Epax Evolve 05 is a unique marine concentrate that ‘goes beyond’ long-chain EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) found in traditional fish oil supplements.
Launching as part of Epax’s NovusLipid category (Latin for ‘new fat’), the product contains very long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids at roughly 10 times the concentration of raw fish oil.
VLC-PUFAs with chain lengths between C24 and C28 are thought to play a number of important biological roles, bringing potential benefits for the brain, bones, skin, eyes and male reproductive system.
However, to date, there have been no human intervention studies due to a lack of suitable products, according to Derek Tobin, Epax’s business development and clinical science manager.
“Commercial launch of the product opens the door for customers to access new marine fatty acids with essential health activities—this is a rare event in the nutritional world,” he told NutraIngredients. “Commercial availability to our partners paves the way for new products with potential in eye health, male fertility, skin health, dry eye and aging.”
How do VLC-PUFAs differ from regular PUFAs?
While regular PUFAs are typically 18 to 22 carbons long on the longest continuous carbon chain, VLC-PUFAs have a carbon backbone greater than 22.
VLC-PUFAs are the precursors of many signalling molecules involved in inflammatory processes in humans, with research suggesting that the additional carbons have the potential to provide distinct roles in cell membrane structure and fluidity, aiding in cell function, communication and survival.
“A major difference between EPA and DHA and VLC-PUFAs is that whilst EPA and DHA mostly originate from our diet, VLC-PUFAs are provided for in the body by the action of a set of proteins known as ELOVL,” Tobin explained.
The elongation of very long chain fatty acids (ELOVL) is a family of seven enzymes that have specific functions in the synthesis of fatty acids.
“This family of enzymes creates a host of different fatty acids, depending on the specific need of each tissue. ELOVL2 is a key enzyme in the synthesis of VLC-PUFAs beyond C20 and ELOVL4 for very long chain fatty acids beyond C24,” Tobin said.
What are the benefits of VLC-PUFAs?
VLC-PUFAs may therefore offer potential in the healthy aging category, according to Tobin.
Pre-clinical studies have found that supplementation is associated with improved sight and that depletion is linked to age-related conditions such as reduced bone density and muscle strength.
VLC-PUFAs have also been found to have significant effects in areas such as skin health, male fertility and macular degeneration.
EPAX Evolve 05 therefore has a role in boosting VLC-PUFA levels where there is reduced ELOVL activity, Tobin said.
“Although we normally get enough VLC-PUFA through the action of the ELOVL proteins, it turns out that ELOVL2 activity is associated with aging,” he added. “To be precise it is the methylation of the ELOVL2 gene that is age-regulated; methylation causes the gene to be switched off.
“ELOVL2 methylation has in fact been suggested for use as a forensic test for determining chronological age in police cases. What we also know is that if you remove the ELOVL genes in pre-clinical models you get typical aging phenotypes such as dry skin, poor vision, muscle loss, and in one report, they even showed hair loss. This means that we may have benefits from eating VLC-PUFAs in special cases—for example low male fertility—or as an aid in longevity.”
A new era for omega-3?
Epax Evolve 05 has already been evaluated by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. Acting on behalf of EFSA, the authority concluded that it is not a Novel Food, allowing it to be marketed in the EU.
In the United States, Epax recently obtained self-affirmed GRAS status following an expert panel assessment in which genotoxicity and repeat dose toxicology studies were performed.
Together, these decisions mean that Epax Evolve 05 will be available to the company’s global partners, offering opportunities for new product development with a range of potential health applications.
“We’re proud to have been able to develop a VLC-concentrate that opens the door for further research and brings a new family of valuable fatty acids to the marketplace,” said Epax’s CEO Bjørn Refsum. “The stage is set for a new era for omega-3.”