Seal oil shows promise for healthy heart

Tag : Fatty Acids

Sukhinder Cheema, a biochemistry professor at Memorial University,has been examining how hamsters react to fish and seal oils forabout seven years.
"In my lab, using an animal model, I've found that seal oil isdefinitely better than fish oil," said Cheema.

Although she has not yet started human testing, she believes theywould enjoy the same benefit.
"If anyone is consuming fish oil capsules, maybe they should switchto seal oil," she said.

Omega-3 fatty acids have been linked to reduction in risk for heartdisease.

But Cheema said her research also shows fish oil contains a lot ofunwanted saturated fats. By contrast, seal oil has fewer saturatedfats and is more easily absorbed by the body.

Cheema is planning to expand her research to include tests onhumans, and said she hopes that research will lead to more thanhealth benefits for people in Newfoundland and Labrador.

"I'm hoping that it should improve the economy in terms of seal oilproduction," she said.
Seal oil capsules have been distributed for decades, although theyare overshadowed by trade in fur and sealskins - which alsogenerate controversy during each year's hunt off Canada's EastCoast.

The controversy, though, hasn't hurt local sales of seal oil, saidKatie Butler, who works at the St. John's store Healthy Choices.
"Every year, when people are protesting the seal fishery, sales gothrough the roof," she said.