Unrefined and Full Spectrum – over 40 different fatty acids

Zooca® Calanus® Oil is a full spectrum marine lipid that goes beyond Omega-3. The oil is unrefined, preserving its full spectrum of fatty acids just like nature intended. This novel ingredient not only contains marine policosanols and astaxanthin, but also over 40 different fatty acids, including Omega-3 fatty acids SDA, EPA, DHA, and Omega-7s and Omega-11s. These fatty acids are renowned for their numerous health benefits.

This natural and pure plankton oil is based on the resource Calanus finmarchicus which is abundant in the Norwegian Sea and stores its energy as a wax ester.

Full spectrum fatty acids

Zooca® Calanus® Oil, a natural extract derived from the marine zooplankton Calanus finmarchicus, stands out for its full-spectrum fatty acid composition, which closely resembles the natural distribution of fats found in the marine food chain. This comprehensive profile reflects the true essence of Zooca® Calanus® Oil as a natural extract, offering a multitude of health benefits and nutritional advantages.

Balanced and diverse nutrient profile

The full-spectrum fatty acid composition of Zooca® Calanus® Oil encompasses over 40 different fatty acids, ranging from 14 to 22 carbons in length, and includes saturated, monounsaturated (MUFAs), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) (1). This broad range of fatty acids not only highlights the oil’s natural origins but also provides a balanced and diverse nutrient profile, which is essential for maintaining optimal health and well-being. Different fatty acids hold different critical functions such as receptor signalling, gene expression, and regulation of systemic fuel energy homeostasis under various physiological conditions. As such, it is worth highlighting some of the most prominent groups of the potent bioactive fatty acids present in Zooca® Calanus® Oil.

Omega-3 fatty acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential polyunsaturated fatty acids that play a vital role in maintaining optimal health and overall well-being. The content of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) is relatively low in Zooca® Calanus® Oil compared to other marine oils, but it has a high content of stearidonic acid (SDA, 18:4, n-3) (Figure 1). However, evidence from both acute and cumulative dosing studies demonstrates that Zooca® Calanus® Oil effectively increases omega-3 index levels (2-5) establishing it as a fully viable and highly sustainable omega-3 source.

The long-chain PUFAs, EPA and DHA are particularly important due to their roles as parent molecules for the synthesis of eicosanoids, which are signalling molecules involved in regulating various physiological processes. Eicosanoids derived from EPA and DHA play a critical role in modulating inflammation, blood clotting, and immune responses. Additionally, DHA is a primary structural component of the brain and retina, making it essential for proper neural and visual function. Furthermore, omega-3 fatty acids have been associated with numerous health benefits, such as reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, improving mental health, supporting healthy brain development during pregnancy and early childhood, and reducing inflammation in the body.

EPA and DHA are potent agonists on the previously mentioned GPR120 receptor, but recent studies have shown that SDA is one of the most potent agonists (6). While researchers are actively developing synthetic agonists with delayed release systems to target these receptors, the wax ester form of delivery in Zooca® Calanus® Oil provides these bioactive molecules naturally and with perfect timing. The sustained release of Omega-3 fatty acids from wax esters in Zooca® Calanus® Oil may lead to prolonged activation of the receptors.  This activation could result in a more pronounced and lasting impact on physiological processes, such as reduced inflammation, improved insulin sensitivity, and better appetite control. Therefore, the diverse fatty acids in Zooca® Calanus® Oil, including SDA, offer several advantages and could potentially serve as a valuable  addition to a balanced diet.

Zooca® Calanus® Oil contains a variety of fatty acids that work together to promote health, such as reducing inflammation, supporting heart health, and lipid metabolism. By consuming this diverse lipid source, the body can take advantage of their combined benefits.

Long chain monounsaturated fatty acids

The Zooca® Calanus® Oil contains a diverse group of MUFAs, including a significant amount of long-chain MUFAs from the omega-7, -9, and -11 families. Among these, the oil is rich especially in gondoic acid (20:1 n-9) and cetoleic acid (22:1 n-11), as well as the more commonly known palmitoleic acid (16:1n-7) and oleic acid (18:1n-9) (5).

Studies in the 1960s revealed that long-chain MUFAs could have positive health effects (7), sparking interest in olive oil and the Mediterranean diet, which remains a healthy choice today. These MUFAs have been suggested to play a crucial role in cardiovascular health, as they exhibit favorable effects on metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease risk markers such as blood pressure, blood lipids, and insulin sensitivity, as well as potentially reducing obesity risk.

Most health-related MUFA studies have focused exclusively on oleic acid (C18:1 n-9), which is abundant in the Mediterranean diet. Currently there is limited information available regarding the effects of other dietary MUFAs, such as MUFAs with chains longer than 18 carbons. However, more attention has been brought to these fatty acids as science progress, and studies have shown that long-chain MUFA have the ability to decrease atherosclerotic lesion formation, reduce cholesterol efflux and alter gene expression related to inflammation, lipid metabolism and energy expenditure in different tissues (8). It appears that the carbon chain length of the dietary MUFA can be an important factor that determines its metabolic effects.

The body is able to make some MUFAs from oleic acid, but specifically the long chain omega-11, must come from food. Eating a diet rich in these fats from marine sources has been shown to have many health benefits. These fats can help reduce fat production and inflammation, while increasing fat breakdown in the liver and fat tissues. They can also help lower fat build-up and immune cell build-up in blood vessels, leading to better blood lipid levels and a healthier balance of fatty acids. Overall, these effects can help improve fat metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and reduce the risk of heart diseases (9-10).

Recent studies also suggest that cetoleic acid in particular can be good for skin health (11).

References

1. Pedersen, A.M., Vang, B. & Olsen,R. L. (2014) Oil from Calanus finmarchicus—Composition and Possible Use: A Review, Journal of Aquatic Food Product Technology, 23:6, 633-646
2. Cook, C. M., Larsen, T. S., Derrig, L. D., Kelly, K. M. & Tande, K. S. (2016) Wax Ester Rich Oil from The Marine Crustacean, Calanus finmarchicus, is a Bioavailable Source of EPA and DHA for Human Consumption. Lipids, 51, 1137-1144.
3. Wasserfurth, P., Nebl, J., Boßlau, T. K., Krüger, K., Hahn, A. & Schuchardt, J. P. (2021) Intake of Calanus finmarchicus oil for 12 weeks improves omega-3 index in healthy older subjects engaging in an exercise programme. Br J Nutr, 125, 432-439.
4. Burhop, M., Schuchardt, J.P., Nebl, J., Müller, M., Lichtinghagen, R., Hahn, A. (2022) Marine Oil from C. finmarchicus Enhances Glucose Homeostasis and LiverInsulin Resistance in Obese Prediabetic Individuals. Nutrients, 14, 396
5. Vosskötter, F, Burhop, M, Hahn, A, Schuchardt, JP. (2023)Equal bioavailability of omega-3 PUFA from Calanus oil, fish oil and krill oil: A 12-week randomized parallel study. Lipids.
6. Ulven, T. & Christiansen, E. (2015) Dietary Fatty Acids and Their Potential for Controlling Metabolic Diseases Through Activation of FFA4/GPR120. Annu Rev Nutr, 35, 239-63.
7. Keys, A., Aravanis, C., Blackburd, H. W., Van Buchem, F. S., Buzina, R. & Djordjevic, B. D. (1966) Epidemiological studies related to coronary heart disease: characteristics of men aged 40-59 in seven countries. Acta Medica Scandinavica Supplementum, 460.
8. Yang, ZH., Emma-Okon, B. & Remaley, A.T. (2016) Dietary marine-derived long-chain monounsaturated fatty acids and cardiovascular disease risk: a mini review. Lipids Health Dis 15, 201.
9. Yang, Z.H., Miyhara, H., Iwasaki, Y. & Katayama M. (2013) Dietary supplementation with long-chain monounsaturated fatty acids attenuates obesity-related metabolic dysfunction and increases expression of PPAR gamma in adipose tissue in type 2 diabetic KK-Ay mice. Nutr Metab (Lond) 10, 16
10. Yang ZH, Amar M, Sorokin AV, Troendle J, Courville AB, Sampson M, Playford MP, Yang S, Stagliano M, Ling C, Donkor K, Shamburek RD, Mehta NN & Remaley AT (2020) Supplementation with saury oil, a fish oil high in omega-11 monounsaturated fatty acids, improves plasma lipids in healthy subjects. J Clin Lipidol. 14(1):53-65.e2.
11. Mildenberger, J & Midtbø, L.K (2022) Nutritional Study of Fish Oil in Skin Quality in Healthy Women (OPTIHUD) Epax Cetoleic 10 – Rev 10.22