Posted by Larry Hoover on June 21, 2007, at 8:45:37
In reply to Re: any serious source of veg. (algae) epa + dha?, posted by Simon West on June 20, 2007, at 12:22:31
> We are responsible for the PR and marketing for V-Pure, (Water4) the only Algae, EPA & DHA supplement on the market today. I would like to clarify a few points following that extremely misleading post by iforgotmypassword.
In turn, I'll do some clarifying of my own.
> The product is the highest concentration of EPA & DHA from an algae source on the market today.
Although literally true, Neuromins produces some products with higher total long-chain omega-3 concentrations....40%, vs. your 23%. The only novel feature of this product is that it has a low concentration of EPA.
> The recommended dose is 3 capsules a day with a combined EPA & DHA of 345mg, which is quite high, even in comparison to most fish oils.
One lone standard fish oil capsule (assuming the industry standard 1000 mg dose) contains roughly the same amount of omega-3s (and I'm not counting the other 18-, 20-, and 22-carbon omega-3s not found in algal sources). Moreover, many different products have far enhanced concentrations than those found in standard fish oils. The use of "most" in your description of fish oils should read "few, if any".
> Water4 couldn't put the entire dose in one capsule, as it would be too big to swallow. So they have spread the dose over 3 caps. You should not compare the capsules strength, but recommended daily dose.
True, daily dose is the issue, but your capsule size is arbitrary. Some people do find 1000 mg caps an annoyance, but I can swallow a dozen 1000 mg size at a shot. From a marketing perspective, isn't it true that you can appear to provide more actual product by supplying 60 smaller caps instead of 30 larger ones? The true measure is how many days a package will last, rather than the capsule size.
> You mentioned that you would have to take 40 capsules per day to get the what you all a 'normal therapeutic range'. That is totally wrong. That would equate to 4600 mg. If you were to take that amount in a day - it would be very dangerous and very irresponsible.
There is nothing at all dangerous about it, unless the subject is using coumadin or warfarin.
> There are no RDA’s (Recommended daily allowance) for EPA & DHA at the moment but 500mg would be nearer the mark for a daily dose.
I could write an essay right here, but let me simply say that RDA's are defined as the average daily intake to maintain health for 95% of normal healthy individuals. The term is irrelevant for people with existing deficiencies, or those with ill health requiring treatment.
> You also suggested that there are other fats within each capsule that you don’t need or want. That tends to be true with most fish oils. The other fats within V-Pure capsules are all beneficial to health.
No. No. No.
With the exception of fats created by the liver from carbs, all fats ultimately derive from plant sources. The marine food chain is entirely based on algal sources of fats. If a fat is in a fish, it came from algae. All fats are blends of various fatty acids, bonded to glycerol (triglycerides are three fatty acids hooked to one glycerine molecule). Most fats are burned as energy. Some special fats are retained for structural purposes. It's lovely to get the most concentrated dietary sources of special fats (e.g. the omega-3s), so as to not simultaneously have to deal with all the extra fat which would go to energy or storage. Fish are actually quite competent at burning off the other fatty acids, and retaining the omega-3s.
> Water4 are selling an EPA & DHA supplement, so they are concentrating on these properties within the capsules and nothing else.
Right. But what is the fatty acid profile of the remaining fats? They are simply the coextractives of the omega-3s, but I've seen no breakdown.
> The production of Algae EPA & DHA is very expensive at the present time. Water4 have brought out a unique product that’s doing wonders for our environment and could one day help prevent the destruction of the world’s fish stocks.
That is unbelievable. The destruction of fish stocks has nothing whatsoever to do with the production of fish oil. Crude fish oil is a world commodity, sold by the tonne, like wheat or soybeans. By far, the greatest use is for feed for farmed fish. Human consumption is quite trivial. To divert a tiny percentage of a market of a trivial amount of global commodity is not going to save the fisheries.
> It’s alsoVegan, so a huge benefit to people that don’t eat fish and others with fish oil allergies.
Fish oil allergies? All allergies are caused by proteins, and there is no detectable protein in properly prepared fish oil for human consumption.
> The price will come down in time when supply increases. Also, there are other products in development and these statements were not put out in order to just to please shareholders. Unfortunately, they’re taking longer to bring to market than was first anticipated.
Well, I suppose start-up costs for farming pond scum might be significant, but real expenses will be incurred if and when omega-3 concentrates are produced from your crude oil. I just don't see this stuff ever having a huge market. Purified fish oil and purified algal oil are chemically indistinguishable, with respect to their omega-3 fats (ignoring variability in proportions). There would be some differences in coextracted fatty acids, but we'll have to take a look at that if and when your firm supplies those data.
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:762636
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20070601/msgs/764698.html