Effect of gastric acid resistant coating of fish oil capsules on intestinal uptake of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid

Fish oil capsules with gastric acid resistant coatings have been shown to lower undesirable side effects. We compared the eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) + docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) uptake from uncoated and coated fish oil capsules. In a double-blinded crossover trial 12 healthy young men (mean age 31 years) were randomized to 1680 mg EPA + DHA as triacylglycerols in uncoated or coated fish oil capsules. Fatty acid levels were analyzed in plasma phospholipids at baseline and 2, 4, 6, 8, 24, 48 and 72 h after capsule ingestion. Statistical group comparisons on the basis of area under the curve values revealed no significant differences for EPA, DHA and total n-3 fatty acid levels between the different capsule formulations. In conclusion, this nutrikinetic study indicates that coating of fish oil capsules with a gastric acid resistant layer has no influence on the bioavailability of EPA + DHA.

► Enteric coating of fish oil capsules has no significant influence on the bioavailability of EPA and DHA.
► The uptake of EPA + DHA from enteric coated fish oil capsules is not affected compared to uncoated capsules.
► The incorporation of DHA from fish oil capsules into plasma phospholipids is delayed compared to EPA.