Omega-3 from Yeast: EPA is as Safe and Effective as Fish Oil
Omega 3 from yeast: as safe as classic fish oil
The eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) produced by genetically modifying yeast is as safe and effective as the Omega 3 found in fish oil. A study published in the journal Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology has indeed shown that the EPA oil obtained from this engineered yeast has no side effects and has an action comparable to that of common supplements.
Sources of Omega-3: which one to choose?
Fatty fish, such as tuna, mackerel, salmon, and herring, represent the main source of Omega-3. They contain high amounts of EPA and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the other fatty acid "friendly" to health. The first approach to increase the intake of these nutrients is to introduce larger amounts of fish into the diet. However, there are other possible solutions:
- Omega-3 supplements based on fish oil, also rich in EPA and DHA;
- Omega-3 supplements based on krill oil, small shrimp containing high amounts of fatty acids.
DHA is also present in supplements obtained from microalgae. Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a plant-based Omega-3, is abundant in oil and flax seeds. Despite this wide choice, targeted research to develop new food products that help increase Omega-3 intake continues, even generating genetically modified plants enriched with these nutrients.
Yeasts, new factories for Omega-3
One of the latest opportunities is offered by yeasts. A group of researchers led by Susan MacKenzie from DuPont, one of the best-known chemical companies, engineered a strain of Yarrowia lipolytica to produce an oil rich in EPA. To test the safety of the product, researchers administered it to rats, comparing its effects with those of fish oil. The animals received daily doses of this oil for 90 consecutive days, corresponding to 98, 488, or 976 milligrams of EPA per kilogram of body weight. On one hand, the lowest dose of Omega-3 was not effective; on the other, the other doses showed the same benefits as fish oil intake. Researchers observed a reduction in total cholesterol levels and "bad" cholesterol. Moreover, the EPA obtained from yeast produced no significant side effects, not even at the highest dose. In fact, although at the beginning of the experiment taking the highest tested dose caused a decrease in "good" cholesterol, this effect disappeared in the following days.
Same safety for yeast and fish oil
Based on the results obtained, the study authors concluded that EPA produced from engineered yeast is as safe and effective as that contained in fish oil.
