Bridging the Omega-3 Gap: Why Compliance Matters and How Innovation Can Help

Omega-3 fatty acids—particularly EPA and DHA—are essential nutrients that play a critical role in cardiovascular, cognitive, and overall health. However, despite widespread awareness of their benefits, a significant gap persists between recommended intake levels and actual consumption across Western diets.

Recent research highlights the scale of the issue. A global review found that approximately 76% of the population does not meet recommended intakes of omega-3 fatty acids, emphasizing a major public health gap between nutritional guidelines and real-world consumption. Another study estimates that up to 85% of people globally may have insufficient omega-3 intake, driven in part by modern dietary patterns and limited access to omega-3-rich foods.¹

This imbalance is further compounded by dietary habits characteristic of Western lifestyles, where omega-6 intake significantly outweighs omega-3 consumption, creating a nutritional ratio far from that considered optimal for human health.¹

From Awareness to Action: The Compliance Challenge

While the demand for omega-3 supplements continues to grow, consumer compliance remains one of the most critical barriers to closing the nutritional gap.

Achieving meaningful health benefits from omega-3 supplementation requires consistent, long-term intake, often over several weeks or months depending on individual baseline status. However, maintaining this continuity is not always straightforward.

A key issue is tolerability. Fish oil supplements can be associated with gastrointestinal discomfort and unpleasant sensory effects, including digestive discomfort and the so-called “fishy burps.” These side effects can negatively impact consumer experience and may contribute to reduced adherence to supplementation over time.

This creates a critical disconnect:

• Consumers recognize the importance of omega-3,
• but do not consistently adhere to supplementation,
• ultimately limiting the ability to achieve desired health outcomes.

In this context, compliance becomes a true differentiator in an otherwise mature and crowded omega-3 category.

Expanding the Consumer Base Through Better Experience

Improving the user experience of omega-3 supplements offers an opportunity not only to enhance compliance among existing users, but also to unlock new consumer segments.

Three key groups are particularly relevant:

• Sensitive consumers: Individuals who experience reflux or aftertaste may avoid omega-3 products altogether. Improving tolerability can help bring these consumers into the category.
• Lifestyle-driven users: Existing consumers increasingly seek flexibility—such as the ability to take supplements at any time, including on an empty stomach—minimizing discomfort. This reinforces long-term adherence and brand loyalty.
• Pregnancy and lactation: Omega-3, particularly DHA, plays a critical role during the “first 1,000 days of life,” a period described as a key window for brain and visual development. During this stage, women may be more sensitive to taste and gastrointestinal discomfort, making tolerability even more important.²

According to research published on Cambridge.org, scientific recommendations typically suggest a daily intake of around 250 mg of EPA and DHA for adults, with additional DHA during pregnancy. However, many populations fail to meet these targets, reinforcing the importance of solutions that support both access and adherence.³

This relevance is also reflected in the EU regulatory framework. Under Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012, two authorized health claims may be used for DHA in relation to pregnancy and lactation: “Maternal intake of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) contributes to the normal brain development of the fetus and breastfed infants” and “Maternal intake of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) contributes to the normal eye development of the fetus and breastfed infants.” These claims are permitted only for foods providing a daily intake of 200 mg DHA, in addition to the recommended daily intake of omega-3 fatty acids for adults, namely 250 mg DHA and EPA.⁴

Turning Compliance into Opportunity: The Role of Delivery Technology

As the omega-3 category evolves, innovation in delivery systems is emerging as a key enabler to address compliance challenges.

One such advancement is Catalent’s OptiGel® DR softgel technology, a patented enteric-release delivery system designed to support the consumer experience of nutritional supplements, particularly those containing odorous or sensitive ingredients such as fish oil. These softgels are engineered to maintain capsule integrity in the stomach and release their contents in the intestine, helping to reduce common discomforts associated with omega-3 supplementation.

This approach offers several relevant benefits for the omega-3 category:

• Reduced digestive discomfort and aftertaste, which can help minimize the “fishy burp” effect and improve tolerability
• Allows combination of omega-3 with acid sensitive ingredients
• Improved consumer experience, with smooth, easy-to-swallow softgels aligned with consumer expectations
• Supports brand loyalty, as consumers who are satisfied with the tolerability and ease of use of their omega-3 product are less likely to switch brands

Importantly, the technology is built directly into the capsule shell, enabling a single-step manufacturing process without the need for additional enteric coating, while maintaining a consistent and robust release profile.

Conclusion: Enabling Health Outcomes Through Consistent Compliance

The omega-3 category represents one of the most established and scientifically supported segments within the VMS space. Yet, despite strong awareness and demand, a significant nutritional gap remains—driven not only by dietary patterns but also by challenges in sustained supplement use.

Addressing this gap may require looking beyond improvements to the fill formulation alone. It also calls for leveraging innovative shell capabilities as part of a broader solution designed to support real-world consumer behavior. In this context, technologies such as OptiGel® DR offer a tangible opportunity for brands to differentiate, expand their consumer base, and support better health outcomes—by turning compliance from a barrier into a competitive advantage.

Beyond product performance, improving the consumer experience through tolerability and ease of use can help build stronger connections with consumers. Consistent use may support greater satisfaction, reinforce brand loyalty, and reduce switching—contributing to clear brand differentiation and sustained long-term value.

Championing the Missions that Matter™

At Catalent, we’re driven by a shared mission: to help bring better health and wellness products to consumers, faster. We are ready to support your Omega-3 program with the expertise, platform technologies and integrated manufacturing that enable commercial success.

References

1. Science Daily: “Most of the world isn’t getting enough omega-3.” Available at: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251208052527.htm. Journal Reference: Philip C. Calder, Abbie L. Cawood, Claire James, Fionna Page, Sophie Putnam, Anne M. Minihane. An overview of national and international long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake recommendations for healthy populations. Nutrition Research Reviews, 2025; 1 doi: 10.1017/S0954422425100279
2. The making of you | IADSA: “Omega 3 and the first 1,000 days of life.” Available at: www.iadsa.org/mind-the-gap/english/omega-3
3. Calder PC, Cawood AL, James C, Page F, Putnam S, Minihane AM. An overview of national and international long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid intake recommendations for healthy populations. Nutrition Research Reviews. 2026;39: e6. doi:10.1017/S0954422425100279
4. Commission Regulation (EU) No 432/2012 of 16 May 2012 establishing a list of permitted health claims made on foods, other than those referring to the reduction of disease risk and to children’s development and health, Official Journal of the European Union, L 136, 25.5.2012, pp. 1–40.

Additional Supporting References

• Hearty AP, Pushpass RAG, Bannenberg G, Bernasconi AA, Rice HB. The intake of omega-3 oils and vegetable oils in the European Union. Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess. 2025;42(12):1625–1638. doi:10.1080/19440049.2025.2575458
• Walker MF, Aldridge DC, Willer DF. Drivers and barriers to fish and seafood consumption in the first 1000 days of life. npj Science of Food. 2025;9:192. doi:10.1038/s41538-025-00569-7
• Schuchardt, J. P., Beinhorn, P., Hu, X. F., Chan, H. M., Roke, K., Bernasconi, A., et al. (2024). Omega-3 world map: 2024 update. Progress in Lipid Research, 95, 101286. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plipres.2024.101286
• Murphy RA, Devarshi PP, Ekimura S, Marshall K, Hazels Mitmesser S. Long-chain omega-3 fatty acid serum concentrations across life stages in the USA: an analysis of NHANES 2011–2012. BMJ Open. 2021;11:e043301. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-04330
• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Yearly per capita supply of fish and seafood [dataset]. Retrieved June 10, 2026. Fish and seafood consumption per capita, 2023
• Lofstedt A, de Roos B, Fernandes PG. Less than half of the European dietary recommendations for fish consumption are satisfied by national seafood supplies. European Journal of Nutrition. 2021;60:4219–4228. doi:10.1007/s00394-021-02580-6
• Sprague M, Betancor MB, Rolland A, Tocher DR. Evaluating the adequacy of current dietary guidelines for seafood as a source of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. Scientific Reports. 2026;16:15190. doi:10.1038/s41598-026-41320-w