About the Product
Life Pro Nutrition's Omega 3 Pro IFOS TG36/24 is the brand's premium omega-3 supplement, formulated with fish oil in the form of triglycerides (TG, the most bioavailable form) with a concentration of 36% EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and 24% DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), providing 360 mg of EPA + 240 mg of DHA per 1000 mg softgel. Enriched with D-alpha-tocopherol (natural Vitamin E) as an antioxidant to protect polyunsaturated fatty acids from oxidation. Certified by IFOS (International Fish Oil Standards, Nutrasource, Canada), the world's most demanding third-party certification system for fish oil, which assesses purity, freshness, oxidative stability, and absence of contaminants (heavy metals, PCBs, dioxins). 1 to 3 softgels/day with meals. 90 softgels per package. Contains fish and gelatin (not vegan).
Benefits
EPA and DHA: the two long-chain omega-3 fatty acids with the largest and most robust clinical evidence base:
The long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (LC-PUFA) EPA (C20:5n-3) and DHA (C22:6n-3) are considered conditionally essential nutrients: the human body can synthesize them endogenously from alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, C18:3n-3, present in walnuts and flaxseeds), but the conversion rate is extremely limited (typically <5% for EPA and <0.5% for DHA) given that the elongase and desaturase enzymes that catalyze this conversion are shared with the metabolism of omega-6 fatty acids, which compete for the same enzymatic system. In most modern Western diets, with an omega-6/omega-3 ratio of 15:1 to 20:1 (compared to the evolutionarily adequate ratio of 1:1 to 4:1), the competition of omega-6 fatty acids for enzymatic elongation almost completely suppresses the conversion of ALA to EPA and DHA, making direct intake of EPA and DHA (via fatty fish or supplementation) indispensable to maintain adequate plasma and tissue levels. EFSA has approved specific health claims for EPA and DHA: they contribute to the normal function of the heart (from 250 mg/day of EPA+DHA); DHA contributes to the maintenance of normal brain function and normal vision (from 250 mg/day of DHA); DHA contributes to the normal brain and visual development in fetuses and breastfed infants (via maternal intake); and high doses (3 g/day of EPA+DHA) contribute to normal blood triglyceride levels.
Triglyceride (TG) form vs. ethyl ester (EE): the bioavailability difference that justifies the choice:
Natural fish oil contains EPA and DHA in triglyceride (TG) form, which is the physiological form in which fatty acids exist in all animal tissues. To produce high-concentration EPA+DHA concentrates, the conventional industrial process converts fish oil triglycerides into ethyl esters (EE) by transesterification with ethanol, which allows concentration by molecular distillation. Ethyl esters have documented lower bioavailability than triglycerides: a classic comparative study by Dyerberg et al. (2010) documented that triglycerides have 124% bioavailability compared to 91% for ethyl esters when consumed with a fatty meal, and that ethyl esters have almost zero bioavailability on an empty stomach (unlike TGs which are absorbed even without co-ingestion of dietary fat). Life Pro Omega 3 Pro IFOS is specifically formulated in triglyceride (TG) form, ensuring maximum bioavailability of the 360 mg of EPA and 240 mg of DHA declared per capsule.
IFOS Certification: the most demanding quality standard for fish oil in the world:
IFOS (International Fish Oil Standards) is a third-party certification program developed by Nutrasource (University of Guelph, Canada), which evaluates fish oil supplements based on 5 independent criteria: purity (absence of heavy metals such as mercury, arsenic, cadmium, and lead below established maximum limits), potency (confirmation that the EPA and DHA levels declared on the label correspond to what is actually in the capsule), oxidative stability (measurement of peroxide and totox indices to confirm that the oil is not rancid/oxidized), PCBs and dioxins (absence of organochlorine pollutants), and regulatory compliance with WHO/CRN standards. Supplements that pass all criteria receive a 5-star IFOS rating, which is the most internationally recognized certificate for fish oil. The importance of this certification is particularly relevant given that market studies document that a significant proportion of fish oil supplements sold without independent certification contain lower EPA+DHA levels than declared on the label, or show oxidation indices (peroxide, totox) that indicate the oil is rancid, which reduces bioavailability and can have adverse effects (oxidized lipids are potentially pro-inflammatory).
EPA: the systemic anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular protective fatty acid:
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) is the precursor of series 3 eicosanoids with anti-inflammatory activity: prostaglandins E3 (PGE3, with anti-inflammatory and vasodilatory activity), thromboxane A3 (TXA3, with less vasoconstrictor and antiplatelet activity than TXA2 derived from arachidonic acid) and leukotrienes B5 (LTB5, with less pro-inflammatory activity than LTB4 derived from AA). In addition to competing with arachidonic acid (AA, omega-6) in the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways (reducing the production of series 2 pro-inflammatory eicosanoids), EPA is also a precursor of resolvins E (E1, E2, E3), lipid mediators of inflammation resolution identified by Charles Serhan's group at Harvard Medical School, with potent active resolution activity of inflammation (and not just inhibition). EFSA has approved the claim that EPA and DHA contribute to the maintenance of normal heart function with a daily intake of 250 mg, and that 3 g/day contribute to normal triglyceride levels.
DHA: the structural fatty acid of the central nervous system and retina:
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is the most abundant long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid in the central nervous system and retina: it accounts for 30 to 40% of the phospholipids in brain gray matter and 60 to 70% of the phospholipids in the photoreceptor membrane of the retina. DHA is essential for the fluidity of neuronal membranes, for synaptic transmission (it is concentrated in synapses where it facilitates the lateral diffusion of transmembrane receptors) and for dopaminergic and serotonergic neurotransmission. DHA deficiency is associated with cognitive decline, increased risk of depression and mood disorders, and reduced visual acuity. EFSA has approved the claim that DHA contributes to the maintenance of normal brain function and normal vision with a daily intake of 250 mg of DHA.
D-alpha-tocopherol (natural Vitamin E): antioxidant protection of polyunsaturated fatty acids against oxidation:
Polyunsaturated fatty acids such as EPA and DHA are extremely susceptible to lipid oxidation given the high number of double bonds (5 in EPA, 6 in DHA) which are the sites of free radical attack. The inclusion of D-alpha-tocopherol (the natural and most bioactive form of Vitamin E) in the formula serves as a lipophilic antioxidant that protects EPA and DHA from oxidation both in the capsule (throughout the shelf life) and in the body after absorption.
Uses
Recommended dosage: Take 1 capsule up to 3 times/day, preferably with meals (co-consumption with fat-containing foods maximizes the absorption of polyunsaturated fatty acids via stimulation of bile secretion and micelle formation). A dose of 1 capsule/day (360 mg EPA + 240 mg DHA = 600 mg total EPA+DHA) covers the minimum dose with an EFSA-approved health claim for heart function (250 mg/day) and brain and visual function (250 mg DHA/day). For therapeutic effects (triglyceride reduction, clinically relevant anti-inflammatory), doses of 2 to 3 g/day of EPA+DHA (corresponding to 3 to 5 capsules/day) are documented in clinical trials. Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight; in warm weather, refrigerate after opening.
