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Spoilage and labeling errors found with some omega-3 and -6 supplements; Review of evening primrose, flaxseed, borage, and black currant oil supplements
WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK — JANUARY 10, 2011 — A new report on the quality of omega-3 and -6 fatty acid supplements made from seed oils was released by ConsumerLab.com today. Only 11 of 17 products selected for testing met quality criteria for freshness and labeling. Among the 6 products that failed testing were 2 marketed for pets. Pet owners use omega-3 and-6 fatty acid products for skin and coat maintenance. U.S. sales of supplements from plant oils were $253 million in 2009 according to Nutrition Business Journal.
ConsumerLab.com's review focused on supplements claiming to contain alpha-linoleic acid (ALA) or gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). ALA is an essential omega-3 fatty acid which can be converted, to a limited extent, into EPA and DHA — the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil. Flaxseed oil is extremely rich in ALA and is the dominant source for supplements. GLA is an omega-6 fatty acid that may be useful in treating diabetic neuropathy and other diseases that involve pain and inflammation, including rheumatoid arthritis. Evening primrose, borage, and black currant oils are popular sources of GLA. Many of the products contained additional fatty acids, particularly linoleic acid (LA), which is an essential fatty acid found in many vegetable oils and generally abundant in the diet.
Two products were found to be spoiled, as indicated by peroxide values above 10 meq/kg. One was a flaxseed oil supplement found to have a peroxide value of 68 meq/kg. The other was a pet product with flax and fish oil that had a peroxide value of 18 meq/kg and contained approximately 75% of its listed amounts of the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. A second pet product contained far more (573.5%) of its claimed amount of oleic acid -- a monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid. Two borage oil supplements contained somewhat less than their listed amounts of GLA or oleic acid. Some products did not properly label the type of oil from which they were made, a FDA requirement.
The new report provides test results for 26 products, including 17 selected by ConsumerLab.com and 9 that passed ConsumerLab.com's Voluntary Certification Program. Also listed are 2 products similar to others that passed testing but sold under different brand names. The following products are included in the report:
ConsumerLab.com is a leading provider of consumer information and independent evaluations of products that affect health and nutrition. The company is privately held and based in Westchester, New York. It has no ownership from, or interest in, companies that manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products. Subscription to ConsumerLab.com is available online.
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ConsumerLab.com's review focused on supplements claiming to contain alpha-linoleic acid (ALA) or gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). ALA is an essential omega-3 fatty acid which can be converted, to a limited extent, into EPA and DHA — the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil. Flaxseed oil is extremely rich in ALA and is the dominant source for supplements. GLA is an omega-6 fatty acid that may be useful in treating diabetic neuropathy and other diseases that involve pain and inflammation, including rheumatoid arthritis. Evening primrose, borage, and black currant oils are popular sources of GLA. Many of the products contained additional fatty acids, particularly linoleic acid (LA), which is an essential fatty acid found in many vegetable oils and generally abundant in the diet.
Two products were found to be spoiled, as indicated by peroxide values above 10 meq/kg. One was a flaxseed oil supplement found to have a peroxide value of 68 meq/kg. The other was a pet product with flax and fish oil that had a peroxide value of 18 meq/kg and contained approximately 75% of its listed amounts of the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. A second pet product contained far more (573.5%) of its claimed amount of oleic acid -- a monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid. Two borage oil supplements contained somewhat less than their listed amounts of GLA or oleic acid. Some products did not properly label the type of oil from which they were made, a FDA requirement.
The new report provides test results for 26 products, including 17 selected by ConsumerLab.com and 9 that passed ConsumerLab.com's Voluntary Certification Program. Also listed are 2 products similar to others that passed testing but sold under different brand names. The following products are included in the report:
- Andrew Lessman's Evening Primrose with Black Currant Seed Oil
- Barlean's Organic Oils Flax Oil
- Cardiovascular Research Ltd. Black Currant Seed Oil
- Deva® Organic Vegan Flaxseed Oil
- FoodScience of Vermont Black Currant Seed Oil
- GreenDog Naturals Omega Glo-Coat 3-6-9
- Health from the Sun Evening Primrose Oil
- Life Extension Mega GLA with Sesame Lignans
- Nature's Bounty Evening Primrose Oil
- NaturVet Ultimate™ Skin and Coat Supplement
- NOW Borage Oil, Spectrum Essentials Borage Oil
- NSI Evening Primrose Oil
- Nutricology EPO Evening Primrose Oil
- Nutrilite Veggie 150 Omega Complex
- OmegaWorks Flax Oil
- Puritan's Pride Evening Primrose Oil
- Rite Aid Omega 3-6-9
- Solgar Evening Primrose Oil
- Spectrum Essentials Borage Oil
- Spring Valley Flax Oil 1200 mg
- Thompson Borage Oil 1000
- TruNature Flaxseed Oil
- Twinlab Flax/Fish Combo Oil
- Vitamin Shoppe Borage Oil 1000 mg
- Vitamin Shoppe Certified Organic Flax Seed Oil 1000 mg
- Vitamin Shoppe Cold Pressed Certified Organic Flax Oil
- Vitamin Shoppe Evening Primrose Oil 1300 mg
- Vitamin World Cold Pressed Evening Primrose Oil
ConsumerLab.com is a leading provider of consumer information and independent evaluations of products that affect health and nutrition. The company is privately held and based in Westchester, New York. It has no ownership from, or interest in, companies that manufacture, distribute, or sell consumer products. Subscription to ConsumerLab.com is available online.
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