DHA/EPA 450mg vegan Vitals

Vegan DHA/EPA 450 mg by Vitals is a food supplement based on algae oil that contains the important omega-3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), with the emphasis on a greater amount of DHA relative to EPA. For certain groups (such as pregnant women, breastfeeding women and adults aged 50 and over), DHA is after all more important than EPA. Algae oil is an excellent alternative for people who do want to supplement their diet with extra DHA and EPA but prefer not to take fish oil (such as vegetarians and vegans, or people with a fish allergy). What is special about the algae oil in Vegan DHA/EPA 450 mg is that, besides DHA, it also contains EPA. Moreover, the DHA and EPA doses for a vegan omega-3 supplement in softgels are exceptionally high. The omega-3 fatty acids in this product are in the natural, unprocessed triglyceride form, and are well absorbed. And of course, Vegan DHA/EPA 450 mg uses only very fresh and pure algae oil.

DHA and EPA from a plant-based source for the brain, eyes and heart
Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA together have a beneficial effect on the heart. DHA also contributes to the maintenance of normal vision and a healthy brain function. It is not for nothing that eating fatty fish in particular, which is naturally rich in DHA and EPA, is always part of official recommendations for a healthy diet. In 2010, EFSA formulated additional advice for pregnant women and breastfeeding women to ensure a higher daily intake of DHA and EPA (450 mg DHA plus EPA, of which at least 200 mg DHA). DHA also contributes to the normal development of the eyes and brain of the foetus and the breastfed infant.

In practice, however, a significant proportion of people (including pregnant women, vegetarians and vegans) turn out not to eat enough, or no, (fatty) fish at all to reach the recommended daily doses of DHA and EPA. There are various reasons why people do not meet the recommendations, but this is a problem because fish is still our most important source of DHA and EPA. Moreover, those same official recommendations also indicate that it is better for everyone not to eat fish too often either. This is because of the harmful substances that can occur in it due to environmental pollution (especially dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and heavy metals such as methylmercury). This is not an issue with good-quality fish oil supplements that have been purified and therefore contain little or none of these contaminants. And algae for use in an algae oil supplement are cultivated under shielded and strictly controlled conditions, so the problem of environmental contamination does not arise at all there. More and more people are therefore choosing to supplement their diet daily with a fish oil or algae oil supplement to make optimal use of the health benefits of these important long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids.

For people who eat a vegetarian or vegan diet, the intake of DHA and EPA is under even more pressure. This group, after all, eats no fish at all, which as mentioned is still the most important dietary source of DHA and EPA. Vegetarians or vegans often use a plant-based oil to supplement their diet. Such as linseed oil, which is rich in the essential omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Supplementing the diet with ALA is certainly a good idea to maintain a good balance between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. In western countries we take in relatively too much omega-6; this applies even more to vegetarians and vegans. However, it is a misconception to think that ALA can also fully replace the intake of DHA and EPA. The body can in principle produce these omega-3 fatty acids itself from ALA, but in practice this conversion proceeds very poorly. For vegetarians and vegans, an algae oil supplement with DHA and EPA can therefore be a good choice. But also for people with a fish allergy or people who prefer not to use fish oil for other reasons. Algae oil is a sustainable source of DHA and EPA, but for now the relatively high price means that higher doses of DHA (and certainly also EPA) are difficult to achieve.

Permitted health claims:

• DHA contributes to the maintenance of normal brain function and normal vision, at a daily intake of 250 mg DHA
• DHA is an important building block for the brain, at a daily intake of 250 mg DHA
• DHA plays a role in the function of the retina, at a daily intake of 250 mg DHA
• DHA contributes to the normal development of the eyes and brain of the foetus and the breastfed infant, at a daily intake of 200 mg by the mother, in addition to the recommended daily amount of 250 mg EPA and DHA
• EPA and DHA contribute to the normal function of the heart, at a daily intake of 250 mg EPA and DHA