Frequently asked questions

The high eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) fish oil used in EQUAZEN IQ™ (capsules, chews, liquid) is derived from fish species of small size (anchovies and sardines), harvested at special seasons of the year when they consume large amounts of plankton, boosting the amount of EPA they contain. The fish oil used in EQUAZEN IQ™ comes from the South Pacific, where it has been certified by an international independent authority as complying with the guidelines of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). In addition, our fish oil supplier has been certified as meeting the "Friends of the Sea" criteria for Products from Sustainable Fisheries. Vifor Pharma makes it a priority to source our fish from suppliers who guarantee that it comes from sustainable stocks. The standard fish oil used in EQUAZEN IQ™ is processed in Norway following GMP regulations. The factory has been approved in accordance with the FDA’s seafood hygiene regulations and is registered with the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, adhering to strict hygiene rules that minimise the risk of contamination.

We have spent a lot of time scientifically developing equazen products with specific formulations of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Our equazen product line meets the specific needs of different life stages, as certain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs) can play either a predominantly structural or functional role in the body. In addition, we created lots of different formulations to please even the most discerning of palates. Recent research suggests that omega-3 EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) plays a central role in communication between cells in the brain, making it crucial from early childhood and throughout life. This is why the majority of Equazen eye q products are formulated with a higher ratio of the functional fatty acid (EPA) to the structural fatty acid DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid). It is however important to note that DHA is the most important structural fatty acid in the brain. DHA is known to be important for the brain and eye development for babies and through very early childhood.

Your nutritional status is influenced by many aspects, including health, lifestyle and what you eat. Supplementing with the specific equazen eye q formulation provides a balanced intake of omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). However, as these nutrients are not stored in your body for long periods of time and are broken down  rapidly, they must be constantly replenished. If you are starting supplementation with equazen eye q, we suggest a daily intake of four capsules per day for the first twelve weeks, in order to build up the body’s levels of essential fatty acids. This period corresponds to the average time-period needed to build up the body's stores of long chain fatty acids and to show beneficial effects. In addition to the positive feedback we receive from satisfied customers, there have been clinical trials using 6 capsules of Equazen eye q daily, where improvements in skills such as reading, writing and spelling have been recorded over a 3 month period. By the end of this twelve week period the level of essential fatty acids in your body should have increased and you can start to reduce your daily intake to the maintenance level of two capsules daily.

We recommend taking four capsules of EQUAZEN IQ™ per day (corresponding to 372 mg EPA, 116 mg DHA and 40 mg GLA) for the first 12 weeks. This period, called the “loading phase”, corresponds to the average time needed to build up the body’s stores of long chain fatty acids. Biochemical changes in the brain can occur more rapidly, within one month. However, this period varies from one person to another. Likewise, the high levels of PUFAs achieved following the loading phase will decline very rapidly to far lower levels when the high-dose period ceases. Therefore, we strongly advise keeping to the 12-week loading phase to ensure that appropriate PUFA stores are built up.

Taking two capsules of EQUAZEN IQ™ per day (maintenance dose) provides a daily total of 186 mg EPA, 58 mg DHA and 20 mg GLA (800 mg fish oil and 200 mg primrose oil).
During the “loading phase” the intake is 3 times higher, as we recommend taking 4 capsules per day (372 mg EPA, 116 mg DHA and 40 mg GLA). These amounts were also used in the clinical studies performed specifically with EQUAZEN IQ™ (Richardson & Montgomery 2005; Sinn & Bryan 2007, Johnson et al. 2009) and while improvements in behaviour were observed, no harmful effects were reported at these elevated doses. If you have the impression that our recommended “maintenance dose” of two EQUAZEN IQ™ capsules per day is not sufficient you can continue to take four capsules of EQUAZEN IQ™ per day without concerns for a longer period of time. Many studies have used far higher doses of fish oil or primrose oil. There is no recommended daily intake (RDI) for fish oils. In fact many studies involving hospitalised patients have used doses of fish oil providing 14 g of EPA per day (25 times our loading-dose!) with daily doses of 6 g EPA being common. There were no harmful side effects reported in these studies.

Different fatty acids last for different lengths of time in the body. Most of the beneficial PUFAs in EQUAZEN IQ™ can be completely depleted or reduced to very low levels in 4 weeks while others last much longer. However, the high levels of PUFAs achieved following the loading dose will rapidly decline to far lower concentrations in a matter of days, with EPA decreasing to half of its maximum level within 24 hours. If you stop taking the capsules for a few days during the maintenance phase, you do not have to restart with the loading dose of EQUAZEN IQ™. In this case, continue to take two capsules of EQUAZEN IQ™ daily. Nevertheless, we recommend restarting with a dose of 4  EQUAZEN IQ™ capsules if you stop taking EQUAZEN IQ™ for longer than one to two weeks.

Please be assured that there is no concern over the purity of EQUAZEN IQ™ products. We welcome the opportunity to offer some clarity on the matter of pollutants and heavy metals in fish oil and hope to provide some reassurance about the safety of our own products. Firstly we maintain quality by working with suppliers who actually process the oil and who we know do not deal with middlemen or subcontractors. The fish we harvest come from the Southern Oceans and only live for one season; their short life span means there is little chance that their tissues can become tainted with mercury and/or industrial pollutants. Secondly, after we have obtained the oils, we wash out free fatty acids and other water soluble proteins that we don’t need before chilling the oil to below zero so that we can get rid of excess saturated fats, followed by filtration. Finally, they are further purified by steam-blasting under vacuum. After this the fish oil barely tastes fishy any more. In addition, samples from each batch of fish oil are analysed internally for environmental contaminants. We also send samples from random batches of finished product away for independent third party testing to confirm the results from routine testing of the oils. Some of the contaminants tested for are: heavy metals -lead mercury, cadmium and arsenic- dioxins, furans and dioxin-like PCBs, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and pesticides. We are in full compliance with the stringent EU and WHO legislation relating to quality assurance, food safety and contamination that have come out giving tighter controls over the production and use of fish oils in food supplements.

Samples from each batch of fish oil are analysed internally for environmental contaminants. In addition we also send samples from random batches of finished product away for independent third party testing to confirm the results from routine testing of the oils. Some of the contaminants tested for are: heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic) dioxins, furans and dioxin-like PCBs, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and pesticides. We are in full compliance with the stringent EU and WHO legislation relating to quality assurance, food safety and contamination that have come out giving tighter controls over the production and use of fish oils in food supplements.

The gelatin used in our capsules is made from tissue of animals not considered to be “specified risk material” regarding BSE. In addition, several independent studies have found that the heat and pressure involved in gelatin processing result in a product with no detectable potential for infection. We have Certificates of Suitability, demonstrating compliance with the European Note for Guidance on minimising the risk of transmitting animal spongiform encephalopathy via human and veterinary medicinal products (European Commission regulations 2005) and compliance with the European Pharmacopoeia (European Pharmacopoeia 2000) The gelatine used is also certified as halal and kosher.

Our post-marketing experience together with other open-label studies and initiatives confirm the good tolerability of this food supplement. From the few side effects reported after taking EQUAZEN IQ™ over the last few years, most were gastrointestinal disturbances (diarrhoea, loss of appetite, flatulence, burping) or suspected allergic reactions (mostly skin rashes or other cutaneous manifestations) for which a cause and effect relationship could not be confirmed. Omega-3 fatty acids have been part of the human diet for millennia.

EQUAZEN IQ™ contains fish oil (EPA, DHA) and evening primrose oil (GLA) as active substances. There are no studies examining interactions between EQUAZEN IQ™ and concomitantly administered drugs or herbal medicines. From a general point of view, high doses of fish oils are known to have antiplatelet effects. But fish oils might not be as potent as aspirin in inhibiting platelet function. Theoretically, concomitant use of fish oil at high dose with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs may increase the risk of bleeding. However, conflicting research suggests that taking fish oils 3-6 grams/day does not significantly affect INR when used in patients taking warfarin. Other research suggests fish oils do not have additive antiplatelet effects when combined with aspirin. Based on this, a potential bleeding risk under omega-3 combined with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs is very low but cannot be entirely excluded. In any case, you should inform your physician if you take fish oil products concomitantly with other drugs, especially anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.

The vitamin E is added to preserve the oil from oxidation, which contaminates the purity and subsequently the efficacy of the oil.

The citrus flavour is a natural flavoring derived from essential oils of the citrus family like lemon. The flavours are mixed with excipients for technical reasons (stability, mixing process during manufacture). Both flavors are natural and are not obtained from genetically modified organisms (GMO).

There is a great variation in the quality and specifications of fish oil products available to consumers. EQUAZEN IQ™ is a unique combination of fatty acids, carefully formulated for specific needs of the brain function. In contrast to most of the other omega-3 and -6 supplements, equazen products have been researched and tested in several clinical and observational studies. The oils in our products are of high quality. They are manufactured under high standards in GMP-certified facilities. They are completely clean from chemicals, pollutants or pesticides. Our oils also undergo no processes of industrial concentration and thus are in their most bio-available form, readily available for use by the body. Not all oils are the same. We are dedicated to supplying oils of the highest quality to our consumers, providing them with a range of premium scientifically tested products.

Cod-liver oil derives from the liver of fish. One of the most important functions of the liver is to filter toxins that may be harmful to the animal. Pollutants in the sea, found in a concentrated form in the liver of fish include dioxins, PCBs, heavy metals and pesticides, among others. Vitamins A and D, are also often found in liver oils, and can prove undesired effects at such elevated concentrations. Vitamins A and D are also often found in cod liver oil and can have undesirable effects at elevated concentrations.

Every year the governing body responsible for fishing and the sea completes a survey to ascertain the amount of fish stocks available and from this they set a fishing quota for the year. Outside the fishing seasons an enforced ban is in place. In addition some areas can be classed as «closed areas» to protect spawning grounds and net sizes are tightly controlled to avoid catching fish that are too small (juveniles). The catch quotas, fish size, product testing and loading for export are closely monitored independently by a third party on behalf of the governing body. The fish oil used in the equazen product line has been certified by an independent body as complying with the «Friends of the Sea» criteria for Products from Sustainable Fisheries.

Far from being a «bad fat», omega-6 is an essential fatty acid that must be included in the diet. However, due to the prevalence of omega-6 PUFAs such as linoleic acid (LA) in the western diet, particularly due to processed fatty foods and farmed cereals, most people’s omega-6 to omega-3 ratio is indeed too high. The ideal dietary ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 should be in the range of 1:1 to 5:1, but the typical western diet, normally provides ratios from 15:1 to 30:1. The high proportion of omega-3 compared to omega-6 in EQUAZENn IQ™ is designed to correct the balance. Not all n-6 PUFAs are the same. Our products provide omega-6 PUFAs from Evening Primrose Oil which contains a large proportion of GLA. GLA can act in much the same way as n-3 PUFAs and enhance their effects, exerting, among other beneficial effects, an anti-inflammatory effect.

EQUAZEN IQ™ is preferably given from 2 years onwards (starting with the liquid format At the younger age of 0-2 years, when the brain cell membranes are rapidly developing and multiplying, the structural properties of DHA are more appropriate and probably more beneficial for babies. After this period, it is more appropriate to take the functional, high-EPA EQUAZEN IQ™ products.

Certain PUFAs can play either a predominantly structural or functional role in brain health. During the development of the brain, throughout pregnancy and (at least) the first two years of life, the provision of structural fatty acids takes on added importance. A sudden growth spurt in the brain in late pregnancy can often lead to PUFA deficiencies in mothers and their babies. The fatty acids DHA (omega-3) and ARA (omega-6) in particular, are rapidly incorporated and often subject to deficiencies throughout this period. Therefore EQUAZENMum™ was formulated with a higher relative concentration of the structural PUFA DHA. Supplementation of both mother and baby with DHA to improve PUFA supply has a positive effect on eye and brain development and function. It has been linked with benefits to the baby’s visual function and subsequent cognitive abilities. Omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids can displace each other in the brain, so we provide a formulated ratio designed to allow incorporation of the omega-6 ARA, while still promoting the functional and structural benefits from omega-3 supplementation.

Equazen products contain refined fish oils. In order to remove any protein traces, our products are subject to caustic/water washing followed by different steps like freezing, filtration and steam washing. For some Equazen products like EQUAZENMum™, the oil undergoes further processing steps such as concentration, etherification, molecular distillation, reconstruction and a final so called super-refining step. For all equazen products it is therefore very unlikely that any fish proteins remain in the oil. We test our product for proteins and there is less than 0.0001 % in the Equazen IQ liquid (undetectable at our maximum level of accuracy). However, due to the risk of cross contamination within the manufacturing plant, we cannot completely exclude the risk and do not recommend these products if you suffer from a fish allergy.

The following is the energy content of our product range:

Some children can find it difficult to take supplements, especially when they contain fish products. EQUAZEN IQ™ liquid (which can be mixed with milk based drinks, smoothies or yoghurt) and EQUAZEN IQ™ chews may be an alternative to the capsules. However, in the meantime, you may want to try these suggestions which have been successful for parents trying to administer the capsules:

In terms of approach we have found that bringing the child on board with the reasons for supplementation is important. The child should know that this is a good and natural product that will bring him benefit. The capsules should not be imposed.

If swallowing the capsules proves impossible then the best option is to snip the capsules open and squeeze out the oil. If the capsules are too hard just leave them in the open air for about 30 minutes as this should help soften the shell. To mask the taste it is best to add savoury foods such as soup, mashed potatoes or a tuna fish sandwich, cool porridge, pureed vegetables, fruit salad, ice cream etc If this doesn’t work for your child another method is to mix the squeezed oil in butter – it combines nicely and then it could be spread on toast.

Try to ensure that it is taken with a meal so that the fatty acids in EQUAZEN IQ™ capsules are digested along with the food. Also, many parents report that they prefer most of the oil to be taken with the evening meal so that the oil can be absorbed while the child is asleep. The effect of EQUAZEN IQ™ is not diminished by adding it to food but it should not be heated during cooking as this damages the delicate structure of the fatty acids in this formulation.

The plastic containers used for the capsules are made from High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and are in common use throughout the pharmaceutical industry. The EQUAZEN IQ™ liquid bottles are aluminium bottles coated internally with a food grade lacquer (an epoxy phenolic resin). The lacquer is one that is commonly used by the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries. Independent testing results of the EQUAZEN IQ™ liquid bottles indicate that there is no bisphenol A in our packed product.

To date, 3 independent clinical trials conducted with our EQUAZEN IQ™ capsules have been published and also one trial with EQUAZEN IQ™ chews. Further independent trials performed by specialists in different research fields are ongoing.

Under certain conditions, the omega-3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are essential nutrients that enhance quality of life. At sufficient levels of incorporation, EPA and DHA influence the physical properties of cell membranes and membrane protein-mediated responses, eicosanoid generation, cell signalling and gene expression in many cell types. Through these mechanisms, EPA and DHA influence cell and tissue physiology, and the way cells and tissues respond to external signals. DHA has been proven essential to pre- and postnatal brain development. Both EPA and DHA are converted to brain-protective metabolites. Therefore, it is impossible to say that one is more important than the other; a combination of the two plays a major role.