BMJ  2004;328:406 (14 February), doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7436.406-b

Letter

Omega 3 fatty acids and cardiovascular disease

Algae can be source of "fish" oil

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—Concern about depletion of fish stocks will not be addressed by supplementing animal feed with fish oil, as suggested by Din et al,1 because this requires the harvesting of wild fish to provide the fish oil. Fish farming does not provide a solution as farmed fish contains fewer omega 3 fatty acids, this being dependent on what they are fed—usually wild caught fish products.2

Marine algae: source of omega 3 fatty acids

Credit: SINCLAIR STAMMERS/SPL

The original source of the long chain omega 3 fatty acids found in fish is, however, the chloroplasts of marine algae and phytoplankton at the bottom of the food chain.3 In the marine environment polyunsaturated fatty acids may provide the degree of desaturation needed to keep cell membranes fluid in cold water. Rather than genetically modifying terrestrial plants to produce eicosapentaenoic and docosahexanoic acid, marine algae can be cultured industrially to provide the . . . [Full text of this article]

Matthew D Barber, specialist registrar in general surgery

Edinburgh Breast Unit, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh EH4 2XU barbermd@hotmail.com


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Relevant Article

Omega 3 fatty acids and cardiovascular disease—fishing for a natural treatment
Jehangir N Din, David E Newby, and Andrew D Flapan
BMJ 2004 328: 30-35. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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