Effects of a plant-based fatty acid supplement and a powdered fruit, vegetable and berry juice concentrate on omega-3-indices and serum micronutrient concentrations in healthy subjects

The major aim of this controlled, randomised, open-labelled, parallel-grouped, clinical trial was to investigate whether supplementation with different dosages of omega-3 fatty acids (0.5 g/d and 1 g/d) from a plant-based fatty acid supplement affected omega-3-indices (O3I) in well-nourished, healthy people. In addition, the combined ingestion of the plant-based fatty acid supplement, together with an encapsulated fruit, vegetable and berry (FVB) juice powder concentrate, was applied in order to observe the absorption of certain micronutrients and to examine some aspects related to the safe consumption of the products. The data demonstrate that the intake of only 0.5 g/day of omega-3 fatty acids from of a vegan supplement was able to increase the O3I significantly after 8 and 16 weeks. The combined ingestion with the FVB supplement concurrently increased serum concentrations of specific vitamins and carotenoids without effects on hepatic, kidney and thyroid function or changes in blood lipids.

An encapsulated fruit, vegetable and berry juice powder concentrate increases plasma values of specific carotenoids and vitamins

Vitamins and carotenoids are organic compounds that are important for vital functions of the human organism. Since the human body is not able to synthesize most of these micronutrients, they need to be supplied by the intake of food or supplements. The aim of this study was to analyze whether a whole food based, encapsulated fruit, berry, and vegetable juice powder concentrate provides bioavailable carotenoids and vitamins A (all-trans retinol), E and C. Eighteen healthy subjects received 6 capsules a day for 8 weeks, which provided 2.91 mg β-carotene, 490 μg vitamin A, 18.7 mg vitamin E, 159 mg vitamin C, 6.1 mg lutein and 1 mg lycopene. Plasma concentrations of several carotenoids and vitamins before and after supplementation were measured. After 8 weeks of supplementation, the plasma concentration of the following carotenoids increased significantly: α-carotene increased from 59.6 ± 22.4 nmol/L to 85.7 ± 24.2 nmol/L (p = 0.002), β-cryptoxanthin from 106.7 ± 39.8 nmol/L to 151.9 ± 57.9 nmol/L (p = 0.017), and lycopene from 1.2 ± 0.5 μmol/L to 1.7 ± 0.5 μmol/L (p = 0.005). Significant increases were also observed for plasma concentrations of vitamin C from 70 ± 20 μmol/L to 90 ± 10 μmol/L (p < 0.001), all-trans retinol from 1.99 ± 0.24 μmol/L to 2.30 ± 0.66 μmol/L (p = 0.015), and α-tocopherol from 27 ± 6 μmol/L to 32 ± 6 μmol/L (p = 0.008). For those micronutrients with accepted plasma reference ranges, all observed increases levelled off around the upper limit of the individual reference range. The data demonstrate that the investigated supplement is able to increase plasma concentrations of certain carotenoids and vitamins of healthy subjects within 8 weeks.

Plant-based Fatty Acid Food Supplement Can Increase Erythrocyte omega-3-index (P06-012-19)

Objectives

Via a randomized controlled clinical trial we evaluated whether 0.5 g or 1 g of omega-3-fatty acids from a plant-based food supplement (Juice Plus+® OMEGA Blend) could increase erythrocyte omega-3-index in healthy adult subjects.

Methods

After a 4-week wash out from food supplements and a 4-week run in to harmonize intake of dietary w-3 fatty acids, we conducted a controlled, randomized, open-labelled, parallel-grouped, clinical trial. 80 healthy adults from Austria, Europe, were randomized to four groups: a) control group, just adhering to the habitual diet; b) two capsules/day of the plant-based fatty acid supplement matching 0.5 g of w-3-fatty acids; c) four capsules/day of the plant-based fatty acid supplement matching 1 g of w-3-fatty acids; and d) four capsules of the plant-based fatty acid supplement and 6 capsules/day of a powdered, encapsulated, fruit, berry and vegetable juice concentrate (Juice Plus+® PREMIUM). Blood samples were collected at baseline, after 8 weeks, and after 16 weeks intervention with the food supplement(s).

Results

68 subjects (39.43 ± 12.28 years, 33 female, 35 male) completed the intervention. Baseline data on w-3-index revealed that the average w-3-index of the investigated groups was already higher than expected (mean value: 7.8%). Nevertheless, the intervention with the commercially available and plant-based fatty acid food supplement increased erythrocyte w-3-index significantly in all intervention groups (p < 0.001), after 8 weeks (mean values increased from 7.8% into a range from 10.4% to 11.1%) as well as after 16 weeks (mean values increased from 7.8% into a range from 11.7% to 14.4%). In all intervention groups the w-3-index was also significantly different from control (p < 0.001), after 8 weeks as well as after 16 weeks. No significant differences in w-3-index were detected between intervention groups after 8 and 16 weeks.

Conclusions

These data demonstrate that the intake of only 0.5 g/day of a plant-based w-3 fatty acid food supplement from algae and berry seeds is able to increase the w-3-index of a well-nourished, healthy cohort significantly only after 8 weeks.

Funding Sources

The Juice Plus+® Science Institute received funding by the Juice Plus+® Company for this project.