- Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids that are crucial for health and have growing business potential.
- They occur naturally in fish, vegetable oils and nuts, and their processed forms are an important raw material in the food and feed industries.
- The global omega-3 market is worth several billion dollars and is growing thanks to the trend towards healthy lifestyles and the growing demand for functional foods.
- The food and pharmaceutical industries are investing in technologies for stabilising and extracting omega-3 acids, including from alternative plant sources.
Omega-3 fatty acids are some of the most sought-after ingredients in the modern diet. Their role in preventative health care is well documented, and their use goes beyond medicine or dietetics – they are also used in the production of food, dietary supplements or animal feed. In this article, we take a look at what omega-3 fatty acids are, where they are found, what properties they have, and how the market and trends in this industry are shaping up.
What are omega-3 fatty acids?
Omega-3 fatty acids (also known as n-3 or ω-3 fatty acids) belong to the group of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). The name of this type of fatty acid is linked to the location of the double bonds in their carbon chain – the last one being located at the third carbon atom from the end. These compounds are essential for the body, and as our body cannot synthesise them in sufficient quantities – they must be provided through the diet.
What are the different omega-3 fatty acids?
Omega-3 fatty acids comprise a whole group of compounds, of which the three key ones are ALA (α-linolenic acid), EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid).
Α-linolenic acid (ALA)
ALA acid is most commonly found in food. It can be found in plant products, e.g. oils, seeds and nuts (see for example: properties of soybean oil).
Of the omega-3 fatty acids, ALA has the least health benefits. This is because it belongs to the group of short-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (SC-PUFAs), as opposed to long-chain acids (LC-PUFAs) such as EPA or DHA, the consumption of which gives better results. Vegetarians and vegans often use ALA as the basis for supplying omega-3s to the body. It serves as a precursor for other acids in this group, but the efficiency of these conversions is only about 5%.
Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)
This compound is found in fish and seafood, as well as fish oils such as mackerel, sardines and herring. It is important in the context of cardiovascular disease, as it lowers blood triglyceride levels and has an anticoagulant effect, thus reducing the risk of heart problems. Its intake is also recommended for patients with depression.
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
It is extracted from fish, seafood, algae and also eggs. DHA is particularly important for brain and vision health, as it has an important function in retinal cells and neurons. It supports the efficient transmission of signals in these structures, and also aids in the activation of rhodopsin, a compound crucial for normal vision. The provision of DHA is particularly important for infants, pregnant women and the elderly.
Properties and importance for the body
Omega-3 fatty acids benefit the entire body – they support cardiovascular, brain and immune function, have anti-inflammatory effects and support the condition of the skin. For this reason, they are often functional ingredients in food products.
The benefits of supplying the body with omega-3 fatty acids are, in particular:
- lowering triglyceride levels in the blood and reducing LDL (‘bad’) cholesterol and increasing – HDL (‘good’) cholesterol,
- reducing the risk of heart disease (ischaemic heart disease, strokes, heart attacks, arrhythmias),
- slowing the development of atherosclerosis and hypertension,
- reduction of inflammation, particularly in rheumatoid arthritis,
- analgesic effect,
- slowing down of cell ageing (antioxidant effect),
- anti-cancer effects,
- beneficial effects on cognitive function and brain health (e.g. in the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s or dementia),
- attenuation of symptoms of depression, bipolar disorder, developmental disorders in children, as well as stress levels,
- supporting weight loss by inhibiting lipogenesis, lowering glucose and insulin levels,
- beneficial effects on intestinal bacterial flora,
- improvement of the immune system,
- positive effects in the context of pregnancy and foetal development.
What else are omega-3 acids used for? First and foremost, they are used in patients with inflammatory diseases, cancer, metabolic disorders; they also support the prevention and treatment of diabetes, hypertension, neurological diseases and eye diseases.
What is important for the beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acids is their ratio to the omega-6 fatty acids supplied to the body, with which they compete. This ratio should be at least 1:1 and even 4:1. Typical of the Western diet, an excess of omega-6 over omega-3 can increase the risk of inflammation and other conditions, such as breast and prostate cancer.
What are omega 3 acids in? Natural and industrial sources
Omega-3 fatty acids occur naturally in:
- fatty marine fish (cod, herring, mackerel, sardines, Atlantic salmon),
- vegetable oils (e.g. soybean oil, linseed oil, rapeseed oil, hemp oil, olive oil),
- nuts and seeds (e.g. chia and various types of nuts),
- marine algae, which are becoming an increasingly popular source of DHA in industry.
It is worth bearing in mind that vegetable oils, nuts and seeds mainly provide ALA acid, while the more desirable DHA and EPA are mainly found in fish and marine algae.
From a business perspective, refined oils, omega-3 concentrates and fish meals, which are used in food and feed production, are mainly relevant.
Use of omega-3 in the food and feed industry
Omega-3 fatty acids are used as a dietary supplement and also as an additive in food and feed. Omega-3 concentrates are usually found as capsules with oil (usually fish or algae-derived).
In food, on the other hand, DHA or EPA acids are enriched in products such as:
- dairy products – functional products: yoghurts, milk, margarines with added omega-3 acids,
- cereal products and snacks – bread, bars, breakfast cereals,
- meat and eggs – these are enriched with omega-3s through fish oil or algae feeds fed to animals,
- baby and infant foods – especially modified milks with DHA.
Feed is enriched with omega-3 fatty acids to improve the health of the animals and to increase the nutritional value of meat, milk and eggs.
The market for omega-3 fatty acids
According to industry reports, the global omega 3 market reached USD 3.9 billion in 2024. It is forecast to grow to approximately USD 7.4 billion by 2029, with dietary supplements, functional foods and feeds accounting for the largest share. Technology for extracting omega-3s from algae is growing in importance, in line with the trend of sustainability and reduction of fisheries.
In the future, the omega-3 market will evolve towards:
- plant-based and vegan sources,
- stable forms in the form of microcapsules added to food,
- new applications – e.g. in cosmetics or nutraceuticals,
- expanding feed applications to improve the nutritional profile of meat and dairy.
Omega-3 fatty acids are a cornerstone of a healthy diet, and part of a rapidly growing segment of the food market. Their natural sources – fish, oils and nuts – are supplemented by modern food extraction and enrichment technologies. Products with omega-3 are a response to consumer needs and an opportunity to stand out in the healthy food segment.
Bibliography:
- FAO/WHO: Fats and fatty acids in human nutrition. Report of an expert consultation, 2010
- EFSA Journal: Scientific Opinion on the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, 2012.
- Swanson D., Block R., Mousa S.A.. Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA: Health benefits throughout life. Adv Nutr. 2012.
- Buckley M.T. et al, Selection in Europeans on Fatty Acid Desaturases Associated with Dietary Changes, ‘Molecular Biology and Evolution’, 34 (6), 2017: 1307-1318
- https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/size-and-share-of-omega-3-market.asp
