Zooca and Lehvoss UK partner for distribution of calanus oil in Europe
The European distributor of nutraceutical ingredients will bring Zooca’s zooplankton-based products to a wider audience through its extensive distribution network.
This collaboration aims to expand the market presence of Zooca’s calanus oil, which markets a unique lipid profile containing over 40 fatty acids, including omega-3, omega-7 and omega-11, as well as marine policosanols and natural astaxanthin.
The red-colored oil derived from the sustainable harvesting of the zooplankton Calanus finmarchicus has been shown to promote metabolic health and support healthy aging.
Lehvoss will add Zooca’s ready-made capsules and bulk oil formats to its portfolio, further enhancing its offering of high-quality, sustainable ingredients for the nutraceutical market.
Teresita Rudà, head of marketing at Lehvoss, highlighted that the value this partnership will bring to European customers seeking distinctive and health-promoting products.
Harvesting zooplankton
Calanus finmarchicus thrives in vast quantities in the northern Atlantic Ocean. With a life cycle of up to 1.5 years, it reproduces rapidly and consistently.
In the Norwegian Sea alone, its reproduction is estimated at nearly 300 million tonnes annually. Commercial fishing quotas are set at 250,000 tonnes, which is less than 0.1% of the total yearly volume, while Zooca currently produces 15,000 tonnes, representing under 0.005% of the annual reproduction.
Zooca's extraction process uses the entire organism, resulting in zero waste, and applies mild heating, preserving the natural spectrum of beneficial compounds.
The extract, in wax ester form, enables longer, gradual absorption in the digestive system, boosting bioavailability. Additionally, because zooplankton have a short lifespan of about a year, it does not accumulate pollutants or heavy metals.
Benefits of calanus oil
Zooca Lipids work by delivering high levels of ergogenic policosanols, which have been found to enhance muscle mass and function.
These lipids are slowly absorbed in the lower intestine, activating GPR120 receptors. This activation promotes better body composition by increasing sugar and fat metabolism, leading to benefits like improved insulin sensitivity and reduced fat storage in the liver and abdomen.
The lipids are sourced from Calanus finmarchicus, a small, abundant zooplankton species, harvested young to ensure purity. These lipids are extracted without high temperatures or solvents, maintaining their natural quality.
They contain astaxanthin, a potent antioxidant that provides multiple health benefits, such as protecting against oxidative damage, reducing inflammation, supporting cardiovascular and eye health, enhancing sports performance and improving skin protection from UV radiation.
Zooca Lipid has also been found to demonstrate three other anti-inflammatory actions. Stearidonic acid (SDA) competes with gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) for the elongase enzyme, which limits the production of arachidonic acid, a fatty acid that promotes inflammation. This competition helps reduce the inflammatory response in the body by both lowering arachidonic acid levels and boosting the production of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids.
The lipids exhibit an ability to reduce the deposition of intra-abdominal fat. When intra-abdominal fat is reduced, fat cells stay healthier and inflammation decreases. This lower inflammation is crucial for reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in the long term.
Finally, EPA and DHA are converted in the body into anti-inflammatory eicosanoids and specialized proresolving mediators (SPMs). These molecules help reduce inflammation and promote tissue healing, which is key in managing and resolving inflammatory processes.
