid levels than those who consume meat and fish. Algae oil in this study reported that it was equivalent to fish oil in increasing DHA levels with evidence suggesting that DHA from algae oil accumulated more than DHA from fish oil.
Journal of Functional Foods, Volume 19, Part B, December 2015, Pages 852-858
His research on plant medicine has led to more than 45 publications and abstracts.This research has been presented at international meetings in the USA, France, Turkey, Peru, Israel, Austria, and Italy.
Categories: Clinical Trials, Good fats (PUFAs, omega-3), Heart
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