Value-Added Products from Microalgae - Biotechnological Applications of Microalgae - page 148

TABLE 10.7
Life Stage Benefits of Omega-3 EPA and DHA)

Life Stage Key Benefits

Pregnant and nursing mothers Good maternal health; supports fetal brain, eye, and nerve

development

Infants Brain, eye, and nerve development

Children Part of a well-balanced diet

Teens Part of a well-balanced diet

Adults Cardiovascular health, mental health (Alzheimer's disease),

cancer, inflammation (morning stiffness, joint pain,
swelling and fatigue), and age-related disorders

Seniors Cardiovascular health, mental health (Alzheimer's disease),

cancer, inflammation (morning stiffness, joint pain,
swelling and fatigue), and age-related disorders

Source: Adapted from Life stages benefits (2011), Ward and Singh (2005), Holub (2011).

fish oil market, the vegetarian omega-3 EPA and DHA source remains moderately
competitive, with the dominant sources of omega-3 being algal and flaxseed oil.
DHA market estimations alone are valued at US$15 million, and are considered one
of the fast-growing microalgal products.
Martek Biosciences has been the dominant player in sustainable algal omega-3
technology and, as a result, this platform has given rise to products such as
algae-derived omega-3 DHA in infant formula, dietary supplements, functional
foods and beverages, as well as animal feed products. Martek Biosciences was
recently (December 21, 2010) acquired by DSM (a global life sciences and
material sciences company). The company's “flagship” product is life's DH A™,
a completely vegetarian source of algal DHA. Martek's omega-3 technologies
are secured by a robust intellectual property portfolio and supported by a strong
R&D platform, with particular emphasis on the infant formula and infant nutrition
area. This provides new opportunities for DSM in the infant nutrition segment,
as well as in the food, beverage, and dietary supplement industries. Formulas
incorporating Martek's DHA oil are available in more than sixty countries,
including the United Kingdom, Mexico, China, the United States, and Canada
(Spolaore et al., 2006).

10.2.3.2 DHA Production Process
Despite the strength of algal oils as products, they comprise a low share in the
omega-3 ingredients market, purely because of the lack of competitors in the mar-
ketplace. Martek's microalgal cultivation occurs in fermenters, ranging from 80 to
260 m 3 in size (Ratledge, 2004; Spolaore et al., 2006; life's DHA website, 2012).
The microalgae are grown heterotrophically utilizing glucose and yeast extracts as
carbon sources (Lee, 1997). Advancing microalgal technology has been the thrust