Ultra Pure EPA/DHA 1000 mg, 60 softgel capsules

High doses of the essential omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)

Particularly suitable for people who wish to optimise their omega-3 fatty acid intake or achieve specific health benefits. The fatty acids in Ultra Pure EPA/DHA 1000 mg are present in a high-quality triglyceride form, which explains their excellent absorption. Golden Omega is renowned for producing high-purity fish oil. The total oxidation values (TOTOX) in each batch of oil are also very low. The oil itself is very light in colour, which is an indicator of its exceptionally high quality. In summary, Ultra Pure EPA/DHA 1000 mg offers a high dosage, purity and exceptional freshness, and is very well absorbed by the body.

A high-dose fish oil supplement such as Ultra Pure EPA/DHA 1000 mg offers the advantage that the health benefits, which only occur at higher doses of EPA and DHA, can be easily achieved by taking just 2 to 3 softgel capsules per day. Studies have shown that EPA and DHA, at a daily dose of 2 g (2 softgel capsules), help maintain healthy blood lipid levels. The blood contains various fats (known as triglycerides), some of which come from food and others which are synthesised by the liver. Furthermore, EPA and DHA have a positive effect on blood lipid composition. EPA and DHA can also be helpful for blood pressure issues when taken daily at a dose of 3 grams (3 softgel capsules). Ultra Pure EPA/DHA 1000 mg is an excellent dietary supplement for people who wish to improve their blood pressure and maintain healthy blood lipid levels.

Fish oil from Golden Omega

is a key ingredient in Ultra Pure EPA/DHA 1000 mg. The company is based in the far north of Chile in a state-of-the-art factory. The building is very strategically located, right next to the waters where the fish used for fish oil production is caught. A major advantage of this is that the fish can be processed quickly after being caught, ensuring it remains very fresh. To minimise the impact on the environment, Golden Omega works exclusively with certified fishermen.

Golden Omega focuses on purity and quality in the production of its fish oil. By using a patented purification process to remove impurities from the fish, as well as a similarly patented concentration process, Golden Omega ensures it offers a product of the highest quality. This is evident, on the one hand, in the very light colour of the fish oils, but above all in the extremely low TOTOX values of its oils (the average of which is below 5). The TOTOX value (‘TOTal OXidation value’) serves as an indicator of an oil’s freshness or rancidity. Fish oil is particularly susceptible to oxidation because it contains many sensitive unsaturated fatty acids. Fatty acids suffer oxidative damage when they come into contact with oxygen; this damage can be exacerbated by heating (such as when frying fish). As rancid oils are considered unhealthy, a low TOTOX value is important. As well as purity, it is also a good indicator of the quality of a fish oil supplement. Furthermore, a low TOTOX value reduces the likelihood of fishy burps. And that is a major advantage for many people.

Golden Omega holds several quality and sustainability certificates that attest to the high standard of its fish oils. These include IFOS (a quality mark for the quality, freshness, purity and stability of fish oil), Friend of the Sea (a seal of approval for sustainable fishing and the protection of the natural ecosystem), Dolphin Safe (a seal of approval for sustainable fishing and dolphin protection) and Green-e (a seal of approval for green energy).

The difference between fish oil as a triglyceride and as an ethyl ester

There are various types of fish oil supplements available on the market. There are dietary supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids in their natural triglyceride form (such as liquid fish oil, e.g. Liquid EPA/DHA 1200 mg) and in the re-esterified triglyceride form (e.g. Ultra Pure EPA/DHA 1000 mg from Vitals). In addition, products containing EPA and DHA in the ethyl ester form are also available.
In foodstuffs and in fish oil, fats are present as triglycerides. They consist of three fatty acid molecules bound to a single glycerol molecule (see Figure 1). Unprocessed fish oil contains two other fatty acids in addition to EPA or DHA. Consequently, the natural EPA/DHA content in fish oil is at most 30 per cent. As space in a softgel capsule is limited, higher concentrations of up to 80–90 per cent are desirable for fish oil supplements in such capsules. During the manufacturing process, the fatty acid chains are separated from the glycerol and the EPA/DHA fatty acids are isolated by extraction. As these free fatty acids are highly unstable, they are then bound separately to an ethanol molecule. These compounds are known as ethyl esters. This method is used in many fish oil dietary supplements. During the production of the fish oil for Golden Omega Ultra Pure EPA/DHA 1000 mg, the EPA/DHA fatty acids are reattached to a glycerol chain (re-esterified), resulting in a triglyceride (also known as rTG, which stands for ‘re-esterified triglyceride’). In this way, it resembles the structure of natural fatty acids, but with three EPA/DHA side chains instead of just one.

EPA/DHA as triglycerides, which are more easily absorbed than ethyl esters. In the body, the fats (triglycerides) are broken down into monoglycerides and free fatty acids so that they can be absorbed by the intestinal cells. They are then recombined to form triglycerides. Fatty acids are absorbed as triglycerides via the lymphatic system and enter the bloodstream. Ethyl esters have the disadvantage that they require an additional enzyme to break them down into free fatty acids. Furthermore, for the fat-splitting enzymes to function properly, they also require triglycerides from the diet. Several studies have shown that the absorption of omega-3 fatty acids in the form of triglycerides is more efficient. If the omega-3 dietary supplement is taken with a low-fat meal (such as a typical breakfast or lunch), this difference is even more pronounced. The absorption of omega-3 fatty acids in triglyceride form is also more effective when taken with a high-fat meal than with a low-fat meal or on an empty stomach.

Permitted health claims:

• With a daily dose of 250 mg EPA/DHA (equivalent to 1 softgel capsule), these substances support normal heart function.
• DHA helps maintain healthy brain function and good vision at a daily dose of 250 mg DHA (1 softgel capsule daily).
• At a daily dose of 2 grams of EPA/DHA (equivalent to 2 softgel capsules), these substances help maintain healthy blood lipid levels.
• A daily intake of 3 grams of EPA/DHA (three softgel capsules) helps maintain normal blood pressure.

Key ingredients

* No reference amount specified under the Food Information Regulation (LMIV)

Ingredients

Fish oil triglyceride concentrate, fish gelatine(softgel capsule), humectant (glycerol), purified water, antioxidant (extracts rich in tocopherols).

Recommended intake

Take 1–2 softgel capsules per day with water, with a meal containing fat. Do not exceed the recommended daily intake.

Caution

The combined daily intake of EPA and DHA should not exceed 5 grams. Do not take doses exceeding 1000 mg of EPA/DHA unless advised by a doctor if you suffer from, or have suffered from, atrial fibrillation.

Storage instructions

Store in a cool, dry place away from light (not in the fridge).

Legal information

Do not exceed the recommended daily intake. Food supplements are not a substitute for a balanced and varied diet and a healthy lifestyle. Keep out of reach of young children.