Ocean Nutrition Canada Limited (ONC), supplier of MEG-3 brand Omega-3 EPA/DHA food and dietary supplement ingredients from fish oil, and Dr. William Sears, partner to develop consumer awareness of the health benefits of Omega-3 EPA/DHA. Dr. Sears participated in the consumer awareness campaign with an interview segment with Sky Radio which will play on American Airlines flights for the month of March 2009. The interview will play on approximately 29,000 audio-equipped American Airlines with flights worldwide, reaching approximately 4.2 million travelers.Dr. William Sears, also known as “America’s Pediatrician” is an Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine. Dr. Sears has been practicing pediatrics for over 35 years and is considered one of the leading experts on pediatrics and nutrition in the United States. Dr. Sears is a proponent of Omega-3 EPA/DHA from fish oil and he is personally committed to raising awareness of the global nutritional deficient that exists for Omega-3.The absence of Omega-3 EPA/DHA from fish oil, in addition to a rise in Omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) (which are found in most types of vegetable oil) in the western diet can be linked to rapid increases in the number of inflammatory and auto-immune diseases. There are over 8,000 clinical studies to support the health benefits of Omega-3 EPA/DHA from fish oil. This body of research suggests that the combination of Omega-3 EPA and DHA reduces the risk of heart disease, and may reduce symptoms of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, Alzheimer’s, depression, postpartum depression, and stress. There is also evidence to suggest that Omega-3 EPA and DHA may improve cognitive function, and may play a positive role in the management of obesity.Research indicates that consumer awareness of the health benefits of Omega-3 is very high. However, there still exists a lack of understanding of the three types of Omega-3 (EPA - Eicosapentaenoic Acid, DHA - Docosahexaenoic Acid, and ALA - Alpha-Linolenic acid) and the health benefits associated with each type. Therefore, one of the underlying objectives of the media campaign was to educate consumers that only fish oil provides both EPA and DHA – essential nutrients vital for overall good health. And that ALA, from plant sources, converts very inefficiently (less than 1%) to EPA and DHA so that is not enough to provide any of the health benefits associated with Omega-3.
