Suggestions that the omega-3 market may be in crisis as Muller UK pulled omega-3 from its Vitality yoghurt range was the most read omega-3 article. The Anglo arm of the giant German dairy cited consumer confusion and scepticism toward omega-3 fortified foods as major reasons for its decision, which comes less than three years after it introduced the ingredient to the range.
Similar withdrawals from Unilever of drinking and spoonable yoghurt lines from its Omega-3 Plus range in European markets begged the question as to whether omega-3 could still claim to be the darling of the functional foods industry.
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The second and third most read article about omega-3 were about alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), the plant-based form of the fatty acids. Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and London Metropolitan University reviewed the science behind the much maligned fatty acid.
Our article asked whether ALA had been overlooked and misunderstood.
"For many years, the importance of the only member of the omega 3 family considered to be essential, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), has been overlooked," stated the review in Nutrition Reviews.
"The fact that several major scientific and medical associations have published nutritional guidelines including recommendations specifically for ALA emphasizes its perceived importance in health promotion and disease prevention," wrote the authors.
Following on from the review, we asked industry for its views on the conclusions. Many readers wrote in to express their support or opposition to the conclusions, and we summarised the most insightful in the third most read omega-3 article of the year.
Strong support was expressed by ALA-producers and suppliers, while the conclusions were challenged by marine-sourced omega-3 (eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)) producers and suppliers.
Click on the titles to read Omega-3 ALA - overlooked and misunderstood?and Omega-3 ALA: Industry reacts to review
Science also popped up as the fourth most read omega-3 article of the year. In “Omega-3 carrier key to boosting children's attention: study”, we reported on the how the form of the fatty acid may have an effect on the physiological effects.
A study from the University of Lyon 1 (UMR CNRS 5123) and Israel's Enzymotec reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids in the triacylglycerol or the phospholipid form produced differences in the fatty acid profiles and attention scores of children.
"To the best of our knowledge, the randomised controlled trial presented herein is the first short-term intervention study with omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) to show a correlation between these biochemical and cognitive function outcomes," wrote the authors.
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Bringing the top five to a close was coverage of the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA’s) rejection of Martek Biosciences Corporation’s health claim submission relating infant brain and eye development with DHA (omega-3) and ARA (omega-6) consumption.
The verdict came as something of a surprise to many in the industry, as Martek’s dossier was widely regarded as being very strong.
In its verdict, EFSA’s Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA), found some of Martek’s data to be “not pertinent to the claim”. This included studies on the effect of long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids on newborn babies.
These were rejected because, while the health benefit was not challenged outright, the study period related only to newborn babies and not infants up to three years old as referenced in the claim’s detail.
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