Omega-3 fatty acids are not static nutrients.
They are dynamic, structural, and responsive to life stage — woven into our cells, our nervous system, and our inflammatory balance from before birth through to older age.
What’s becoming increasingly clear through research is this:
our omega-3 needs, handling, and biological impact change across life — and menopause is one of the most important transition points.
Omega-3 Begins Before We Are Born
Long-chain Omega-3s — particularly DHA — are measurable in human biology before birth.
During pregnancy, DHA is actively transported across the placenta and incorporated into the developing neural tube, brain, and retina. This is one of the earliest demonstrations that omega-3 is not just “fuel”, but architecture — forming cell membranes, synapses, and signalling pathways in the nervous system.
This early biological investment sets the stage for:
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Neural connectivity
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Visual acuity
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Cognitive development
In other words, omega-3 literally helps build the system.
Omega-3 as a Lifelong Membrane Nutrient
As we move through life, omega-3s remain embedded in our cell membranes, where they influence:
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Membrane fluidity
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Receptor function
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Cellular communication
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Immune and inflammatory signalling
One of the most widely used ways to assess this is the Omega-3 Index, which measures EPA and DHA levels in red blood cell membranes — a reliable proxy for longer-term omega-3 status in the body.
This membrane composition has been associated in research with:
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Cardiovascular health
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Brain and cognitive health
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Inflammatory balance
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Metabolic resilience
Unlike water-soluble nutrients, omega-3s accumulate slowly and decline slowly — meaning long-term intake patterns matter.
Inflammation, Resolution, and Why Omega-3 Is Different
Omega-3s don’t simply “reduce inflammation”.
EPA and DHA are precursors to specialised pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) — molecules that help the body resolve inflammation once it has done its job.
This distinction matters:
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Chronic inflammation isn’t just about too much inflammation
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It’s often about poor resolution
Omega-3s help guide the immune system back to balance — a process that becomes increasingly important with age, stress, and metabolic change.
Menopause: A Biological Turning Point for Omega-3
Menopause represents a profound hormonal transition, particularly involving the decline of estrogen — a hormone that interacts with lipid metabolism, inflammatory signalling, and cellular function.
Research suggests that during and after menopause:
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Inflammatory tone tends to increase
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Lipid metabolism shifts
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The body’s handling of long-chain omega-3s may change
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Membrane composition and signalling pathways may be altered
This does not mean omega-3 suddenly “stops working” — rather, it may mean that adequate intake and bioavailable forms become more important, not less.
This helps explain why omega-3 status during midlife has been studied in relation to:
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Brain health and cognition
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Cardiovascular risk
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Joint and immune health
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Mood and neurological resilience
The Gut–Brain Connection: Where Seaweed Changes the Story
Omega-3 does not operate in isolation.
The gut microbiome plays a key role in immune regulation, inflammatory signalling, and metabolic health — all of which intersect with brain and hormonal health during menopause.
This is where clinically tested seaweed fibres, like PhyChondrin™ SeaFibre, become powerful partners:
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Supporting microbial diversity
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Producing short-chain fatty acids
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Modulating immune signalling
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Influencing gut–brain communication
By pairing omega-3s with gut-active marine fibres, we support both sides of the gut–brain axis — structure and signalling.
Why Algal Omega-3 Is Different
Not all omega-3s are created equal.
Microalgae are the original source of marine EPA and DHA — the point where omega-3 first enters the marine food web. By sourcing omega-3 directly from microalgae:
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We bypass oxidation and contamination risks
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We avoid reliance on depleted fish stocks
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We deliver omega-3 in a clean, traceable, and sustainable form
Importantly, algal omega-3s have been clinically studied, including research linking them to brain and neurological health — placing them among the most evidence-backed marine omega-3 sources available.
Antioxidants, Pigments, and Cellular Protection
Microalgae and seaweeds bring more than fatty acids.
They are naturally rich in:
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Carotenoids
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Chlorophylls
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Phycobiliproteins
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Polyphenols
These compounds help:
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Protect omega-3s from oxidative stress
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Support mitochondrial and cellular health
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Modulate inflammatory pathways
In nature, omega-3s rarely exist alone — they are packaged with antioxidants that protect delicate membranes from damage. This is exactly how marine systems evolved, and it’s a logic we honour in formulation.
A Life-Stage View of Omega-3 Health
From neural development…
To cardiovascular resilience…
To brain health and inflammatory balance in menopause…
Omega-3 is not a “one-moment” nutrient.
It is a lifelong biological partner, with changing relevance at each stage of life.
SeaFibre-Nanno is launching this month, to bring together:
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Clinically studied algal omega-3s
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Gut-active marine fibres
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Antioxidant-rich marine pigments
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A formulation designed for modern life stages — including menopause
This is marine nutrition informed by biology, not trends.