Meeting LC omega-3 recommended intakes from fish oil in the future
Existing supplies of fish oil would provide the minimum LC omega-3 requirement for only1.25 billion people – just under a quarter of the world's population. Average fish intake in many countries provides over two grams per day fish oil. But these are averages. There is a shortage of fish and fish oil, despite increases in fish farming. Wild fish catches are not increasing. As men- tioned already, so far genetic engineering of plants does not appear to have achieved DHA production which will be needed if the growing population is to be provided with recommended levels.
Conclusions
Of the one million tonnes of fish oil produced annually, mainly from sustainably caught unpalatable fish and from fishery by- products, most goes to aquaculture. In this way, much of the valuable LC omega-3s from the original inedible fish goes back into human food. Increasing amounts are going into nutraceuti- cals for direct human consumption. As fish oil production is unlikely to increase, the growing fish farming industry in future will have to use less fish oil, whilst maintaining the LC omega-3 content of farmed fish. To achieve this, fish oil has become a stra- tegic ingredient. Levels in fish feeds are increased in the finish- ing period to restore the LC omega-3 fatty acid content.
There is robust evidence that fish oil and its component fatty acids, especially EPA plus DHA, are beneficial in maintaining cardiovascular health in normal adults and reducing the inci- dence of recurrence of problems in those who have been suffer- ing from CHD. Several authorities are now accepting these bene- fits and limited claims can be made. To maintain cardiovascular health several groups now recommend an intake of between
0.25 g and 0.5 g of EPA plus DHA per day.
Extensive evidence of the benefits of fish oil consumption on neurological development, brain health and cognitive function and anti-inflammatory properties exist. More dietary interven- tion studies are needed for authorities to accept these benefits, and the claims that foods containing EPA plus DHA might carry.