Fatty Acids & Lipids

What manufacturers buy here

This category covers the oils, fatty acids, phospholipids and sterols used in food supplements, mostly in softgels and liquid formats. Formulators usually think of them in four groups.

• Omega-3 fatty acids: EPA, DHA, docosapentaenoic acid and stearidonic acid. The omega-3 guide compares their forms and sources.
• Other fatty acids and specified oils: conjugated linoleic acid, palmitoleic acid, pinolenic acid and Korean pine seed oil, plus evening primrose, borage, perilla, black cumin seed, pumpkin seed, rose hip, wheat germ and cannabis sativa seed oils.
• Phospholipids, sterols and lipid extracts: phosphatidylserine, phytosterols, beta-sitosterol, saw palmetto extract, shark liver oil and garlic oil.
• Medium-chain triglycerides: tricaprylin, used as an ingredient in its own right or as a carrier oil for oil-soluble actives.

The softgels guide covers fill design for these materials.

Choosing within the category

• Specified content. Lipids are bought on the content of the fatty acid or active the label declares, not on oil weight. Base label arithmetic on the batch figure in the certificate of analysis.
• Chemical form. Omega-3 concentrates exist as natural triglycerides, re-esterified triglycerides and ethyl esters. The form affects the achievable concentration and how the oil behaves in a fill, so confirm it on the specification sheet.
• Oxidative stability. Polyunsaturated oils oxidise on exposure to air, light and heat. Formulations often include an antioxidant such as tocopherols (see vitamin E forms), with inert-gas handling and light-protective packaging.
• Physical form. Oils suit softgels and liquids. Tablets, hard capsules and powder blends need a powdered grade, whose carrier and additives may need to appear on the label.
• Source. Fish, algal or plant origin affects allergen labelling, vegetarian positioning and, for some materials, novel-food status. Check fish-derived materials against the allergen list in Annex II of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011.

State the source, chemical form and physical form you need in the quote form; SoleChem sends the specification sheet and certificate of analysis with its quote.

Regulatory notes

The annexes of Directive 2002/46/EC list only vitamins and minerals, so fatty acids, phospholipids, sterols and plant oils are not covered by its lists, and national rules on other substances may apply; check them in each member state where the product is sold. Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 sets the EU procedure for restricting or prohibiting such substances. Some lipids, including certain algal DHA oils and phosphatidylserine ingredients, appear in the Union list of novel foods in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 with specified sources and conditions of use; check conjugated linoleic acid and phytosterol ingredients there too. Check each entry against your material, and see the novel food guide for the method.