What is Omega-3?
Essential Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids
Chemically speaking, Omega-3s are polyunsaturated fatty acids, which have their first double bond in the third position of the molecule. From a more practical point of view, they are a group of fatty acids that are vital for our bodies to function optimally.
Unfortunately, our bodies are not capable of producing sufficient Omega-3 fatty acids on their own, particularly in the Western diet that floods the body with competing, less healthy fats. Thus, we depend on diet and supplementation to get the necessary Omega-3 fatty acids into our bodies. The most important Omega-3 fatty acids based on clinical data and over 39,000 published scientific papers, are EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid), DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid), and DPA (Docosapentaenoic Acid). These Omega-3 fatty acids are most abundantly found in oily fish such as sardine, anchovy, salmon & mackerel. Omega-3s oils can also be found from other marine sources such as algae.
Where Does Omega-3 Fish Oil Come From?
The Omega-3 industry generally sources its fish oil from sardine and anchovy fisheries. Other specialty sources include salmon, cod, tuna and squid. KD Nutra® sources its oil from many regions and fish across this globe. This important factor is essential to the ongoing success of KD Nutra® and its valued customers. By responsibly fishing multiple areas and sources, KD Nutra® ensures an adequate supply chain and variety in our product set.
The most abundant source of oil for KD Nutra® comes from sardines and anchovies from the warm waters of Chile and Peru. When these abundant fish are caught, the protein is separated from the oil. The remaining protein or fish meal is then sold to the fish farm industry as food.
The left-over oil generally referred to as 18/12 or 30% oil, is again used in large part for the animal feed industry. Each marine oil source has a different make up and concentration of omega 3 fatty acids. Approximately 10% of the oil is sold to the Omega-3 industry to be further processed into purified high concentrate Omega-3 fish oil for the pharmaceutical, supplement and food industries. A standard 18/12 or 30% fish oil breaks down as follows:
- 30% Omega-3 fats or approximately 18% EPA & 12% DHA
- 30% Saturated fats
- 30% Monounsaturated fats
- 10% Other fats such as Omega-6 and cholesterol
The ability to efficiently separate the Omega-3 fatty acids from the remaining lipids is a key step in producing high quality Omega-3 fish oil for use in pharmaceuticals, supplements and foods. Twenty-five years of separation technology expertise is what has made KD Nutra one of the most trusted names and the Omega-3 Solution Experts.
Where does the KD Pharma Group get its Omega3-fish oil?
It is always easier to produce great quality products when you start with good quality ingredients. At KD Nutra®, we use fish oil from all over the world. With cod from the Bering Sea, tuna, squid, sardine, anchovy and mackerel from around the world, KD Nutra® ensures that each customer has the ability to craft a unique and individual product from a robust and diverse supply chain.
Not only does KD Nutra® manage a diverse supply chain, but each supplier of fish oil has successfully undergone a stringent qualification procedure by our quality assurance department to ensure only the best quality is received into KD Nutra®’s facilities. Once received, each batch of oil is tested multiple times at the beginning, middle and end of manufacturing. Thanks to the rigorous audit process and quality of our suppliers, KD Nutra® and the KD Pharma Group of companies has also been recognized by Friend of the Sea® (FOS) with its sustainability certificate.