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Highly absorbable omega-3 from pristine source
Published:  Aug 27, 2015 1:00 AM
Updated: 10:46 AM

Roe’s the word for third generation fish oil

Fish oil as a dietary supplement has seen changes in form and concentration over the years. Looking back, many may remember taking the syrup form while growing up. That was the first generation of fish oil, according to Dr Rajen, natural health advocate and columnist.

Generations of fish oil

Relating the changes, Dr Rajen explains the focus of every stage or what he refers to as “generation” of fish oil that is developed as a health supplement.

In developing the first generation of fish oil, the whole process was about extracting and filtering the oil from the fish.

The development of the second generation of fish oil, which is widely available in the market, was about the concentration of fish oil in every capsule.

For the third generation, which is the most recent development, the focus is on the concentration of fish oil in the blood.

The key here, as emphasised by Dr Rajen, is absorption. “You want to make sure it’s in your body tissue.” This brings us to MOPL – marine omega-3 phospholipids – the form of phospholipids found in marine organisms.

The basics

What is omega-3? Dr Rajen explains, “Omega-3s are a long-chain carbon and only nature can make them. And the longer the chain, the better.” The long chains and double bonds of the EPA and DHA improve electrical conductivity, he says.

“So they can get to all the tissues, tissues that have high need for electrical conductivity: the brain, the eyes, the retina, and the heart, and maybe to some extent the liver. The other thing is that they are phospholipids. Phospholipids are actually the molecules of life, particularly for the liver, they help the liver, they feed the liver.”

Phospholipids

Phospholipids are the key building blocks of cellular membranes. Omega-3 phospholipids usually found in human breast milk are also found in fish roe.

Dr Rajen points out that the difference between the typical second generation fish oil that is harvested from fish and the third generation oil that is obtained from the roe is its phospholipids content, which makes it highly absorbable.

This is what sets Pristin MOPL fish oil from the second generation fish oil. The unique phospholipids structure in MOPL, as Dr Rajen describes, “allows them to enter the membrane because they can dissolve in water as well as oil.”

It also delivers DHA-to-EPA ratio of 3:1, which is the same omega-3 ratio found in human breast milk. Dr Rajen describes it as a “very high form of nutrition” and “the most potent form of DHA on the planet”.

The benefits of MOPL

Apart from the high absorption rate, lies in the synergistic EPA:DHA ratio which could be absorbed by the brain, eyes and heart. It is even beneficial for conditions such as skin psoriasis. While it is an auto-immune disease, the MOPL helps in managing or treating the symptoms.

Additionally, the familiar fishy smell is no longer part of the package. According to Dr Rajen, due to its high absorption rate, MOPL fish oil is fully absorbed by the tissues and therefore will not be present in the stools.

Dosage and cost effectiveness

With MOPL, a smaller dosage of one to two capsules is sufficient for one’s daily nutritional supplement needs, therefore it is more cost effective compared to the previous generations of fish oil.

The recommended daily intake for the first generation of fish oil is four to six capsules, while the second generation of fish oil should be taken two to three capsules daily in order to fulfil the minimum omega-3 requirement as well as to combat inflammation and heart disease.

“I think that this is such a simple, cheap, economical way of preventing or reducing the impact of that in a 20-year time frame,” says Dr Rajen. He recommends Pristin MOPL particularly to those above 40 even if there are no symptoms of health problems such as blood pressure.

Scientific and economic proof

The case of the fish oil’s cost effectiveness had also been presented in a study carried out in the US, where the cost of consuming omega-3 as a supplement was compared to that of placing a defibrillator in every home.

The latter was found to reduce death from heart attacks by 2%, while the cheaper alternative of providing the supplement was found to reduce the deaths by 6%.

Personalising supplements based on individual needs is possible with tests, although at this point these are not available locally. Dr Rajen says a DNA test can be done to decide on an individual’s need for omega-3.

Essential

At the same time, he stresses that omega-3 is an essential fatty acid (EFA) that must be taken in one’s diet as it is not produced by the body.

MOPL fish oil is a popular choice in developed countries and it is sold all over Europe, Canada, the US, Australia and New Zealand.

Launched in Asia two months ago, the latest PRISTIN MOPL is sourced from a reputable supplier, Norwegian company Arctic Nutrition, which according to Dr Rajen is the world leader in the marine omega phospholipids market.

With a complete end-to-end supply chain, the company has a patented process that allows it to deliver high quality, high purity, and highly absorbable fish oil. Arctic Nutrition has also ensured that the herring roe, from which the MOPL fish oil is sourced, is sustainably harvested and tested for its nutritional qualities.

Now in Malaysian pharmacies

Available in pharmacies, Pristin MOPL has been in Malaysia for 12 years. Its presence in the local supplement market has been strengthened by the fact that the trademarked brand has been audited by AC Nielsen and named the number one high-strength fish oil for six consecutive years.

While the health prospects are looking good with the availability of a potent form of nutritional supplement such as Pristin MOPL, Dr Rajen cautions consumers not to be reckless. “You still could drop dead from a heart attack.”

“We know that health is holistic, you need many different implements of that: food is one, nutrition is the other.” These, he says, are in addition to resting or sleeping, de-stressing, exercising, and making sure that the heart gets the right amount of work, which he describes as “absolutely critical”.

For more info: www.pristin.com

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