Finding the do-it-all functional food ingredient

New owners, fresh attitudes 

The current generation of pet owners is completely changing what is demanded of the pet food industry, demanding more of pet food than just nutrition. 

This is of course all good news: our cats and dogs are healthier, whether they are in Kyoto or Kansas, receive a better standard of care and live longer than even before. At the same time, functional, or proactive pet food ingredients that offer proven health benefits or can help address such age-related health issues are rapidly becoming an absolute necessity for pet food manufacturers wanting to succeed in a congested, competitive market. 

Super functional 

Outside of traditional vitamins, minerals and fibres, functional probiotics, polyphenols and omega-3 fatty acids are becoming increasingly popular with manufacturers, as are enriched selenium yeast, flaxseed, coconut oil and blueberries to list just a handful. 

However, when it comes to functional ingredients that can keep our pets in the best possible shape year-in, year-out, one stands alone: omega-3. It is no big secret that omega-3s play a vital role in pet food, as dogs and cats are unable to produce them naturally and rely on their diet to maintain healthy levels in the body. 

Just like us humans. As close as a do-it-all functional ingredient as it gets, omega-3s help maintain the health of numerous vital organs, including the heart, kidneys, liver, joints, brain, eyes, skin and coat.

For example, studies have shown that regular and sufficient consumption of omega-3 fatty acids EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) are absolutely essential for pets to maintain a healthy and well-functioning heart, therefore reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Omega-3s also act as anti-inflammatory nutrients that can help balance the body’s level of inflammation. Dogs, in particular, suffer from chronic inflammation, which may lead to several secondary health problems. By adding the right amount of omega-3s to a pet’s diet, inflammation levels can be better regulated. When the body’s inflammation level is balanced, distress and disease risk is reduced.

Right ingredient, wrong variant

But not all omega-3s are equal. Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA can be consumed in either the triglyceride form, typically found in traditional omega-3 sources such as fish, or in the phospholipid form prevalent in Antarctic krill. This is key, as phospholipid-bound omega-3s are more efficiently incorporated into the body’s cells, tissues, and organs. Another distinguishing benefit is that omega-3 phospholipids are water soluble, making them gentle on pets’ stomachs and readily absorbed by the body. 

Krill-iant omega-3

It is why one of the most efficient omega-3 sources for pets in the market is krill meal, available under the brand name QRILL Pet from Aker BioMarine. A 100% natural product, certified by the Marine Stewardship Council, it is made only from whole dried Euphausia Superba, an Antarctic krill species, rich in the long chain omega-3s EPA and DHA, the powerful antioxidant, astaxanthin, and high-quality proteins. 

Recognised for its health-promoting suppression of free radicals, astaxanthin counteracts oxidative stress and damage to proteins, lipids and DNA. It also keeps the krill meal fresh, protecting the omega-3 fatty acids from oxidation, so no other preservatives need to be added. Rich in marine fats and proteins, importantly QRILL Pet is highly palatable for pets and will not leave them with fishy breath.

The right ratio

Lastly, however, as good as omega-3s are, if you do not get the ratio to omega-6s right, you will not see the benefits. Failing to do so can lead to low omega-3 levels among pets, which can influence bone and joint functions, as well as brain development, and can cause allergies and cardiovascular problems, dry and itchy fur and skin. The recommended ratio in pet food of omega-6s and omega-3s is 5:1. 

A single ingredient, with numerous benefits for pet health, omega-3 derived from Antarctic krill, in QRILL Pet, is a tailor-made, natural performance ingredient, ideal for quality, functional pet food formulations.