OmegAvail Ultra - 120 softgels

The TruTG Advantage

Fish oil is considered by many if not the majority of nutritionally focused health care practitioners to be the single most important dietary supplement. In all probability, no other nutritional product has as much and varied research demonstrating its many health benefits.

Designs for Health has consistently embraced the Paleolithic nutritional philosophy upon which it was founded. As such, we are excited to announce our TruTG branded fish oil products which are guaranteed to contain 90 to 100% triglyceride-bound EPA and DHA fats. Both EPA and DHA are found naturally in fish in this triglyceride form.

The Form Nature Intended

Only Designs for Health fish oil products carry the TruTG seal your assurance that our fish oils are delivered in the form found in nature, consistent with Paleolithic nutritional philosophy, and are of unmatched TG potency. Fish oil blends and concentrates bearing the TruTG seal are 90 to 100% triglyceride (TG) bound omega-3 fish oils, which are 40%-50% higher than industry standard for TG fish oil concentrate products!

Converting Ethyl Esters to Triglycerides - Why DFH Chose a Path Less Followed

The vast majority of fish oil concentrate products available on the market today are Ethyl Esters. Not surprisingly, the reason is cost; an additional step is required to convert EEs back into their natural TG state. This added process removes the ethanol backbone and re-esterifies the omega-3 fatty acids to a glycerol backbone. Interestingly, most of the companies that choose to take this extra step and expense convert just 60 65% of the oil to TGleaving a mixture of EE, and mono and diglyceride oil in the remainder.

At Designs for Health, we have always placed quality, efficacy and safety above cost. This is precisely why we convert to TG the maximum amount possible, between 90% and 100%. TruTG defines this process, resulting in the highest expense, but also resulting in a finished product with the highest stability, bioavailability, and that closest to what is found in nature.

Superior Absorption and Biovailability

Numerous studies have assessed the absorption and bioavailability of EE fish oils by measuring the amount of EPA and DHA in blood plasma after ingestion of fatty acids as either TGs or EEs. Although a few studies have found the absorption rate to be similar between the two types of oils, overall evidence suggests that TG fish oils are better absorbed in comparison to EEs. One of the causative factors for the poor bioavailability of EE fish oil is a much greater resistance to digestive enzymes. During the digestive process, pancreatic lipase enzymes hydrolyze (cleave) the oils to liberate the fatty acids, and EE fish oil is much more resistant to this enzymatic process than the natural TG form.

A recent study assessed the specificity of 5 lipases towards EPA and DHA in TG and EE forms of fish oil. All of the investigated lipases hydrolyzed EPA and DHA more easily from a TG than from an EE fish oil substrate. It follows that EPA and DHA hydrolysis would be further compromised in individuals suffering from a digestive disorder, such as pancreatic insufficiency. EE fish oils should be avoided in such populations, as they would likely cause malabsorption of EPA and DHA.

A review of the existing literature provides evidence suggesting that omega-3 fatty acids in the natural TG form are more efficiently digested and significantly better incorporated into plasma lipids when compared to the EE form.

More Stable, Less Prone to Oxidation

Omega-3 fish oils in the form of EEs are much less stable than those in the natural TG form, making them more prone to oxidation. The oxidation kinetics of DHA as an EE or as a TG were assessed by measuring the concentration of oxygen found in the head space of a reaction vessel with both TG and EE forms3. The EE form of DHA was more reactive, and quickly oxidized, demonstrating that EE fish oils are far less stable and more readily produce harmful oxidation by-products3. In addition, the stability of DHA containing oil in phospholipid, triacylglycerol and the EE form has been assessed4. After a 10-week oxidation period, the EE DHA oil decayed 33% more rapidly than other forms4. In a separate study, monoglycerides were shown to be more readily oxidized when compared to triglycerides.

This suggests that individuals with health conditions associated with excessive oxidative stress should ideally consume only a 90+% TG form of fish oil.

Related Research

• Natural TG fish oil results in 50% more plasma EPA and DHA after absorption in comparison to EE oils6
• TG forms of EPA and DHA were shown to be 48% and 36%, respectively, better absorbed than EE forms7
• EPA incorporation into plasma lipids was found to be considerably smaller and took longer when administered as an EE8
• Plasma lipid concentrations of EPA and DHA were significantly higher with daily portions of salmon in comparison to 3 capsules of EE fish oil9
• In rats, DHA TG supplementation led to higher plasma and erythrocyte (red blood cell) DHA content than did DHA EE10 and a higher lymphatic recovery of EPA and DHA11.