Health Canada’s Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate (NNHPD) issued a product license, Natural Product Number (NPN) 80136254, which authorizes it with the following health claims:
• Supports heart health and cardiovascular function
• Supports normal brain function
• Source of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for maintaining good health
• Source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) for maintaining good health
• Source of an essential fatty acid for the maintenance of good health
• Source of omega-3 fatty acids for the maintenance of good health
“Health Canada’s approval recognizes Nutriterra’s ability to support heart and brain health and provides a new option to meet the growing demand for plant-based total omega-3 with DHA, EPA and ALA,” said Benita Boettner, nutritional general manager at Nutriterra.
The Canadian approval follows the U.S. FDA granting Nutriterra New Dietary Ingredient status in 2021 and approvals in Australia and New Zealand.
Plant-derived alternative
Nutriterra omega-3 oil is derived from canola that is genetically engineered to produce higher levels of the omega-3 fatty acid DHA (docosahexaenoic acid, C22:6 n-3).
As demand for omega-3s continues to rise and pressures on fish stocks increase, alternative sources are being explored from algae to copepods and genetically engineered oil seed crops, such as canola and camelina.
Nuseed has previously estimated that one hectare of its omega-3 canola has the potential to provide the omega-3 yield from 10,000 kgs of wild caught fish.
Efficacy
The long-chain omega-3 fatty acids in the oil are readily incorporated into blood lipids, as shown by a study reported in Frontiers in Nutrition in 2022. Data from that randomized, placebo-controlled, seamless phase I/II study showed that a 2,000 mg/day serving of Nutriterra canola oil significantly improved indicators of omega-3 status, including the OmegaScore and the Omega-3 Index, both of which are supportive of cardiovascular and brain health.
“Given its sustainable and scalable production, good safety profile and consumer acceptability, and the ability to improve blood omega-3 profile in the generally healthy population presented herein, this LC- omega-3-rich canola oil is a highly promising source to help fill the omega-3 nutrient gap in the U.S. and globally,” wrote researchers from Nutrasource (now known as SGS Nutrasource) and the University of Guelph.
Nutriterra’s Boettner added: “With Health Canada’s approval for Nutriterra as a safe and effective dietary ingredient, we are well placed to attract new consumers and raise consumption of omega-3 closer to the recommended daily intake.”
