Pregnancy Support

Omedha is naturally high in DHA to offer direct absorption without side effects [Chart].
  • Regardless of total omega-3 intake, DHA to EPA ratio is up to 8 times higher in RBC and is found at even higher ratios in organ tissues, such as the Central Nervous System, brain and eyes.
  • DHA is approximately 80 percent of total omega-3 in human body.
  • Retroconversion of DHA to EPA is an abundant and natural process to provide the body complete omega-3 essentiality.*
  • Direct intake of High-DHA algae oil is shown to most efficiently increase DHA levels.
  • DHA is readily available for absorption and transfer to tissues upon digestion. 
Schizochytrium as an Excellent Source of Dietary Omega-3s. The discussion that follows focuses on the Schizochytrium microalgae strain, which makes high levels of DHA and some EPA. Analysis of vegetarian sources of omega-3 fatty acids inevitably leads to microalgae. Overall, algae are a unique branch of life on planet earth. Most marine EPA and DHA do not originate with fish, but accumulate up the marine food chain from sources like microalgae. 

Schizochytrium is a Thraustochytrid, a member of the kingdom Chromista. Schizochytrium is an ancient non-photosynthetic detritus feeding organism that does not assemble into higher ordered structures, as do some photosynthetic green, red, and yellow-green algae. Thraustochytrids form a part of the coastal food chains as a food source for shellfish, which form a significant part of the human diet in coastal regions around the world. Chromista are not related to any toxic algae forms, such as some blue-green algae and dinoflagellates, which are in completely separate Kingdoms (1).

Source of Omega-3: The oil in Omedha is from a strain originally selected through standard breeding progams at the time of their development. The oil has been consumed by humans for over 25 years without known adverse effects other than occational intestinal discomfort and nausea. If any discomfort is reported discontinue use under the advice of a health professional.

GRAS Notification for, DHA Algal Oil Derived from Schizochytrium sp. (2003) GRAS Exemption: The use of DHA Algal Oil as a food ingredient to increase dietary intake of DHA up to 1.5 grams of DHA per day is exempt from the premarket approval requirements of the Federal [U.S.] Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA); because, such use is GRAS, from the original submission (2000).
 

ABOUT NUTRITIONAL LIPIDS

It has been shown that individual ratios of polyunsaturated fatty acids vary according to food source. For DHA-rich Schizochytrium sp. oil the key points to note are very high levels of DHA, the low levels of EPA and moderate content of docosapentaenoic acid (DPA n-6) (2). DPA n-6 is an omega-6 fatty acid that does not have the same bioactivity as AA [Arachidonic Acid]. It is present in a wide variety of foods and is relatively abundant in eggs and breast milk. The ratio of DPA n-6 to DHA n-3 in human breast milk is reported to range normally from 1:1 to 1:6 (2). The ratio of DPA n-6 to DHA n-3 in CereNate BRAINTRUST DHA-rich Schizochytrium oil is 1:6, within a safe lower range compared of breast milk. Schizochytrium microalgae strains have been developed by conventional techniques and no Genetic Modifications were used or needed (1).
 
Why are the longer chain omega-3 fatty acids different from other fatty acids in terms of their biological effects? Likely, the higher number of double bonds starting at carbon 3 from the end gives these fatty acids uniqueness and bioactive properties that were harnessed by organisms over evolutionary time. For instance, the brain is enriched in long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, particularly DHA, in phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanol phospholipids concentrated in plasma membranes at the neuronal synapse(3). Plasma membranes contain various amounts of DHA or EPA in phospholipids. Biophysical studies of omega-3 membrane-protein interactions and functions as well as developmental physiology are important emerging areas of research (1).
  • Each Omedha™ mini-softgel gives a 350mg DHA serving and fulfills the NIH/ISSFAL recommendations for pregnant and nursing women (4)
References:
(1) Doughman et al., Omega-3 fatty acids for nutrition and medicine: considering microalgae oil as a vegetarian source of EPA and DHA. Curr Diabetes Rev. 2007, 3:198-203.

(2) Hauvermale A, Kuner J, Rosenzweig B, et al. Fatty acid production in Schizochytrium sp.: Involvement of a polyunsaturated fatty acid synthase and a type I fatty acid synthase. Lipids 2006; 41: 739-47.
 
(3) Qi K, Hall M, Deckelbaum RJ. Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid accretion in brain. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care 2002; 5: 133-8.
 
(4) NIH/ISSFAL Workshop Statement on the Essentiality of and Recommended Dietary Intakes for Omega-6 and Omega-3 Fatty Acids, 2000.
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