Ultra Pure EPA/DHA Sport, 60 softgel capsules

Ultra Pure EPA/DHA Sport for (Elite) Athletes

Anyone who practises sport professionally should be well informed about their nutrition. What ingredients are in the food, what are the nutritional values and what composition and quality do the dietary supplements consumed have? And it is at least as essential to know what you do not consume. You do not want to ingest unwanted substances or be associated with doping. Therefore Vitals products are checked for contaminants, and every batch of Ultra Pure EPA/DHA Sport is tested for substances relevant to doping. This is carried out according to the NZVT system.

The composition of Ultra Pure EPA/DHA Sport is identical to that of Ultra Pure EPA/DHA 1000 mg. Only the name and the doping test of each batch of Ultra Pure EPA/DHA Sport according to the NZVT system with subsequent certification differ.
The fish oil preparation Ultra Pure EPA/DHA Sport provides the essential omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in a particularly high dosage, with a balanced ratio between the two. It is impeccable for people who want to optimally support their omega-3 status or achieve certain health effects. The fatty acids in Ultra Pure EPA/DHA Sport are present in the high-quality triglyceride form, which makes their absorption excellent. Golden Omega is a manufacturer known for producing very pure fish oil. The TOTOX values in the individual oil batches are also very low. The radiant pale colour of the oil indicates its exceptionally high quality. In summary, Ultra Pure EPA/DHA Sport is highly dosed, pure, exceptionally fresh and very well absorbed by the body. In short, you can choose Ultra Pure EPA/DHA Sport from Vitals with confidence!

Suitable for competitive athletes, tested for doping

Every batch of Ultra Pure EPA/DHA Sport is tested for doping as part of the Dutch safety system for dietary supplements in elite sport (“Nederlands Zekerheidssysteem Voedingsupplementen Topsport", abbreviated NZVT). The NZVT system, similar to well-known initiatives in Germany such as the Kölner Liste®, is specifically aimed at (elite) athletes who can be tested for doping and offers at least the same level of security. The Dutch Anti-Doping Agency, the Dutch Olympic Committee and the sports association, together with the Dutch Association for Food Supplements, work together on this system.

Good for heart, brain, eyes and more …

The omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA together contribute to positive heart health. In addition, DHA supports the maintenance of normal vision and healthy brain function. It is no coincidence that consumption of particularly fatty fish species, which naturally contain high levels of EPA and DHA, has long been included in official dietary recommendations for a healthy diet. In practice, however, most people do not consume enough (fatty) fish to reach the recommended daily intake of EPA and DHA. There are various reasons why these people do not reach the recommended daily intake. This can be problematic because fish remains our main source of EPA and DHA. The same official recommendations also point out that it is preferable not to eat fish too often due to contaminants that fish can contain as a result of environmental pollution (in particular dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and heavy metals such as methylmercury). However, this is not an issue for high-quality, purified fish oil preparations that contain only minimal or no such contaminants. For this reason, more and more people are including a fish oil supplement in their daily diet to make the most of the health benefits of these long-chain unsaturated fatty acids.

A high-dose fish oil preparation such as Ultra Pure EPA/DHA Sport offers the advantage that the health effects which only occur at higher doses of EPA and DHA can already be achieved by taking just 2 to 3 softgel capsules per day. Studies have shown that EPA and DHA at a daily dosage of 2 grams (equivalent to 2 softgel capsules) contribute to the maintenance of healthy blood lipid levels. Various fats (triglycerides) are present in the blood, partly from the diet and partly produced by the liver. In addition, EPA and DHA have a positive effect on the lipid composition of the blood. At a daily intake of 3 grams (3 softgel capsules), EPA and DHA are also beneficial for blood pressure. Ultra Pure EPA/DHA Sport is an excellent addition to a healthy and balanced diet, especially for those who want to improve their blood pressure and promote healthy blood lipid levels.

Required EPA/DHA dose for an ideal omega-3 status

The omega-3 status refers to the amounts of EPA and DHA present in the body. It is nowadays possible to determine the omega-3 status. One method is a blood test via a finger prick, which measures the so-called Omega-3 Index. The Omega-3 Index, a reliable indicator of omega-3 status, gives the proportion of EPA and DHA in the total fatty acid composition of the cell membranes of erythrocytes. The content of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids in tissues and organs, including the heart, also correlates well with this Omega-3 Index.

Evidence that an Omega-3 Index of at least 8% is optimal is increasing. Studies have shown that many people, especially those with a typical European diet (usually associated with excessive consumption of omega-6 fatty acids), need high doses of EPA/DHA to reach an optimal index. With a low Omega-3 Index (approx. 4.5%, which is average in Western countries), supplementation with 2 grams EPA/DHA usually leads to the following result. The Omega-3 Index rises after about three months to around 8%. Approximately 700–1000 mg EPA/DHA per day are likely sufficient to maintain this index (depending on dietary habits).

Fish oil from Golden Omega

This is the ingredient of Ultra Pure EPA/DHA 1000 mg. The company is located 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 for the fish oil production are caught. A significant advantage of this is that the fish can be processed quickly after catching, which keeps it very fresh. To minimise the impact on the environment, Golden Omega works exclusively with certified fishers.

Golden Omega focuses on purity and quality in the production of its fish oil. By applying a patented purification process to remove contaminants from the fish as well as a patented concentration process, it is ensured that Golden Omega offers a product of the highest quality. This is evident, on the one hand, in the radiant pale colour of the fish oils, but above all in the extremely low TOTOX values of their oils (their average value is under 5). The TOTOX value (“TOTal OXidation value”) serves as an indicator of the freshness or rancidity of an oil. Fish oil is particularly prone to oxidation because it contains many sensitive unsaturated fatty acids. Fatty acids suffer oxidative damage when they come into contact with oxygen; this can be exacerbated by heating (as when frying fish). Since rancid oils are considered unhealthy, a low TOTOX value is important. Besides purity, it also serves as an excellent indicator of the quality of a fish oil preparation. In addition, a low TOTOX value reduces the likelihood of fishy burps occurring. And that represents a significant benefit for many people.

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

The difference between fish oil as triglyceride and ethyl ester

There are different types of fish oil preparations on the market. There are supplements with omega-3 fatty acids in the natural triglyceride form (such as liquid fish oil, e.g. Liquid EPA/DHA 1200 mg). There are also supplements in the re-esterified triglyceride form (e.g. Ultra Pure EPA/DHA 1000 mg from Vitals). Furthermore, products containing EPA and DHA in the ethyl ester form are also available.
In foods 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, in addition to EPA or DHA, two other fatty acids. In this way the natural EPA/DHA proportion in fish oil is at most 30%. Because the space in a softgel capsule is limited, higher concentrations of up to 80–90% are desirable in fish oil preparations 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. Because these free fatty acids are very unstable, they are thereafter bound separately to an ethanol molecule. These compounds are called ethyl esters. This method is used in many fish oil supplements. In 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). This creates a triglyceride (also called rTG, which means “re-esterified triglyceride”). In this way it resembles the structure of natural fatty acids, but with three EPA/DHA side chains instead of only one.

EPA/DHA as triglycerides, whose absorption is easier compared with ethyl esters In the body fats (triglycerides) are broken down into monoglycerides and free fatty acids so that they can be taken up by the intestinal cells. Afterwards they are recombined into triglycerides. Fatty acids are absorbed as triglycerides via the lymphatic system and enter the blood. Ethyl esters have the disadvantage that they require an additional enzyme to be broken down into free fatty acids. For the fat-splitting enzymes to do their job properly, they also need triglycerides from the diet. Several studies have shown that the absorption of omega-3 fatty acids in the form of triglycerides is advantageous. If the omega-3 supplement is consumed with a low-fat meal (such as an average breakfast or lunch), this difference is even more pronounced. The absorption of omega-3 fatty acids in triglyceride form is also more effective 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 the normal function of the heart.
• DHA contributes to the maintenance of normal brain function and normal vision at a daily dose of 250 mg DHA (1 softgel capsule per day).
• At a daily dosage of 2 grams EPA/DHA (equivalent to 2 softgel capsules) these substances contribute to the maintenance of normal blood triglyceride levels.
• A daily intake of 3 grams EPA/DHA (three softgel capsules) contributes to the maintenance of normal blood pressure.

Beneficial ingredients

* No reference intake according to LMIV specified

Ingredients

Fish oil triglyceride concentrate, fish gelatin (softgel capsule), humectant (glycerol), purified water, antioxidant (tocopherol-rich extracts).

Directions for use

Take 1–2 softgel capsules per day with water alongside a fatty meal. The stated recommended daily intake must not be exceeded.

Caution

The additional daily intake of EPA and DHA together should not exceed 5 grams. Use dosages of more than 1000 mg EPA/DHA only after consultation with a doctor if you have or have had atrial fibrillation.

Storage instructions

Store in a cool, dry place, protected from light (do not refrigerate).

Legal information

The recommended daily intake must not be exceeded. Food supplements are not a substitute for a balanced and varied diet and a healthy lifestyle. Keep out of reach of young children.