21 May 2010 --- LycoRed, Ltd. launched Lyc-O-Mega, a vegetarian Omega-3 at VitaFoods this week. This outstanding ingredient is fish odor-free, produced only from the highest quality of DHA algae oil, making it especially suitable for vegetarians.

“We succeeded to create a win-win Omega-3 formula thanks to our proprietary microencapsulation technology. It provides all the health benefits of Omega-3 derived from fish source, with perfect bland taste to a wide range of applications,” explains Udi Alroy, VP Global Marketing & Sales at LycoRed.

LycoRed demonstrated the look and feel of Omega-3 with products such as chocolate and crackers fortified with Lyc-O-Mega 10AL at VitaFoods. The chocolate tablet (5g) contains 5mg of DHA , 1/3 of the recommended daily consumption), without affecting its taste profile. LycoRed’s microencapsulation technology enables fortification of bakery products which are traditionally cannot be fortified with Omega-3.

Omega-3 fatty acids are considered essential fatty acids and because they cannot be manufactured by the body they must be obtained from food. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in fish and certain plant oils. Extensive research indicates that omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation, help prevent certain chronic diseases such as heart disease and arthritis and play a crucial role in brain function as well as normal growth and development.

Researchers have found that relatively small amounts of omega-3 fatty acids from algae can lower blood pressure and might ultimately reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. This vegetarian form of omega-3, unlike fish oil, has the advantage of being both sustainable and acceptable for vegetarians.