Calanus Oil

A wax-ester rich marine oil extracted from the Atlantic copepod Calanus finmarchicus, a small zooplankton that occupies a low trophic position in the North Atlantic food web. The oil's unique feature is that its omega-3 fatty acids are esterified predominantly to long-chain fatty alcohols (wax esters) rather than to glycerol as triglycerides.

Deep red to ruby viscous oil with a mild marine note. Wax esters represent more than 85% of total lipids. The oil carries naturally occurring astaxanthin (giving the red color) and a meaningful content of stearidonic acid (SDA, C18:4 omega-3), an intermediate in the dietary omega-3 pathway.

We supply food-grade Calanus Oil from manufacturers in China and Nordic-sourced material from licensed suppliers, holding ISO, Halal, Kosher, MSC-equivalent, and other sustainable-harvest certifications relevant to the product and production.

Common market grades include Standard Calanus Oil (food and supplement use) and Concentrated Calanus Oil with selectively enriched omega-3 wax-ester fractions. Encapsulation-ready and emulsion-ready grades are available.

Bulk and reduced-MOQ shipments. Batch-level COA covering wax-ester content, fatty acid profile (GC), astaxanthin (HPLC), peroxide value, anisidine value, heavy metals, and microbiology.

Calanus finmarchicus is the dominant zooplankton species of the Norwegian Sea and North Atlantic, with an estimated biomass exceeding 290 million tonnes. The species accumulates lipid reserves in the form of wax esters (a fatty acid esterified to a fatty alcohol) as an energy store for diapause, the dormant overwintering phase. Sustainable harvest is regulated by Norwegian fisheries authorities at a quota that is a fraction of one percent of the standing biomass.

Wax-ester lipids are absorbed more slowly than triglyceride lipids, generating a sustained postprandial omega-3 exposure rather than a rapid spike. The slow-release pharmacokinetics combined with the SDA content and natural astaxanthin underpin the differentiated positioning in the omega-3 supplement market.

Calanus oil was authorized as a Novel Food in the EU under Regulation 2017/2470 with permitted use in supplements and selected food categories. The product carries Generally Recognized as Safe notifications in the U.S. and is permitted under Chinese health food regulations.

Published clinical research, although small in number compared with fish oil, has documented effects on visceral adiposity, insulin sensitivity, and inflammatory markers at modest daily doses (1 to 2 g per day). These observations support the metabolic and weight-management positioning that distinguishes Calanus oil from conventional fish and krill oil products.

Commercial differentiation rests on the sustainable-harvest narrative (a species at the base of the marine food web rather than a fish at the top), the unique lipid form (wax esters), and the bundled natural antioxidant and SDA content.

• Premium omega-3 supplements positioned around the unique wax-ester delivery form
• Metabolic health and weight-management softgels; published clinical work on visceral fat and insulin sensitivity
• Cardiovascular health products
• Sustainable seafood-derived omega-3 positioning as an alternative to fish oil and krill oil
• Active-lifestyle and sports recovery formulations
• Joint and inflammatory-balance products
• Functional food and beverage fortification (with appropriate emulsion technology)
• Premium pet supplements