Definition:

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Nutruoil®ARA oil Health Benefits:

Nutruoil®ARA oil, also known as arachidonic acid oil, is a functional oil that is rich in arachidonic acid. It belongs to the omega-6 series of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs). Although the human body can synthesise small quantities of ARA from linoleic acid, the amount produced is usually insufficient to meet requirements, so it must be obtained from the diet.

ARA is a key structural component of the cerebral cortex, nerve cell membranes, and the retina, accounting for up to 70% of nerve endings. It also serves as a fundamental building block that supports nerve signal transmission.

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■ Source

ARA oil sources can be categorised into three main types. Animal sources include the adrenal glands and livers of pigs and cattle, chicken meat and egg yolks (each containing around 100 mg), as well as seafood. The levels of ARA in these traditional sources are inconsistent and significantly influenced by animal feed. Plant sources include certain plant seeds, which have extremely low ARA content and limited practical application value. The third type of source is microbial fermentation, which uses oil-producing microorganisms such as Mortierella alpina and Aspergillus niger. This method is the mainstream industrial approach, offering high yields, stable composition and no seasonal variation.

Nutruoil®ARA oil produced via microbial fermentation is currently a key ingredient in sectors such as infant formula, with Mortierella alpina being the most widely used industrial production strain.

Particularities of Nutruoil®ARA oil:

Product specifications:

Nutruoil®ARA oil is available in the following specification and contents:

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☑ Nutruoil®ARA oil, 40% ARA

Product quality standards:

● GB 1903.65, In-house, food grade, infant formula

▶ Neural development and cognitive function maintenance

▶ Visual development and protection

Nutruoil®ARA oil Applications:

Nutruoil®ARA oil is primarily produced through the fermentation of Aspergillus oryzae. Standard formulations typically comprise 40% oil or 10-20% microencapsulated powder. Microencapsulation technology addresses oxidation and flavour issues, enabling ARA oil to be used widely across sectors, including food, dietary supplements, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and pet nutrition.

The food sector is the primary application area for ARA oil, with infant formula being the core application. ARA oil is a key optional nutrient that mimics the fatty acid composition of breast milk. Together with DHA, it is known as the 'golden duo for brain development'. ARA oil is predominantly used in infant formula, weaning foods, and foods for special medical purposes. It is often blended with DHA at a ratio of 1:1 to 2:1 to support the development of neural pathways in the brain and retina, while promoting immune system maturation. Including it in dairy and fermented foods enhances the nutritional density of these products, helping to replenish ARA reserves in both children and adults.

The dietary supplements sector is a rapidly growing market for ARA oil. The main types of adult and maternal supplements are softgels containing 200-500 mg of oil per capsule, as well as multi-nutrient powders and drops. These are suitable for pregnant and breastfeeding women, as they increase ARA levels in breast milk and support foetal development in the womb. For adults and the elderly, they help to maintain cognitive function and balance the immune system and inflammation, as well as aiding post-exercise recovery.

For athletes, they regulate muscle inflammation and accelerate recovery. The most common product forms in nutritional supplements for children and adolescents are jelly sweets, chewable tablets and nutritional powders, which often utilise a scientifically formulated ARA:DHA ratio of 1:1 to meet children’s growth requirements.

Nutruoil®ARA oil is a fundamental lipid component that plays a key role in the development and functional maintenance of the brain and nervous system. It forms the core structure of neural tissue and plays a role in neural signal transmission and synaptic repair. During infancy and early childhood, ARA promotes the formation of grey matter and neural synapses, enhances fine motor skills, memory, and language abilities, and reduces the risk of neurodevelopmental delays. It is a key nutrient during the critical period of 0–3 years. During pregnancy and lactation, ARA provides energy to the foetus and infant via the placenta and breast milk, ensuring intrauterine neural development and compensating for insufficient reserves in breast milk. In adults and the elderly, ARA repairs damaged neural synapses, maintains cognitive function and thinking skills, alleviates mental fatigue and delays cognitive decline. For premature infants, ARA supplements their insufficient innate neural lipid reserves, helping them to catch up with full-term infants in terms of neural development.

Nutruoil®ARA oil is a key component of retinal photoreceptor cells, accounting for around 22% of their composition. It helps to maintain the fluidity of retinal cell membranes and ensures the efficient transmission of visual signals. In infants and preterm babies, ARA oil promotes the development of the retinal photoreceptor layer, enhances visual acuity and contrast sensitivity, and reduces the risk of retinopathy of prematurity. In the general population, it maintains normal retinal physiology, reduces visual fatigue and provides essential lipids for ocular tissue nutrition.

▶ Immune modulation

As the sole precursor to eicosanoids (such as prostaglandins and leukotrienes) in the human body, arachidonic acid (ARA) regulates immune responses and inflammatory reactions whilst strengthening mucosal barrier function. ARA oil promotes the maturation of the innate and adaptive immune systems in infants and premature babies. It strengthens mucosal barriers in the respiratory and digestive tracts, reduces the risk of common illnesses such as diarrhoea and respiratory infections, and lowers the incidence of hospital-acquired complications in premature babies. In pregnant women and adults, it balances inflammatory responses, alleviating mild oedema and joint discomfort during pregnancy and reducing recurrent colds and gastrointestinal discomfort. It also aids recovery by moderately regulating post-exercise muscle inflammation. In middle-aged and elderly individuals, it optimises immune cell function, preventing immune deficiency or chronic low-grade inflammation caused by ARA deficiency and enhancing resistance.

▶ Growth development and tissue repair

Nutruoil®ARA oil helps to regulate the secretion of growth hormones, thereby promoting nutrient absorption and bone mineralisation. As a key component of cell membranes, it supports cell regeneration and tissue barrier repair. ARA oil aids catch-up growth in height and weight for infants and premature babies, promotes calcium absorption and bone development, and lays the foundation for healthy bones. ARA oil repairs the cell membranes of epithelial tissues, such as those found in the skin and digestive tract. This strengthens the skin and intestinal mucosal barriers. It alleviates dry and sensitive skin, while reducing the risk of intestinal mucosa damage. ARA oil also meets the body's metabolic demands during pregnancy and provides lipid nutritional support for postnatal recovery.

■ Manufacturing process

The industrial production of Nutruoil®ARA oil primarily uses deep-liquid fermentation. The complete process comprises four core stages: strain selection and breeding; seed culture; fermentation; and extraction and refining. Wild strains of Aspergillus altiflorus are sourced from natural habitats such as soil and plant matter. High-yield strains, with an ARA content of over 40% of total fatty acids, are obtained via UV mutagenesis, chemical mutagenesis, or genetic engineering techniques. The strains are then activated via slant culture to produce a high-activity spore suspension. This suspension is then inoculated into shaking flasks for fermentation. Conditions such as the composition of the medium, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, stirring speed and fermentation cycle are carefully controlled to facilitate large-scale cultivation. Once fermentation is complete, the microbial cells are separated by centrifugation or filtration and the lipids within them are extracted and refined.

Ingredients:

● 100% ARA oil, without any additives and preservative as well as antioxidants.