Sanofi helps bridge the Omega-3 gap

MANILA, Philippines - Despite the diversity and uniqueness of Asian cuisine, you may be surprised to know that in terms of nutrition, Asians still pale in comparison to their Western counterparts, particularly when it comes to Omega-3 intake. 

Studies show that awareness and understanding of Omega-3 among Asian consumers is significantly lower than in Western nations such as Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, where consumer awareness has been high for over 20 years. 

To help correct this situation, sanofi-aventis, maker of Cenovis Fish Oil, recently launched the Omega-3 Academy Asia, a newly formed professional body of medical experts committed to increasing awareness and understanding of Omega-3. 

Sanofi-aventis marketing manager Rachelle Gamboa said, “In addition to the significant research and development (R&D) that is invested in the production of effective healthcare solutions, sanofi-aventis Consumer Healthcare also invests a great deal of time and resource into providing vital consumer and healthcare professional information and support to improve the health and well-being of people across Asia, and the rest of the world.”  

Omega-3 Academy Asia boasts of esteemed members from Korea, Thailand and the Philippines, whose expertise cover a broad range of areas, including clinical nutrition, cardiology, family health and diabetology.

Professor Andrew Sinclair, chairman of the Omega-3 Academy Asia and chairman of Nutrition Science at the Deakin University’s School of Medicine in Australia said, “Modern Asian diets are becoming increasingly convenience-based, with higher levels of saturated fats and decreasing amounts of fish resulting in decreased Omega-3 intake. This has coincided with an increased level of coronary heart disease and other health issues.”

Omega-3 intake across the Asian region is generally considered to be below daily recommended guidelines; however, there is currently a lack of accurate clinical data. Consumers in the Philippines are not consuming enough Omega-3; fish consumption has decreased from 36 kg to 31 kg per person per annum, in just 11 years.

Cardiologist Dr. Eugene Reyes said, “There is an urgent need to educate Filipino consumers on Omega-3 to overcome current misperceptions. For example, only certain types of fresh saltwater and freshwater fish have high Omega-3 content, and extreme heat may destabilize Omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA. Many consumers also don’t know how much Omega-3 should be consumed to benefit their health; this is why we have formed the Omega-3 Academy Asia.”

The academy is undertaking a targeted educational program to raise awareness and understanding of the health benefits of fish oil and Omega-3 amongst consumers and health care professionals in Korea, Thailand and the Philippines.

“There is a growing body of evidence which suggests that Omega-3 can have a positive impact on heart health, joint issues and brain development and we should all strive to reach the reccomended daily intake levels to optimise our health,” Sinclair said.

To help consumers get their Omega-3 fish oil requirement, many have come to rely on Cenovis Fish Oil, an all-natural fish oil supplement that contains essential fatty acids, EPA and DHA.