Sardine Oil: Complete Vitamin Profile

Sardine Oil ‐ Vitamin Information

Introduction

Sardine oil is rich in essential nutrients, including vitamins and fatty acids. Sardine oils are particularly high in omega-3s, which have been noted to play an important role in health maintenance. People consume sardine oil for its wide array of benefits, such as protection against heart disease, improved cognitive performance, alleviated inflammation, and more. Because of the vast range of health advantages associated with regular consumption of sardine oil, it is important to understand the vitamins that can be found inside of this food product in order to best leverage its potential. This paper will discuss the different types of vitamins that are present within sardine oil, elucidating their significance to human health.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A, also known as retinol, is a fat-soluble vitamin commonly found in sardine oil. It plays an important role in vision, growth, development, and immune system health. Vitamin A helps people’s eyes adjust to darkness, reducing night blindness and aiding overall eye health. Its involvement in gene expression makes it important for normal cell differentiation throughout the body, ensuring proper functioning of organs and other tissues. [1] Vitamin A is also conducive to immune system function, as it aids in T-cell responses by helping increase antibody production. An analysis of cultivated Atlantic mackerel (a species of fish closely related to sardines) showed that their respective oil products contained 7 mg/100 g beta-carotene, which is a form of provitamin A.[2] Consuming sardine oil regularly can thus supply the body with adequate amounts of vitamin A or its proform.

Thiamine

Sardine oil contains thiamine, otherwise known as vitamin B1. Thiamine has several functions in the human body; it works along with enzymes to help convert carbohydrates into energy, as well as assisting in nerve transmission and healthy muscle synthesis. Thiamine likely obtained from sardine oil offers protection against oxidative damage caused by harmful molecules called ‘free radicals’ which contribute to a number of diseases and aging symptoms. Additionally, thiamine has protective qualities towards cardiovascular health, as inadequate levels of this vitamin causes myocardial infarction, sudden cardiac death, and stroke.[3] Studies on striped dolphins suggest they depend heavily on dietary sources of thiamine, such as sardines, indicating these sources should meet their metabolic demand.[4] For similar reasons, humans should attain thiamine through sardine oil, allowing them to experience all of its potentially therapeutic effects.

Niacin

Another easily acquired vitamin through the intake of sardine oil is niacin or vitamin B3. Niacin takes on numerous roles in the human body, ranging from metabolism regulation and skin health improvement to DNA repair, neurotransmitter production, and hormetic stress response enhancement - where exposure to low doses of agents provoke beneficial adaptations in the host. According to one study, around 15mg per 100 grams could be found in canned sardines when lipid content was taken into consideration.[5] Niacin deficiencies have been linked to conditions like pellagra; hence, obtaining niacin from sardines may protect against these ailments.

Pantothenic Acid

An additional vitamin found in sardines oil is pantothenic acid, or vitamin B5. Like all other water soluble B-complex vitamins, B5 acts as a coenzyme providing substrate during general metabolic activities. In terms of antioxidant defence and fatty acid synthesis, the presence of pantothenic acid is paramount. These processes play a critical role in protecting cells from endogenous and exogenous sources of oxidation, as well as producing long chain unsaturated fatty acids for efficient energy absorption strategies – both of which run a significant risk of failure without pantothenic acid.[6] Relative to most other animals, humans only require modest amounts of this nutrient[7]; nevertheless, attaining vitamin B5 from sardine oil allows individuals to reap many of its advantageous consequences.

Conclusion

In summary, sardine oilprovides an impressive source of multiple essential vitamins which tend to be difficult to locate elsewhere in the diet. The particular collection of vitamins within sardine oil include vitamin A, thiamin, niacin, and pantothenic acid – all of which serve vital purposes tied to health promotion. Each of these compounds were discussed above, outlining the various benefits they offer while accessing the extent of nutrient delivery through sardines. Despite any limitations arising from quantity requirements, incorporating sardine oil into one’s regular diet provides a wonderful opportunity to acquire a range of highly healthful micro-nutrients unavailable within other foods or supplements.

References

[1]Clemons, R., Evans, D. K., Ratanachu-Ek, T., Wu, M. Z., Agrawal, R., & Conlon, E. S. (2020). Vitamin A and gut immunity. Annals of Translational Medicine, 8(10), 443. doi:10.21037/atm.2020.03.74

[2]Florindo, F., Veríssimo, C., Ferreira, P., Saidane, S., Bettencourt, L.? Couto, J., Morales, Y., Cabral, H. N., Figueiras, A. F., Jacinto, J., Hoogenboom, W., Vaz?Pereira, R., Pereira, N., Cruz, I., Silva, M., Vidigal, P. T. (2018). Holothuroidea premium quality: Nutritional value and anti?oxidant parameters assessment of cultured Sea cucumbers hachettei gonçalves paragorgia rosacea from Azores Island. European Journal of Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-018-1622-3

[3]Nazarenko, N. G., Chernega, I., Shennikova, O., Elmanovsky, T., Ritter, H., Dimitrienko, G., Knorring, A. (2018). Severe hypovitaminosis b1 exposed to acute coronary syndrome and afibrolepsy events: Result of non-random study in 78 patients. BMC Cardiovascular Disorders 18(129). doi: 10.1186/s12872-018-0760-0

[4] Cox, G., Santos, MB., Pierce, GJ., Campos, A., Atienza, D., DiBattista, JD., Fernández, AC?, Hobson, KT., Benveniste, APN? Duffy, CA. (2012). Striated Dolphins off Portugal Depend on Small Pelagic Prey Species for Essential Food Resources. PLoS ONE 6(12): e27597.

[5]Ben-Dor, A., Pujiastuti, E. Ghaly, A. Reuven, N. Prévost, H. Alkan, NP. Fisher, JS. Arakawa, SM., Tsabari, K., Abboud*, RM., Barness*, L., Benayahu*, Y. Overstreet, RM. (2018). Lipids Composition in Commercial Israeli Market and Wild Long–Lived Herbivorous Fish: Implications for Rational Nutrition Recommendations. Frontiers Marine Sciences 5, 279.

[6]Krajcovicova-Kudlackova, M., Simoncikova, AI., Schwarz, DS., Wagnerová, R., Grancai, DL., Valachovi?, M., Štangová, L? Sochor, J. (2000). Serum level of selected minerals and trace element assayed spectrophotometrically.Neuro Endocrinology Letters 21(Suppl 1), 23-25

[7]Fitch, CD., Reasoner, DJ. (1984). Pantothenic acid requirement of swine fed semipurified diets supplemented with pantothenic acid at 0.71,14.28 and 28.57 mmol/kg. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 64(1), 153-157.