Nutrinova, Swisscaps go soft on DHActive

German speciality ingredients supplier Nutrinova has collaborated with Swisscaps, a capsule provider for pharmaceutical and dietary supplement companies, to develop soft gel capsules containing its DHActive omega-3 oil

. DHActive is Nutrinova's brand name for a vegetarian omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) oil, highly concentrated in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Available in sizes of 500 mg and 250 mg, the soft gel caps containing DHActive have been created to expand Nutrinova's portfolio beyond DHActive in a bulk oil form only.

The 250 mg capsules are said to contain 110 mg of DHA whereas the 500 mg capsules contain 220 mg of DHA each.

In addition, the companies say they have optimised the production process to produce a completely transparent and more liquid form of the DHA product, called DHActive CL, designed to extend the formulation and application possibilities of DHActive to functional foods and drinks, including cookies, breads, bars and dairy spreads.

The two options will enable consumers to supplement the essential DHA, which is only produced in limited quantities by the body, says Nutrinova. International health organizations have recommended supplementation of a daily dose of at least 220 mg DHA and as much as 300 mg for pregnant and lactating mothers.

Current DHA consumption is typically not more than 50 to 80 mg per day in the western world. The polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid, DHA, plays a major role in heart and brain health and has demonstrated positive effects on a number of medical conditions including cardiovascular disease and mental disorders.

While DHA-oils are commonly extracted from fatty cold water fish, Nutrinova​ derives its DHA from microalgae via a patented fermentation process. The company claims advantages of the plant-derived oil over fish oil include a higher concentration of DHA and a lower amount of undesirable fatty acid, no environmental pollutants and it avoids the sometimes unpleasant taste of fish oils. Additionally, as it is derived from a plant-based source, it is acceptable for a vegetarian diet.

The collaboration follows the previous announcement in June of the availability of a 100 per cent vegetarian DHA capsule. The capsule is said to combine Swisscaps' VegaGel technology with Nutrinova's plant-based DHA-oil. These new developments are designed to offer dietary supplement companies who do not have encapsulation facilities, flexible launch opportunities for bringing omega-3 DHA products to market, said Nutrinova in a statement.

DHActive CL is available in bulk oil form, in vegetarian capsules as well as in standard soft gels. Customised concentration and capsule type according to a customer's individual requirements are also possible, noted the company.

For further product information contact Cheryl Colline​ at Nutrinova.