DHA and EPA: the high-value lipids behind the omega-3 revolution!

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), impossible to pronounce, but essential to your health balance!

DHA and EPA are long-chain omega-3 fatty acids originally synthesized by marine microalgae such as Schizochytrium, Nannochloropsis and Phaeodactylum, especially under nutrient stress or high lipid accumulation conditions.

They play a fundamental role in:

  • Brain development;
  • Cognitive function;
  • Cardiovascular health;
  • Anti-inflammatory regulation;
  • Infant nutrition.

Traditionally sourced from fish oil, these molecules are now increasingly produced directly from algae, offering a sustainable, vegan and contaminant-free alternative.

Market:

The global DHA and EPA market is now a multi-billion dollar industry (~$ 2-5B depending on scope), growing steadily at ~5-8% CAGR (compound annual growth rate), with DHA leading demand across supplements, infant nutrition and functional foods.

Sources:

While fish oil still dominates supply, the fastest-growing segment is algal omega-3, driven by sustainability concerns, pressure on marine resources and the rise of vegan and traceable nutrition solutions.

In reality, fish are just the middlemen, algae are the real omega-3 factories.