THE 6 ACTIVE INGREDIENTS

EPA

The most valuable components of fish oil are the omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. Ascenta sources the active EPA (eicosapentanoic acid) through fish oils primarily from Peruvian anchovies and to a lesser extent, sardines. 95 to 99% of our oils are from anchovy and 1 to 5% are from sardine. In addition, a very small amount of mackerel is included in these oils but we do not have data to quantify the amount. Peru is the world’s leading producer of this type of oil and the Peruvian fishery is healthy, well-monitored, and sustainable, with strongly enforced quotas and defined fishing seasons.

DHA

The most valuable components of fish oil are the omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. Ascenta sources the active DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) through fish oils primarily from Peruvian anchovies and to a lesser extent, sardines. 95 to 99% of our oils are from anchovy and 1 to 5% are from sardine. In addition, a very small amount of mackerel is included in these oils but we do not have data to quantify the amount. Peru is the world’s leading producer of this type of oil and the Peruvian fishery is healthy, well-monitored, and sustainable, with strongly enforced quotas and defined fishing seasons.

GLA

Gamma linolenic acid (abbreviated GLA) is an omega-6 fatty acid that can be found in small amounts in a wide variety of common foods, notably organ meats. It is found in relatively high abundance in the plant seed oils of evening primrose and blackcurrant. Borage (aka Starflower), the source of GLA in Ascenta Skin, is one of the richest sources of GLA known, containing 18% to 26% GLA, which is about twice as high as in the more readily available evening primrose oil.

ZEAXANTHIN

Zeaxanthin belongs to a family of carotenoids called “xanthophylls”. Like other carotenoids, zeaxanthin is not produced by the human body and must be consumed in the diet; it is only found in human skin as a result of dietary intake. While zeaxanthin is present in high concentrations in green leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale, as well as egg yolks as a result of poultry feed supplemented with these carotenoids, one extra large egg only contains 0.3 mg of lutein+zeaxanthin. Therefore, it is difficult to get enough zeaxanthin from the diet alone.

LUTEIN

Lutein belongs to a family of carotenoids called “xanthophylls”. Like other carotenoids, lutein is not produced by the human body and must be consumed in the diet; it is only found in human skin as a result of dietary intake. While lutein is present in high concentrations in green leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale, as well as egg yolks as a result of poultry feed supplemented with these carotenoids, one extra large egg only contains 0.3 mg of lutein and zeaxanthin. Therefore, it is difficult to get enough lutein from the diet alone.

VITAMIN D

Sunlight is the primary source of the important pro-hormone vitamin D, but moderating sun exposure is important for skin health, so it’s been added to Ascenta Skin. Vitamin D is responsible for many regulatory functions in the body including bone mineralization, immune system function and gene expression.

Vitamin D3 is produced in the skin when exceed to sunlight. Ascenta Skin contains Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) rather than the less biologically potent Vitamin D2 (which can be derived from several plant sources such as mushrooms, however it is biologically less potent than vitamin D3.