SmartZYME Instead of Fish Oils

[Dr. Jeff]

Some of you may have heard about a product called SmartZYME.

It is a white micro-algae that is a rich source of DHA.

This unique supplement has been around for awhile and was used mainly in aquaculture to help fish grow and remain well.

It has recently also been packaged for use in dogs and cats as a better and potentially safer replacement for omega-3 fish oils.

Hiro (who is the discoverer and chief investigator) wrote this to me:

This is the fact: EPA does not present any specific benefit other than the benefit that all Omega 3 FA brings. DHA on the other hand does have all the benefit of Omega 3 and specifically being present in brain, retina, and other signal transfer site of membrane. EPA, ALA are not. ALA is important because it is a known intermediary in the pathway to synthesize DHA. EPA is not. There are no benefits that EPA provides that DHA doesn’t. So Karen Becker is mistaken.

The Omega 3 industry doesn’t want you to know this however.

In my humble guess, I think the six double bonds (each double bond kinks the straight carbon bond to a certain angle) is geometrically important for it being situated in the cell membrane rather than 5, 4, or even 7 double bonds.

In short, EPA is not particularly better functionally, other than being one of the Omega 3 FA. It does no harm, as long as not oxidized. Fish Oil is problematic, because it has too much EPA in addition to DHA and too little tocopherols. Once the seal is broken, probably the fish oil will be good for may be part of the bottle, but then become oxidant, and toxic after short period of time. They are flawed products.

I've been seeing clinical benefits in patients, and love the way it supports healing by the body.

PhytoSmart™

PhytoSmart™ is the only omega-3 pet supplement that doesn’t have the fish oil side effects but has all the benefits of fatty acids because it’s made from fresh whole food Algae in our patented sterile growing system. A small amount gives cats & dogs healthy, bioavailable DHA without the risks...

www.phytosmart.com

 

[Dr. Sara]

I read the literature on the SmartZYME site, and checked what the conventional specialists on the Veterinary Information Network had to say about omega fatty acids.

The specialists agree that the DHA portion is the most significant as an antioxidant, and algal DHA is suggested as a vegan alternative to fish oil. Specialists echo the concerns about rancidity causing the fish oil to become toxic, and the problems with heavy metal contamination.

I would like to note that the algal products cost at least four times what high quality fish oils cost. This may be beyond the reach of many animal guardians. I calculated that SmartZYME would cost $135 per month for my three large dogs, compared to less than $20 for Barleans fish oil.

Nutrition specialists suggest using encapsulated fish oils from trusted suppliers that test for heavy metals, and refrigerating other products. They mention Barleans, Carlsons, and Nordic Naturals as high quality products, though they emphasize that consumers must be savvy in assessing products.
Cheers,
Sara

 

[Dr. Jeff]

Here is more information from Hiro from SmartZYME:

Originally we were planning to fatten the cell, to extract the oil using a clean low temperature extraction method. Then we realized that oxidation protection is the critical difficulty. I am warning of the oxidation danger from an industry insider point of view.

Fish oil Omega 3 is a $4.4 billion industry. Primarily the market is fish feed. Human and Pet Supplements is a peripheral market, with different issues than bulk fish feed requirements. Omega 3 Supplement companies have not carefully nor sufficiently provided for oxidation protection. Their packaging is generally oxygen permeable, and moreover, once the seal is broken, the pump forces the air into the bottle, and active oxidation starts. Gel caps are not completely oxygen blocking either.

To protect the PUFA from oxidation, they add Tocopherols. Tocopherols are a type of synthetic Vitamin E’s. Natural occurring Vitamin E in plant oil is not sufficient to protect the enriched EPA and DHA inside the oil, so they must add synthetic tocopherol acetate. In fact, DSM is the largest producer of synthetic tocopherols.

The PUFA oil producers measure the Peroxide content in the oil after a certain length of accelerated aging. Tocopherols are then added to prolong the so called “shelf life” of the oil inside the container. (not in the open).

Recent fish oil omega 3 claims include antioxidant, anti-inflammation, and benefitting skin and coat, (anti-itch remedy). DHA and omega 3 oils (PUFAs) are generally quick to be oxidized; the fish oil anti-oxidant claim came from their marketing people. Upon hearing that a large amount of tocopherols are added to the oil as antioxidants are added to the oil, (regardless that the reason was to protect the oil from oxidation, rather than as an active antioxidant for users), they decided to claim skin, coat and joint against oxidative stress.

These claims are relatively new, and unsustainable from the bottled Fish Oil Omega 3 supplement.

If you are to use the bottle in a few days or maybe a week, it may be OK. Otherwise the level of oxidation is anybody’s guess. So, while fish oil maybe cheaper, there is no protection against oxidative damage. Fish Oil Omega 3 is not a good antioxidant solution. Since we learned of this issue, I have been encountering numerous anecdotal accounts of premature Parkinson’s, infant seizures, infant schizophrenia, and numerous unexplained neurological issues that can possibly be traced to fish oil use. It is not an imagined problem.

We use single use oxygen barrier packaging, and fresh delivery. SmartZYME is triple protected from oxidation and large amounts of DHA will be made inside the body, not exposed to any oxidant, which makes SmartZYME™ the safest and most natural way to gain large amount of DHA. It is a risk to expose your pets to oxidative Fish Oil. It’s not a matter of cost. It’s a safety issue.

SmartZYME is not a medicine. It is not a supplement in a traditional sense, either. The metabolic enzymes will keep producing DHA laden good fat, long after feeding. It can replace continuous supplementation of extracted oil. It is meant to provide constitutional prevention of many illnesses. So, over the course of a year, the value is much higher, it is safer, and it may be cheaper than fish oil, that is not natural, nor sustainable. As a remedy, one may need boosting for a longer period of time. Given to young animals, it should be effective to prevent metabolic issues, even in smaller quantities.

 

[ivegrgas]

Recently I got my hands on Raw Frozen Line Caught in the USA Wild Cod Liver. And although it does not contain as much of DHA Omega 3s as SmartZyme, it is still a very good source of omega fatty acids; and safe, bioavailable form of important vitamins & minerals as well. The liver has to be kept frozen, but even when frozen, probably due to the high fat content, it can easily be scooped out and added to pet's food. Though, be ready, it stinks but my little one loves it.

 

[Dr. Jeff]

Sounds yummy!

Liver has about 15U of vit D/ounce. Since vit D is one of the fat soluble vitamins, you might want to decrease any vit D supplement you are using for Xia.

 

[DayshaG]

@Dr. Jeff have you or know of anyone that has tried the SmartZYME? The product and feedback from Hiro sounds interesting.

 

[Dr. Jeff]

have you or know of anyone that has tried the SmartZYME?

Yes! It's a unique and super interesting product!

I think it's worth trying.

Disclaimer-I'm one of their scientific advisors so am biased.

 

[GinnyW]

OK; I just ordered the crumbles, even though we already use a bulk fish oil from SeaPet. I like the science behind this one....

 

[DayshaG]

OK; I just ordered the crumbles, even though we already use a bulk fish oil from SeaPet. I like the science behind this one....

I'd be interested in how you like it!

 

[DayshaG]

@GinnyW where did you order it? I am considering purchasing myself.

 

[Dr. Jeff]

Sorry to have failed to mention that SmartZyme has been renamed:

PhytoSmart™

PhytoSmart™ is the only omega-3 pet supplement that doesn’t have the fish oil side effects but has all the benefits of fatty acids because it’s made from fresh whole food Algae in our patented sterile growing system. A small amount gives cats & dogs healthy, bioavailable DHA without the risks...

zipzymeomega.com