Omega-3 advances: Sirio Pharma breaks down sensory barriers for enjoyable formats

As consumers seek omega-3 supplements that combine efficacy with an enjoyable experience, they are demanding products with sensory appeal, clean label ingredients, and a convenient format.

Nutrition Insight meets with Sara Lesina, general manager at Sirio Pharma Europe, to discuss how new delivery technologies and consumer expectations are reshaping the omega-3 market, urging brands to go beyond “science-backed” claims to meet demand for enjoyable solutions. 

Over the next three to five years, she expects consumer expectations for supplements to grow more demanding. “As delivery systems and formulation techniques become more sophisticated, so too will consumer awareness — and they won’t settle for anything less than a seamless, high-quality experience.” 

“This means manufacturers must go beyond basic efficacy, ensuring products deliver on consumption experience and convenience to stay competitive in a crowded, increasingly educated market.” 

Lesina cautions that in a maturing omega-3 category, efficacy alone is no longer sufficient to win consumer loyalty. 

“With ‘science-backed’ now just the baseline, brands must win on experience — how the product feels, tastes, and fits into consumer lifestyles. This shift is sparking a wave of innovation in delivery technologies that not only boosts bioavailability but also improves sensory appeal and enhances convenience.” 

Consumer action lags behind awareness

Despite strong consumer awareness and clinical evidence on omega-3 benefits, Lesina says some consumers still don’t take these supplements. 

She notes that sensory experience is a significant barrier. “Omega-3 supplements — especially those from marine sources — have long been associated with fishy burps and an unpleasant aftertaste.” 

“Confusion around the many omega-3 sources also plays a role — many consumers don’t understand the difference between plant-based and marine sources, or whether to choose EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), or ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) omega-3s.” 

“Add to this growing sustainability concern around overfishing, and it’s clear why omega-3s remain a hard sell for many,” she notes. 

As consumer awareness grows, taste, texture, and convenience are crucial for successful omega-3 brands.Lesina urges the industry to prioritize education, cleaner delivery formats, and credible, accessible information to help bridge the gap between consumer awareness and action. Through consumer messaging, companies should help consumers feel confident in their choices by highlighting omega-3 benefits or emphasizing claims rooted in research. 

Experience-enhanced formats

Lesina predicts that the future of omega-3 innovations will focus on seamless, enjoyable consumption without sacrificing effectiveness. How consumers experience a product — not just what it does — will set it apart in a saturated market. 

“Enteric coatings wipe out fishy aftertaste and reflux, while cutting-edge encapsulation and deodorization open doors to fresh formats like gummies and vegan softgels — capturing younger, broader audiences.” 

She observes increased consumer expectations for supplements, including omega-3 offerings. “Today’s shoppers are looking for more than just proven health benefits — they want supplements that are convenient, but they’re unwilling to compromise on taste and experience.” 

“For brands, this means staying ahead with on-trend, convenient formats that are easy to take and pleasant to consume.” 

Gummy supplements and beyond

According to Lesina, gummies are leading the way. Consumers favor them for their familiar format, taste, and satisfying chew. Moreover, she says gummies’ ability to mask off-putting fishy notes of marine oils — especially when combined with deodorized oils — makes them a firm favorite for discerning consumers. 

“This is exemplified by our XtraGummies Xtra Omega 3, which contains 125 mg of DHA per gummy. With just two gummies a day, consumers can achieve the approved health claim in Europe — all without compromising on taste or experience.”

Omega-3 benefits include heart, brain, and eye health, but some consumers don’t take these supplements due to sensory barriers.Earlier this month, we discussed the formulation and R&D challenges behind this fun and popular format with Evelyn Reinson, Sirio Pharma’s brand and consumer engagement director. 

Lesina notes that the interest in experience-enhancing formats goes beyond gummies, with soft chews and emulsions also gaining traction. “Even within the capsule space, brands are innovating with smaller sizes and enteric coatings to improve swallowability and minimize aftertaste.”

Sirio Pharma enables these formats, and its sourcing team also performs rigorous sensory checks on raw materials, such as fish oil, to ensure only high-quality inputs are used. “Our R&D team then evaluates these ingredients across various dosage forms to validate sensory experience and long-term stability performance.” 

“By removing the sensory and format-related barriers that have long hindered consumer uptake, we’re making omega-3s more accessible and appealing,” says Lesina. 

Overcoming omega-3 side effects

Sirio Pharma is tackling sensory barriers of omega-3 supplementation with its patented Plantegrity EnteriClear. Lesina says this plant-based, enteric softgel has been designed to overcome key consumption hurdles in taste, heartburn, and gastric irritation. It is also stable at room temperature and has a clean aesthetic that enhances shelf appeal. 

“What sets Plantegrity EnteriClear apart is its unique delivery system,” she highlights. “Unlike traditional enteric coatings that require chemical treatments or complex layering processes, EnteriClear uses a patented gellan gum shell, derived from sustainable sources.” 

She explains that this natural polymer forms a protective matrix that resists stomach acid and ensures targeted release in the intestine. Here, omega-3s from fish and plant-based sources can be optimally absorbed without unpleasant side effects. 

Lesina says Plantegrity EnteriClear carrageenan-free technology protects omega-3s from stomach acid and delivers clean label appeal.“It offers a robust structure and acid resistance, ensuring both product protection and a more pleasant consumer experience in both fish and plant-based omega-3 supplements,” adds Lesina. 

In addition, it offers brands a natural, carrageenan-free solution. Lesina notes that the clean label movement is prompting a move away from these additives. Though she suggests brands consider simpler and more natural alternatives, she underscores that this may be challenging. 

“Developing carrageenan-free formats requires advanced formulation expertise, particularly given its long-standing role in delivering softgel structure, texture, and shelf life stability. Its removal demands sophisticated hydrocolloid systems that can replicate these gelling properties without compromising capsule integrity or performance.” 

Regulatory updates

Sustainability will be a major driver of change in product packaging regulation, according to Lesina. 

“The EU’s upcoming Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation requires all packaging to be recyclable by 2030, posing a significant challenge for omega-3 supplements,  especially those in blister packs. This is critical because fish-based oils are highly sensitive to oxidation, which can compromise efficacy and cause off-flavors.” 

She notes that balancing oxidative stability with recyclability will push innovation toward protective, unit-dose packaging solutions that safeguard product quality while meeting strict environmental standards.

Additionally, Lesina says the European Food Safety Authority is set to reassess the safe intake level for DHA, with an updated opinion expected by June 2026. 

“This move follows recent findings showing that EU consumers may be exceeding the previously established safe limit of one g per day due to the growing inclusion of DHA in novel food sources.” 

She urges brands to stay ahead of regulatory shifts and work with a partner that can navigate evolving requirements, supporting compliant product development while ensuring speed-to-market without compromising on quality or safety.