AvailOm® Omega 3: Why the Lysine Salt Form Matters

Most omega-3 supplements answer the same question, which is how to get EPA and DHA into a capsule. Fewer of them address the second question, which is what happens to those fatty acids after the capsule is swallowed.

What EPA and DHA are

Eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid are long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids from the omega-3 family. They are found principally in oily fish and in the marine algae that fish acquire them from.

The body can convert alpha-linolenic acid, the plant-source omega-3 in flax, chia and walnuts, into EPA and then into DHA. The conversion rate is low and highly variable between individuals, which is why marine sources are treated separately in dietary guidance rather than as interchangeable.

EPA and DHA behave differently once in the body. DHA is heavily concentrated in neural and retinal membrane tissue, where it is a structural component. EPA is found at lower tissue concentrations and is more associated with signalling and with the eicosanoid pathways. A formulation weighted towards EPA is a deliberate choice rather than a cost decision.

The UK position, via SACN and NHS guidance, is two portions of fish per week including one oily portion, which corresponds to roughly 450 mg of EPA plus DHA per day averaged out. National intake surveys consistently show most adults fall short of it.

The form problem: triglyceride, ethyl ester and lysine salt

Fish oil does not arrive in one chemical shape.

Natural triglyceride. Three fatty acids attached to a glycerol backbone, the form found in whole fish. Lower omega-3 concentration, so capsules are larger

Ethyl ester. The form produced when fish oil is concentrated through molecular distillation. Higher omega-3 load per capsule, but the fatty acid is attached to an ethanol molecule rather than glycerol. Cleaving that bond requires pancreatic lipase, which works on ethyl esters less efficiently than on triglycerides, and this is why ethyl ester absorption is notably fat-meal dependent

Re-esterified triglyceride. Ethyl esters converted back to a triglyceride structure. Additional processing step

Lysine salt. The fatty acid paired with the amino acid lysine as a salt rather than bound through an ester linkage

AvailOm is the lysine salt approach. The omega-3 is present as a free fatty acid in salt form with lysine, which changes the digestive sequence: there is no ester bond requiring lipase cleavage before the fatty acid is available for uptake.

Two practical consequences follow. The omega-3 load per unit weight is high, so the capsule can be small, which matters for a category where capsule size is a common reason people stop taking a product. And the material is a dry, free-flowing powder rather than an oil, which means it can be used in a capsule format rather than requiring a softgel.

Oxidation, purity and why they get discussed

Omega-3 fatty acids are highly unsaturated, which is precisely what makes them biologically interesting and chemically fragile. They oxidise on exposure to oxygen, light and heat, and oxidation markers in retail fish oil products have been the subject of published surveys with unflattering findings.

A dry powder in a capsule has a different exposure profile to an oil in a softgel. Storage conditions still matter.

Purity is the other standard concern. Marine oils are screened for heavy metals, dioxins, PCBs and other persistent contaminants, and any product sold in the UK should be able to produce certificates of analysis on request.

Allergen note: this product contains fish.

Omega 3 Health Facts

Daily intake of 250 mg of EPA and DHA, two capsules provide.

EPA and DHA contribute to the normal function of the heart.

EPA and DHA contribute to normal brain function and normal vision.

EPA and DHA contribute to the maintenance of normal blood pressure.

Dose and practical considerations

Two capsules daily, preferably with food.

Anyone taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication should speak to their GP or pharmacist before adding an omega-3 supplement, as should anyone scheduled for surgery. Anyone with a fish allergy should avoid it.

Common questions

What is the difference between EPA and DHA? Both are long-chain marine omega-3 fatty acids. DHA is a major structural component of neural and retinal membranes. EPA sits at lower tissue concentrations and is more associated with signalling pathways.

What is an omega-3 lysine salt? A form in which the omega-3 fatty acid is paired with the amino acid lysine as a salt rather than bound through an ester linkage, which removes the lipase cleavage step required by ethyl esters.

Is a capsule as good as a fish oil softgel? They are different physical formats carrying the same fatty acids in different chemical forms. The relevant comparison is the form and the EPA and DHA content per serving, not the shell.

Can I get enough omega-3 from flaxseed? Flax provides alpha-linolenic acid. Conversion to EPA and then DHA occurs at a low and variable rate, which is why dietary guidance treats marine sources separately.

Will it cause fishy repeat? A dry salt form in a capsule has a different profile to an oil. Individual experience varies.

References

1. Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition. Advice on Fish Consumption: Benefits and Risks. UK Government, 2004.
2. Calder PC. Omega-3 fatty acids and inflammatory processes: from molecules to man. Biochemical Society Transactions. 2017;45(5):1105-1115.
3. Mozaffarian D, Wu JHY. Omega-3 fatty acids and cardiovascular disease: effects on risk factors, molecular pathways, and clinical events. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2011;58(20):2047-2067.
4. Dyerberg J, Madsen P, Møller JM, et al. Bioavailability of marine n-3 fatty acid formulations. Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids. 2010;83(3):137-141.
5. Schuchardt JP, Hahn A. Bioavailability of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids. 2013;89(1):1-8.
6. Albert BB, Derraik JGB, Cameron-Smith D, et al. Fish oil supplements in New Zealand are highly oxidised and do not meet label content of n-3 PUFA. Scientific Reports. 2015;5:7928.
7. Bhatt DL, Steg PG, Miller M, et al. Cardiovascular risk reduction with icosapent ethyl for hypertriglyceridemia (REDUCE-IT). New England Journal of Medicine. 2019;380(1):11-22.
8. EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies. Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to EPA and DHA. EFSA Journal. 2010;8(10):1796.
9. Great Britain Nutrition and Health Claims Register. Department of Health and Social Care, gov.uk.

Food supplements are not a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.