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Review
. 2010 Jun;2(6):572-85.
doi: 10.3390/nu2060572. Epub 2010 May 26.

Long-chain omega-3 oils-an update on sustainable sources

Peter D Nichols  1 , James Petrie, Surinder Singh
Affiliations
Review

Long-chain omega-3 oils-an update on sustainable sources

Peter D Nichols et al. Nutrients. 2010 Jun.

Abstract

Seafood is currently the best and generally a safe source of long-chain (LC, (≥C(20)) omega-3 oils amongst the common food groups. LC omega-3 oils are also obtained in lower amounts per serve from red meat, egg and selected other foods. As global population increases the opportunities to increase seafood harvest are limited, therefore new alternate sources are required. Emerging sources include microalgae and under-utilized resources such as Southern Ocean krill. Prospects for new land plant sources of these unique and health-benefiting oils are also particularly promising, offering hope for alternate and sustainable supplies of these key oils, with resulting health, social, economic and environmental benefits.

Keywords: algal oils; aquaculture; fish oils; long-chain omega-3; novel land plants; sustainable sources.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic representation of fatty acid pathway for new land plants containing EPA and DHA, with incorporation on selected microalgae-derived genes. Although the Δ6 route is shown here, another pathway for LC omega-3 biosynthesis (Δ9, from ALA) also exists.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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