Manufacturing Process

All efforts have been taken at every level of the manufacturing process to ensure that the ingredients in our premium products are of the highest quality. We are careful to source ingredients from reputable and full-accredited suppliers. The origin and condition of the raw oils, even before they undergo the rigorous purification process, is of paramount importance. Each of the products is GMP-accredited and manufactured under pharmaceutical control, thereby minimising the presence of dioxins, PCBs and heavy metal toxins.

The omega-3 fatty acid EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) derives from fish – the highest yielding source of EPA available. As a general rule it is always best to obtain essential nutrients from food but there are several reasons why it is not advisable to obtain omega-3 solely from food or by taking ordinary fish oil supplements:

  • The omega-3 fatty acid EPA naturally occurs in oily fish but vast quantities would have to be consumed for a sustained health benefit. Unfortunately this could also mean exposure to pollutants, dioxins and PCBs. In a study published in Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, the researchers suggest that fish oils provide the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids without the risk of toxicity. [i]
  • Fish oil is rich in vitamin A. One would not be able to obtain the recommended levels of EPA for a sustained health benefit without consuming excessive amounts of less pure fish oil capsules or eating large amounts of fish, both of which raise concerns about developing vitamin A toxicity. Our purification process removes all traces of vitamin A.
  • Most fish oil supplements contain DHA and EPA (both omega-3 fatty acids) – clinical research shows that as the ratio of EPA to DHA increases in a supplement so does its efficacy. Our fatty acid products have the highest ratio possible, containing pure EPA and no DHA.

  • Most fish oil is extracted from the liver which is an excretory organ and contains concentrated amounts of pollutants. The EPA in our products is taken from the flesh of the fish.
  • For reasons of cost-effectiveness, fish oil is often derived from larger species that are higher in the food chain, but larger long-lived fish also contain a greater concentration of pollutants. Our ultra-pure EPA is derived from small, short-lived marine anchovies from the clean waters of the South Pacific Ocean, to minimise pollutant bioaccumulation. The oil undergoes molecular distillation in a vacuum process, carefully extracted at a cold temperature to ensure the utmost purity. All other substances are discarded as waste, including the omega-3 fatty acid DHA. The EPA is left undamaged owing to the low temperature and absence of oxygen.
  • Many ordinary supplements contain heavily refined oils which undergo processes which remove the vital goodness in the oil, including phytochemicals, antioxidants and botanical triterpenes. [ii] We use organic virgin evening primrose oil, extra-virgin olive oil and CLA derived from safflowers and in all cases the oil is extracted using a cold-pressing process that involves no heat or chemicals. The oils are left in as natural a state as possible to ensure maximum possible health benefits.

Whereas most glucosamine supplements use glucosamine derived from shellfish (to which some individuals are severely allergic), the glucosamine hydrochloride in OmegaFlex is vegetarian, derived from the fungus Aspergillus niger using a special fermenting process that involves no solvents or chemical synthesis. It is manufactured under pharmaceutical control in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) and is Kosher approved.

References

[i] Foran Melanson, S. , Lewandrowski,E.L.,Flood, J.G., Lewandrowski, K.B., Measurement of Organochlorines in Commercial Over-the-Counter Fish Oil Preparations: Implications for Dietary and Therapeutic Recommendations for Omega-3 Fatty Acids and a Review of the Literature, Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine: 2005 Vol. 129, No. 1, pp. 74-77. (2005;129:74-77)

[ii] Puri, B.K. The clinical advantages of cold-pressed non-raffinated evening primrose oil over refined preparations, Medical Hypotheses, 2004, Vol.62, 116-118.