Fish Oil Supplement Manufacturer

By: Kevin A
Submitted: 2008-09-08 13:35:56
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Omega 3 fatty acids are essential to human health. A diet rich in fresh sources of Omega 3 has been recommended by the American Heart Association. AHA also recommends supplementation of Omega 3, under doctor’s advice, for people suffering from coronary artery disease and high triglycerides. Such claims from credible sources, like the AHA and FDA, have created an increasingly growing awareness of omega-3 health benefits with consumers, resulting in a rapidly growing market.

Another reason for its continuing growth is that Omega 3 fatty acids cannot be manufactured by the body. We need to eat food sources rich in omega 3. This presents a challenge because these nutrients are not in most of the foods we eat on a daily basis. The solution? Supplementation of Omega 3. Omega 3 supplementation is a fast growing market holding the maximum potential for nutraceutical manufacturers.

High Quality Supplementation of Omega 3 is Important

It is important that your supplement manufacturer ensures the manufacturing of a high quality omega 3 product. Inferior quality fish oil capsules tend to get rancid, and can cause adverse health problems mainly due to the high levels of methylmercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxins.

Pharmaceutical grade omega 3 is a term referred to fish oil which has been molecularly distilled or refined to make it free from impurities, thus making it fit for consumption. Molecular distillation kills bacteria and filters heavy metals to produce fish oil which is totally pure and safe.

Fish oil supplements can be distilled to remove all contaminants if a manufacturer chooses to use the right process. A good fish oil supplement manufacturer will undergo this process to ensure the highest possible purity.

Things to Ask Your Supplement ManufacturerHow pure is the fish oil concentration?

The higher the purity, the higher the concentration of EPA and DHA. A high end distillation process will ensure a purity level of 90% or above. The ratio of EPA and DHA at 2:1 is the natural balance found in fish. This is the optimal ratio.

What preventive measures are taken to ensure that oxidation does not take place during manufacturing?

Next to purity of the fish oil, prevention of oxidation is the second most important step for producing high quality fish oil. Exposure to oxygen makes omega-3 fatty acids rancid. The fish oil should be strictly manufactured under nitrogen to preserve its potency. In general, the lower the peroxide value, the fresher the oil. The final product should contain a small amount of natural vitamin E for stabilization of the product.

Where does the fish come from?

Another important factor is the source of the fish. Farm-raised fish contain a higher percentage of toxins (PCBs) than those found in the wild. Because of industrial dumping of waste, marine life has been contaminated with chemical toxins. Fish feed for farm-raised fish consist of grounded fish containing higher concentrations of a variety of contaminants. Fish found wild in the purer waters of the Alaskan and Antarctic regions have less contaminants and only such fish should be used for making fish oil.

How does the manufacturer prevent a fishy flavor or fishy aftertaste?

Normally a high quality fish oil has a bright color, is odorless and tasteless. To further ensure that there is no fishy aftertaste, an enteric coating around the capsule delays digestion in the stomach. By promoting digestion in the smaller intestines the consumer does not experience “fishy” burps.

Does the manufacturer add flavor?

As an extra precaution against fishy flavor, the fish oil supplement manufacturer should add flavor for extra masking of odor and taste.

What is on the label?

Supplement manufacturers should show Supplement Facts clearly listing the amount of fish oil in milligrams, the amount of DHA and EPA, the type of fish used and the distillation process.

Is the manufacturer GMP certified?

GMP certified manufacturers follow strict standards of manufacturing practices.

Article source: Expert Articles