New Clinical Evidence: Zooca® Calanus® Oil Supports Heart and Metabolic Health
We are pleased to share results from a newly published pilot study in Metabolites (MDPI), which investigated the effects of Zooca® Calanus® Oil on heart function and metabolic health in women at elevated cardiometabolic risk.
About the study
The study included 20 middle-aged women with obesity (BMI ≥ 28) and prediabetes. For 12 weeks, participants received a daily dose of 4 grams Zooca® Calanus® Oil. Unlike conventional omega-3 sources, Zooca® Calanus® Oil contains fatty acids in a unique slow-release wax ester form, bound together with policosanols and the antioxidant astaxanthin. The study was designed as a pilot to assess if Zooca® Calanus® Oil could improve heart function and metabolic health in women who are at an increased risk.
This study is particularly noteworthy as it focused on women — a group that is often underrepresented in cardiometabolic health research. By including this population, the trial provides valuable new insight into how Zooca® Calanus® Oil may support heart and metabolic health as a component of healthy aging.
Key outcomes
Heart Function
- Participants showed a significant improvement in diastolic heart function, measured by the E/A ratio
- This parameter reflects how efficiently the heart relaxes and fills with blood between beats. An improved E/A ratio suggests healthier and more elastic heart muscle
Metabolic Health
- The Metabolic Syndrome Severity Score decreased over the 12-week period, signaling an overall improvement in metabolic balance
- The TyG-WHtR Index, a composite measure that combines triglycerides, glucose, waist and height, also improved
- Together, these changes indicate enhanced insulin sensitivity and reduced metabolic stress
Cardiovascular Risk Markers
- Resting heart rate and central diastolic blood pressure were reduced, indicating beneficial effects on cardiovascular regulation
- No significant changes were observed in systolic blood pressure or arterial stiffness
Why these findings matter
Diastolic dysfunction and metabolic impairment are often early and silent drivers of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Interventions that can improve heart relaxation and metabolic control at the same time are therefore highly valuable, especially for populations at increased risk such as women with obesity and prediabetes, or occasional blood sugar irregularities. Early intervention at this stage is key to maintaining a healthy heart and metabolism during the aging process.
This study suggests that the unique slow-release wax ester of Zooca® Calanus® Oil may deliver sustained cardiometabolic benefits: supporting heart performance while at the same time helping the body regulate blood sugar and fat metabolism, as well as improving metabolic health markers.
The bigger picture
This study adds to the growing body of data that shows that Zooca® Calanus® Oil may have beneficial effect on heart health and function. A previous study from 2021 (Stephan et al. 2021) examined the effects of exercise training alone or in combination with Zooca® Calanus® Oil in elderly women. Both interventions improved cardiorespiratory performance, but only exercise training combined with Zooca® Calanus® Oil supplementation resulted in an increase in stroke volume.
Although this was a pilot trial, the findings add to a growing body of clinical evidence showing that Zooca® Calanus® Oil represents a promising nutritional strategy for cardiometabolic support during the aging process. Future larger studies will be important to confirm these results, but the signals are clear: the slow-release nature of Zooca® Calanus® Oil sets it apart as an innovative approach to supporting long-term heart and metabolic health.
Read the full article in Metabolites
