What are fatty acids?

Fatty acids are fat molecules (or lipids) which make up the phospholipid layer of cell membranes. Long-chain fatty acids are essential for the proper functioning of every living cell in the body. 

The notion that all fats are bad and the trend towards ‘low fat’ diets in fact pose a threat to health – certain fats, particularly polyunsaturates and monounsaturates are an important part of a balanced diet and actually contribute to improved health.

The most important fatty acids are omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

Why do I need to take fatty acids?

Fatty acids are crucial for the proper functioning of every living cell in the body.  The human brain comprises 60% fat, of which roughly 20% are long-chain fatty acids. Crucial for cellular messaging these fats play an important role in brain function.

Sadly the body hasn’t evolved to distinguish between ‘good’ fats (such as EPA - eicosapentaenoic acid - or GLA) and ‘bad’ fats (hydrogenated fats found in margarines and pastries, for example). Gradually these bad fats replace the good fats in the brain, resulting in the hardening of cell membranes and deterioration of cell signalling. This can adversely affect the production of neurotransmitters in the brain. 

All individuals wanting to maintain their health should be consuming fatty acids regularly, whether through diet or taking Vegepa.

Are fatty acids beneficial if I do not have a healthy and balanced diet?

By supplementing diet with long-chain fatty  acids (as contained in Vegepa) the ‘blocks’ presented by the modern lifestyle and diet are effectively bypassed. This means that the fatty acids can and will be absorbed by the body.

A healthy diet helps to boost the utilisation of fatty acids, however. As well as being converted into succeeding fatty acids, EPA and EPO are both converted into eicosanoids – substances such as prostaglandins and leukotrienes which are vital for the regulation of inflammation, pain, fluid balance and blood clotting.

Fatty acids are beneficial despite not having a perfectly balanced diet, although benefits will be optimised with sufficient intake of co-factor vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Zinc, Folic acid and so on.

Can omega-3s be obtained as part of the diet?

Yes, it is possible to obtain omega-3s through diet. Short-chain omega-3s can be obtained from flaxseed, rapeseed (canola) and walnut oils. The conversion of short-chain fatty acids into long-chain fatty acids is very inefficient, however, so in order to obtain the more important long-chain fatty acids in significant amounts it is slightly more difficult, particularly for vegetarians.

EPA (the key omega-3 fatty acid) is found in rich supply in oily species of fish. Eating at least 2 oily portions of fish each week will provide a sufficient amount of omega-3 for maintaining cardiovascular health.

The polluted state of our seas makes it dangerous, however, to attempt to obtain large amounts of omega-3 through eating fish. To obtain the amount of EPA necessary for a sustained benefit to both mental and physical health, it is safer to take a purified and concentrated fish oil supplement derived from the flesh of the fish, whereby toxins and heavy metals are removed from the oil.

Vegepa  provides a safe way of obtaining the necessary amounts of EPA in the diet.

How is Vegepa different from standard cod liver oils?

Concentrated fish oils are a far purer form of fish oil than many ordinary preparations which derive from the excretory organ of fish (liver oils). By taking EPA which is extracted from fish oil, you are obtaining a higher concentration of omega-3 and consuming far less unnecessary fat.  

Attempting to obtain high amounts of omega-3 by consuming cod liver oils, you also risk consuming too high an amount of Vitamin A, increasing the risk of Vitamin A toxicity.

Will taking vegetarian omega-3s give the same benefits as fish oils?

Vegetarian omega-3s are short-chain fatty acids. Although beneficial to health, these fats do not have the same significant health-enhancing properties as the long-chain fats which are so crucial for neurological function, for example.

It is the long-chain fatty acids which are important both structurally and functionally in the brain. While in theory the body has the capability to convert short-chain omega fatty acids into the succeeding long-chain fats this conversion is, in reality, very inefficient. With each conversion, certain enzymes must be present in order for the body to metabolise the fatty acids effectively.

The average modern diet creates ‘blocks’ whereby these enzymes are not produced in sufficient amounts to enable short-chain fats to be converted into long-chain fats such as EPA and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid).

If you are vegetarian you should ensure that you obtain the necessary co-factors to allow the fatty acid conversions to take place naturally in the body and take a good vegetarian source of omega-3 such as flaxseed.

Why doesn’t Igennus produce a fish oil supplement in liquid form?

While we know that it would be easier for some of our customers to take a liquid form of our products, we are concerned about the high rate of oxidation of liquid fish oils which are constantly exposed to the air.

Consuming  oxidised oil is potentially extremely hazardous to health given the link with free radicals and cell damage.

Encapsulation of the fish oils minimises this harmful process and avoids the need to add large quantities of anti-oxidants and additives which degrade the oil.

Is it okay to take Vegepa with linseed oil (another omega-3 oil)?

Linseed oil only offers fatty acids at the essential fatty acid (EFA) level - i.e. short-chain fatty acids (LA and ALA).

There is no real advantage in taking linseed oil at the same time as EPA and EPO. If there is a block at the delta-6 desaturase level, then it is exceedingly difficult for the body to produce EPA from ALA or to produce DGLA and AA from LA. Even if there is no block at this enzyme level, there is only a small trickle of ALA that ends up being converted into EPA (and thence DHA, if needed)