(P06-016-24) Equivalency of EPA and DHA Bioavailability When Comparing Microalgal and Fish Oil Supplementation

Objectives: To assess whether supplementation with microalgal versus fish oil with different EPA:DHA ratios will result in equivalent bioavailability of plasma EPA and DHA in humans.

Methods: Data from a 14-week, randomized placebo-controlled parallel double-blind trial (Maki et al. 2014) were used for a secondary data analysis. Participants were healthy adults with fasting triglyceride levels from 149 to 450 mg/dL and a DHA intake of < 200 mg/day. They received 4 capsules a day with either microalgal oil (164mg EPA, 443mg DHA; 1:3 EPA to DHA ratio) or fish oil (289mg EPA, 205mg DHA; 3:2 EPA to DHA ratio). The total daily dose was 656mg EPA and 1772mg DHA from microalgal oil or 1156mg EPA and 820mg DHA from fish oil. Placebo capsules contained corn and soy oil (ratio 1:1). Venous blood samples were collected at baseline, 6 and 14 weeks. Change of plasma phospholipid EPA and DHA was assessed using repeated mixed model ANCOVAs (R statistical software v4.2.3) on EPA and DHA intake-adjusted values, with treatment as fixed effect while taking into consideration statin use and baseline EPA and DHA levels. The Geometric Mean Ratio (GMR) and 90% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated with a linear mixed model adjusting for the same covariates as in the ANCOVA models to assess equivalency between the two active treatment arms. Equivalency was considered to be met when the CI around the GMR value was between 80 and 125% (FDA-2014-D-0204).

Results: A total of 74 participants were considered compliant and had a complete dataset with plasma phospholipid EPA and DHA assessments at 6 and 14 weeks. EPA and DHA consumption from food did not differ between groups. Total plasma phospholipid EPA and DHA increased significantly in both the microalgal and fish groups compared to placebo. Total plasma phospholipid EPA and DHA was demonstrated to be equivalent between microalgal and fish sources, per the criteria described above.

Conclusions: Algal and fish oil supplements increase plasma phospholipid EPA and DHA levels despite the different EPA:DHA ratios. Total plasma phospholipid EPA and DHA shows equivalency between sources. This study demonstrates that microalgal oil is a viable alternative to fish oil to meet global nutritional requirements.

Funding Sources: dsm-firmenich