ABSTRACT
The essentiality of nutrients, whether proteins, fats, vitamins or minerals, is a common concern to mankind. Nutrients are of no use until or unless they are bioaccessible to the body for growth, synthesis, repair and other functionalities to sustain health. The present discussion is a collection of all the sources and other mitigation practices to achieve much in terms of the bioavailability of essential fatty acids. To a great extent, emphasis is given to technological advances to enhance the n-3 fatty acid levels in foods as well as to enhance bioavailability. Designer eggs, omega diet-fed chicken and encapsulated feeds are among such dynamic examples. Marine fish and fish oils are the main rich sources for eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid and thus it is a struggle to meet this consumer demand and bridge the gap from the present intake (100–200 mg/day) to that recommended (650 mg/day). Nanotechnological tools, viz. nanoparticles, nanospheres, nanocapsules and nano-emulsion with self-emulsifying drug delivery systems, can also help mitigate the bio-availability of ingested omega fatty acids to reach this target. Metabolic transformations via enzymatic (de-esterification by gastric and pancreatic lipase) means in this direction should also not be ignored to help accomplish this goal.
