Lipid compositions with high dha content

Abstract

The invention provides lipid compositions comprising phospholipids having a high docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) content, which compositions are preferably extracted from natural sources. The lipid compositions are excellent sources of highly bioavailable DHA and they can be used in oral delivery vehicles, dietary supplements, functional foods, and the like.

1 . A solid phospholipid-rich lipid composition comprising greater than about 60% phospholipids, wherein about 40-55 wt. % the fatty acids of the phospholipids are docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), the ratio of DHA to EPA is about 1.5:1 to about 3.5:1, and the lipid composition is substantially stable to oxidation. 
     
     
         2 . A process of producing the solid phospholipid-rich lipid composition of  claim 1  comprising:
 contacting a fish or fish by-product with a polar solvent to form a mixture with a polar solvent fraction; 
 removing the solvent from the polar solvent fraction to provide a solid phospholipid-rich lipid composition comprising greater than about 60% phospholipids, wherein the composition comprises at least about 40 wt. % of phosphatidylcholine, about 40-55 wt. % the total fatty acids of the phospholipids are docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and the ratio of DHA to EPA is about 1.5:1 to about 3.5:1, wherein the solid phospholipid lipid composition is substantially stable to oxidation. 
 
     
     
         3 . A method for treating dry eye or an inflammatory disease of the eye comprising orally administering to a subject diagnosed with dry eye or an inflammatory disease of the eye an effective amount of a lipid composition comprising phospholipids and a carrier oil, wherein:
 the phospholipids comprise at least about 75 wt. % phosphatidylcholine; at least about 40% of the total fatty acids of the phospholipids are docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA); and the ratio of DHA to EPA is at least about 1.5:1;   the carrier oil comprises mono-, di- or triglycerides; fatty acid ethyl esters; free fatty acids; phospholipids, or a combination thereof; and   the lipid composition comprises about 20 wt. % to about 90 wt. % phospholipids and about 10 wt. % to about 80 wt. % carrier oil;   wherein the administration is approximately daily for an effective amount of time to reduce the severity of the dry eye or the inflammatory disease of the eye, thereby treating or reducing the symptoms of the dry eye or the inflammatory disease of the eye.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the method comprises treating dry eye. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the method comprises treating one or more of corneal dystrophy, trachoma, onchocerciasis, uveitis, sympathetic ophthalmitis and endophthalmitis. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the phospholipids comprise omega-3 phospholipids and the omega-3 phospholipids comprise one or more of lysophosphatidylcholine, lysophosphatidylethanolamine, lysophosphatidylserine and lysophosphatidylinositol. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the ratio of DHA to EPA in the phospholipids of the composition is at least about 2:1. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the ratio of DHA to EPA in the phospholipids of the composition is about 2.2:1 to about 3.5:1. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the lipid composition is administered in combination with the mineral zinc. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the lipid composition is administered as part of a dietary supplement, nutritional supplement, pharmaceutical product, or food product. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the supplement or product further comprises a fish protein additive. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the fish protein additive comprises a fish protein hydrolysate or fish protein-derived amino acids. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the lipid composition comprises about 50 wt. % carrier oil. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the lipid composition comprises about 20 wt. % carrier oil. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the carrier oil comprises fish oil, vegetable oil, krill oil, microbial oil, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the composition is free of shellfish antigens. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the composition comprises less than about 1 wt. % free fatty acids. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the composition comprises less than about 0.5% arachidonic acid. 
     
     
         19 . A delivery system for delivering cholesterol or choline having increase bioavailability to a pregnant woman comprising orally administering to a pregnant woman an effective amount of a lipid composition comprising phospholipids and a carrier oil, wherein:
 the phospholipids comprise at least about 75 wt. % phosphatidylcholine; at least about 40% of the total fatty acids of the phospholipids are docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA); and the ratio of DHA to EPA is at least about 1.5:1;   the carrier oil comprises mono-, di- or triglycerides; fatty acid ethyl esters; free fatty acids; phospholipids, or a combination thereof; and   the lipid composition comprises about 20 wt. % to about 90 wt. % phospholipids and about 10 wt. % to about 80 wt. % carrier oil;   wherein the administration is approximately daily, thereby providing cholesterol or choline in a form having increased bioavailability to the pregnant woman.