Microalgal DHA and Plant Phospholipid Composition for Bioavailability
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a deficiency in obtaining a reliable, easily accessible, and scalable product that contributes DHA and/or EPA, which is acceptable to a wide range of consumers, including those with dietary restrictions or allergies.
Innovation Solution
A composition comprising a mixture of DHA and/or EPA in glyceride or ethyl ester form derived from microorganisms such as microalgae, combined with at least one plant-derived phospholipid, specifically designed to enhance bioavailability and efficacy in treating DHA and/or EPA deficiencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If DHA and/or EPA are contributed in the form of triglycerides or ethyl esters derived from microorganisms, then the product is more accessible and acceptable to a wider range of consumers (including vegans), but the bioavailability and efficiency of DHA incorporation into the brain is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines microalgal DHA (in triglyceride or ethyl ester form) with plant-derived phospholipids in a single composition. This merging allows the product to maintain vegan compatibility while achieving phospholipid-level bioavailability through the synergistic effect of the phospholipid carrier system
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite nutritional composition integrating two distinct lipid sources: microalgal omega-3 fatty acids and plant phospholipids. This composite structure leverages the advantages of both components - the ethical/sustainable appeal of microalgal sources and the superior bioavailability of phospholipid-bound fatty acids
2Reliability
If marine phospholipids (krill, fish roe) are used as the source of DHA and/or EPA, then the bioavailability is improved, but the product becomes less accessible due to allergies, dietary restrictions, and higher production costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive, scarce marine phospholipid sources with more affordable, sustainably producible plant phospholipids combined with microalgal DHA. This substitution makes the product more accessible while maintaining the phospholipid-mediated bioavailability mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
Plant-derived phospholipids serve as an intermediary carrier that mimics the function of marine phospholipids. These phospholipids facilitate the efficient incorporation of microalgal DHA into brain tissue, acting as a mediator between the microalgal fatty acid source and the target brain tissue
3Ease of manufacture
If separate intake of DHA and phospholipids is used, then the product can be manufactured more easily, but the synergistic effect and overall efficacy is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges separate DHA supplementation and phospholipid supplementation into a single integrated composition. This combination ensures that both components are delivered simultaneously in the correct proportions, maximizing the synergistic effect on brain DHA incorporation
Data Source
AI summary
A composition comprising a mixture of DHA and/or EPA in the form of glyceride or ethylester derived from at least one microorganism, such as a microalga, and at least one plant-derived phospholipid, in which the content of DHA and/or EPA in triglyceride form is between 10% and 90% by weight relative to the total weight of the composition, and the content of at least one plant-derived phospholipid, such as phosphatidylcholine, is between 10% and 90% by weight relative to the weight of composition. The method for manufacturing same and to the use thereof, in particular in the treatment of pathologies involving a deficiency of DHA and/or EPA, such as age-related macular degeneration or Alzheimer's disease.