by (Image credit: Natures Crops International)
05 December 2023 — Brain lipid research team recommends Ahiflower diet (Buglossoides arvensis) oil may be a valuable plant-based source for maintaining tissue docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) turnover comparable to dietary DHA. New research has found that Ahiflower oil is as effective as purified marine-based DHA in developing DHA in areas such as liver, adipose and brain tissues in mice.
Although Ahiflower dietary oil does not contain DHA, research shows that it can form DHA in tissues where mammals naturally make, store or deploy DHA from plant-based omega-3s to support vital cell membrane, immune and neurotransmitter.
Nutrition Insights sits down with Andrew Hebard, founder and CEO of Natures Crops International, which produces Ahiflower oil and collaborated in the study.
“This new research provides critical evidence that Ahiflower oil, through its unique omega-3 SDA (steroidonic acid) composition, acts as effectively as marine DHA in accumulating newly formed DHA in key tissues. As the lead researchers have identified, it overturns what is accepted as fact about plant-based omega-3 metabolism.”
“We hope that the impact that incorporating SDA-containing oils into a complete and balanced omega diet is a very effective strategy will be much more widely accepted.”
Hebard adds that measuring blood levels of circulating DHA as the sole metric for efficient tissue DHA biosynthesis does not accurately assess other ways in which the body efficiently metabolizes SDA into DHA.
Studies underway
The study, published in BBA – Molecular and Cellular Biology of Lipids, compared to DHA synthesis from Ahiflower, flaxseed and DHA oils. The researchers placed pregnant mice on a diet of DHA algal oil, maintaining their pups on the diet until they were nine weeks old.
Next, the team allocated mice to a diet containing Ahiflower, flaxseed or DHA marine oil at realistic intakes of human equivalents and matched them for total polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content.
After determining DHA levels in various tissues, the researchers found that DHA concentrations were highest in the liver and in DHA-fed animals with no dietary differences in serum or brain.
DHA processing — measured in compound half-lives — synthesis and turnover rates were no different between the Ahiflower and DHA diets, and these were significantly lower for the flaxseed oil diets.
Ahiflower oil can help combat omega-3 deficiencies without harming marine ecosystems (Image credit: Natures Crops International).Leverage research findings
Earlier this year, Natures Crops International surveyed leading omega-3 supplement brands to understand what additional support the company could provide to encourage wider adoption of Ahiflower in this space.
“We found that we scored very high on price, supply chain reliability, sustainability, regenerative agriculture and sensory perception. The most significant obstacle was the perception that people must get label-claimed DHA in their omega-3 supplements,” Hebard emphasized.
“We think this study can be leveraged to show that while DHA supplementation has clear merit, incorporating Ahiflower oil as part of a more complete and balanced omega-3 solution is a very strong strategy for brands.”
He explains that the company’s Ahiflower oil is available in organic acacia fiber powder at a 70% oil loading level from CoreFX.
“This water-soluble, sensory clean and clear label powder format is extremely versatile in a variety of gummy, emulsion and bulk powder mix formats. Ahiflower + DHA oil is also available through our partnership with Algorithm for brands that require an amount of DHA on packaged product labels.”
Sustainability benefits
Natures Crops International highlights that Ahiflower oil’s highly available omega-3 SDA content can help overcome a societal challenge to address omega-3 deficiencies without harming marine ecosystems or relying on crops genetically modified.
According to Hebard, Ahiflower oil “can provide a completely scalable, traceable and climate-resilient source of balanced omegas.”
The study’s authors also point out that with the ongoing shift toward plant-based food choices and the “potentially disastrous ecological implications of current DHA dietary recommendations,” Ahiflower may be a vital source Offer PUFA that support DHA tissue needs in an environmentally sustainable manner.
Greg Cumberford, Vice President of science and regulation at Natures Crops International and co-author of the study, says: “For many years, consumers and practitioners have been told that all plant-based omega-3 sources turn out to be ‘ ineffective’ to longer chain DHA. . This new research shows that the situation with Ahiflower oil is more nuanced. Although dietary Ahiflower oil does not increase DHA levels, it effectively produces liver, spleen and brain DHA in mice.”
Hebard notes that adding Ahiflower oil to protein powders or plant-based milks may add functional benefits.A multi-omega source
Hebard explains that previously published human nutritional intervention research has shown that Ahiflower dietary oil boosts omega-3 eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) up to four times more effectively than flaxseed oil.
Ahiflower oil also resulted in a richer and more diverse range of omega-3 fatty acids – including EPA, eicosatetraenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid – and omega-6 fatty acids – gamma-linolenic acid and dihomo-γ acid -linolenic – known as anti-inflammatory oxylipin precursors.
Natures Crops International notes that this shows how Athiflower oil can act differently than marine or algal sources of EPA/DHA to support immune, gut and microbe balance in the body.
Hebard says the oil also boosts Interleukin 10 — a small protein or cytokine with powerful anti-inflammatory properties — in the cells of the immune system.
“The latest research findings suggest that healthy adults can probably maintain levels of DHA in important tissues such as the liver, spleen and brain – ie. outside of medically supported clear intakes of omega-3 DHA during prenatal pregnancy, early childhood and traumatic brain injury. — from an Ahiflower oil supplement,” details Hebard.
Future research and applications
According to Hebard, Natures Crops International focuses on Ahiflower oil and expanding its application. This is based on physiological science and processing technology in humans and companion animals.
“Aiflíre seed presents some interesting and new characteristics and we hope to introduce some of these to commerce in the coming year.”
It indicates that there is room to expand Ahiflower oil’s presence in human and pet animal wellness to expand into products where traditional EPA/DHA oils are not commonly used or present formulation challenges.
“Examples are protein powders, green powders, plant-based milk or spreads, snack bars, functional chocolates, squeezable fruit or vegetables and plant-based seafood. Incorporating Ahiflower oil into these matrices would provide functional benefits and provide key product differentiation in often crowded categories.”
“Future research in humans and animals – from poultry to honey bees and horses – is currently focusing on the recently discovered post-exercise anti-inflammatory activity that supports the transfer of Ahiflower dietary oil, in cases certain compared to traditional sources of EPA/DHA. “
By Jolanda van Hal
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