Alijani Sepideh, Hahn Andreas, Harris William S, Schuchardt Jan Philipp
Institute of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Foundation Leibniz University Hannover, Am Kleinen Felde 30, 30167 Hannover, Germany; Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals, and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy.
Institute of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Foundation Leibniz University Hannover, Am Kleinen Felde 30, 30167 Hannover, Germany.
Prog Lipid Res. 2025 Jan;97:101318. doi: 10.1016/j.plipres.2024.101318. Epub 2024 Dec 28.
The bioavailability of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids is a critical yet often overlooked factor influencing their efficacy. This review evaluates the bioavailability of EPA/DHA from acute (single-dose) and chronic human studies, focusing on (a) chemical forms such as triacylglycerols (TAG, natural and re-esterified, rTAG), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), and phospholipids (PL) from sources like fish, krill, and microalgae, and (b) delivery methods like microencapsulation and emulsification. Bioavailability for isolated chemically forms followed the order: NEFA > PL > rTAG > unmodified TAG > ethyl esters (EE). However, varying oil compositions complicate conclusions about source-specific bioavailability. Significant differences observed in acute bioavailability studies (e.g., faster absorption) often did not translate into long-term impacts in chronic supplementation studies. This raises questions about the clinical relevance of acute findings, especially given that n-3 PUFA supplements are typically consumed long-term. Methodological limitations, such as inappropriate biomarkers, short sampling windows, and inadequate product characterization, hinder the reliability and comparability of studies. The review emphasizes the need for standardized protocols and robust chronic studies to clarify the clinical implications of bioavailability differences. Future research should prioritize biomarkers that reflect sustained n-3 PUFA status to better understand the health benefits of various EPA and DHA formulations.
长链ω-3脂肪酸的生物利用度是影响其功效的一个关键但常被忽视的因素。本综述评估了来自急性（单剂量）和慢性人体研究中EPA/DHA的生物利用度，重点关注：（a）化学形式，如来自鱼类、磷虾和微藻等来源的三酰甘油（TAG，天然和重新酯化的，rTAG）、非酯化脂肪酸（NEFA）和磷脂（PL），以及（b）微囊化和乳化等递送方法。分离出的化学形式的生物利用度顺序为：NEFA > PL > rTAG > 未改性TAG > 乙酯（EE）。然而，不同的油成分使关于特定来源生物利用度的结论变得复杂。在急性生物利用度研究中观察到的显著差异（例如，更快的吸收）在慢性补充研究中往往并未转化为长期影响。这引发了关于急性研究结果临床相关性的问题，特别是考虑到n-3多不饱和脂肪酸补充剂通常是长期食用的。方法学上的局限性，如不适当的生物标志物、较短的采样窗口和不充分的产品特性描述，阻碍了研究的可靠性和可比性。该综述强调需要标准化方案和有力的慢性研究，以阐明生物利用度差异的临床意义。未来的研究应优先考虑反映持续n-3多不饱和脂肪酸状态的生物标志物，以便更好地理解各种EPA和DHA制剂的健康益处。
