Researchers at National Cheng Kung University in Tainan have invented a new method that extracts pollution-free docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from an indigenous species of algae that could revolutionize the way the nutritional supplement is produced commercially, academic sources said yesterday.
Team members said DHA is normally derived from fish and shellfish, but minute quantities of toxins — such as methyl mercury or dioxins — may migrate from the fish to the DHA, a common additive used in foods and animal feed.
Chen I-min (陳逸民), an assistant professor and co-leader of the project, said the contamination led the team to search for new ways to extract DHA.
The researchers selected a species of algae and induced fermentation to observe DHA productivity, Chen said.
Yang Huey-lang (楊惠郎), a professor at the university’s Institute of Biotechnology, said that the results proved the algae could produce DHA in sufficient quantities and without man-made pollutants, indicating its potential as a food ingredient.
Yang said several local biotech companies had showed interest in the process and in applying the method to mass production.
DHA is a food supplement that some say reduces the risk of heart disease or mitigates deficiencies of the acid that may lead to diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
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