Virtually all scientists, researchers and nutritionists agree the human body has a physiological need for essential fatty acids, or EFAs. They also agree the majority of people don’t get enough EFA from their diets, and that supplementing is hugely beneficial. But when it comes to the best source for supplemental EFA, a debate has raged for 50 years. On one side, the proponents of fish oil maintain that some EFAs (EPA and DHA) are only available in fish oil; hence, fish oil provides a faster, more reliable "direct hit" to blood levels. Plant-based sources only contain ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), which the body must convert into EPA and DHA. Meanwhile, proponents of plant-based EFA point to fish oil’s poor safety record. With testing regularly showing high rates of toxicity and rancidity in fish oils, they argue it’s a safer hedge to let the body do some extra work in converting ALA into EPA and DHA. But what if this entire debate was unnecessary? What if decades of research has taught that, with a little tweaking, a quality plant-based supplement can provide highly bio-available EPA and DHA—all while maintaining the far-superior safety record? The history In the early 1970s researchers Jørn Dyerberg and Hans Olaf Bang reported that Greenland Eskimos had low rates of heart disease due to their high intake of marine lipids. This established the "gold standard" status of marine-derived Omega-3s (EPA and DHA). About the same time, other researchers discovered that DHA is crucial for retinal health and brain function. This solidified the idea that these long-chain fats were essential and that the body might not be making enough of them on its own. During the 1980s and 1990s health consumers who reported taking “essential fatty acid supplements” grew exponentially. At the same time the scientific "divide" began to appear. As research into EFAs expanded, studies began to quantify just how inefficiently the human body converts plant-based ALA into DHA. At this stage, plant-based advocacy struggled. Some studies showed conversion rates less than 1% for DHA. Plant-based EFA consumers still pointed to the safety advantage, but for most people the low bio-availability made plant-based unappealing. Then, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the situation changed dramatically. The “hack” that changed everything With advancements in technology, efficiency and scale an ancient plant super-nutrient became a viable EFA oil source. That super-nutrient is algae. Algae, as a marine plant, provided a rich source of vegetarian EFAs (EPA and DHA) that were similar in content and bioavailability to fish oil. Algae has been used for centuries by various populations for both food and medicine. It was even investigated for its high nutrient content by “western” researchers in the 1940s and 1950s; however, it took decades—and major advancements in technology—for efficient wide-scale production of extracting critical oils from algae to be viable. Today, algae production is done in carefully-controlled environments that ensure purity and high nutrient content. Backed by research Today it is generally accepted that the research shows algae oil is nutritionally bio-equivalent to fish oil—meaning it provides the same EPA and DHA the body needs. At the same time algae oil remains superior in terms of purity and sustainability. While some older literature originally promoted fish oil as the only "true" source, clinical trials during the past two decades confirm that algae-derived EPA and DHA are effectively absorbed and utilized. This makes the "plant-based approach" a scientifically sound and safe strategy. Some of the studies driving this point home include a 2014 UK study conducted at Manchester University, a 2021 German study, and a Canadian clinical study conducted in 2022. Supercharge your EFA supplementing! If algae oil is great as a stand-alone, is there any advantage to blending it with other plant-based oils?” The answer is yes—and that is exactly what Optimal Health Systems has done by “supercharging” Optimal E.F.A. with the inclusion of flaxseed oil and borage oil. • Flaxseed oil provides ALA, which has its own independent cardiovascular and anti-inflammatory benefits. • Borage oil is included for its high GLA (gamma-linolenic acid) content. GLA is an Omega-6 fatty acid; however, unlike like most “inflammatory” Omega-6s, GLA is anti-inflammatory and highly beneficial in its own right. By utilizing a synergistic “complex” blend in this way, Optimal Health Systems has created a unique EFA product that covers both the essential short-chain precursors (ALA) as well as the long-chain marine-equivalent fats (EPA and DHA). Click the banner ad on this page to learn more about Optimal E.F.A. - - - Sources: Critical Reviews in Food Science & Nutrition, Marine Drugs, Frontiers in Nutrition.
