Omega-7 SBA24 - Dryness relief with sea buckthorn oil

What is Omega-7?

Omega-7 SBA24 is based on the berry and seed of the sea buckthorn plant due as it's a rich source of the fatty acids cis-vaccenic acid and palmitoleic acid.

Why do we need to supplement?

Dryness can affect anyone.   As a side-effect of medication, menopause or high exposure to blue-light screens (including tablets and mobile phones), dryness can affect anyone at any time.  For many, dryness is uncomfortable, distracting and painful. Dryness is tied to the health of our mucous membranes which are vital lubricating tissues. Rich in many nutrients, sea buckthorn berry can support the health of these mucous membranes, combating common dryness symptoms.

How does it work in the body?

The sea buckthorn formulation SBA24 containing berry and seed together, contain a wide range of essential nutrients including essential fatty acids, omegas 3, 6, 7, 9 and phytonutrients including antioxidant polyphenols.  These nutrients also include cis-vaccenic acid and palmitoleic acid, also known as omega-7, the namesake of the supplement.  These nutrients are essential for the proper functioning and renewal of mucous membranes.

Mucous membranes cover the digestive, respiratory, and urogenital tracts and the inner surface of the eyes. They are important channels for interactions between the body and the environment and are the major routes for pathogens, toxins and allergens to enter the body.  Thus mucous membranes play an important role in the health and general wellbeing of the whole body. Mucous membranes are often attacked by diseases, stress, ageing and side-effects of medication.

Benefits in research

Dry eyes

Dry eye complaints are common in the over 50s, though more young people are experiencing them too.  This may be due to increased exposure to blue-light emitting technology, such as computers, mobiles and tablets.

35% of omega-7 users do so to combat dry eyes.  In one trial, 100 participants experiencing dry eye symptoms took 4 capsules of sea buckthorn daily for 3 months.  Results included significantly reduced dryness, grittiness, soreness, burning redness and blurred vision compared to placebo ¹.

Intimate dryness

Omega-7 has been shown to reduce symptoms associated with vaginal atrophy (the thinning of the vaginal walls) including itching and burning.  Another major implication of vaginal atrophy is painful intercourse, which in turn can have a negative effect on female libido and sense of well-being. 

In a double-blind study on post-menopausal women experiencing vaginal discomfort, those taking omega-7 SBA24 experienced improvements in vaginal health over the study duration versus those taking placebo capsules ².

Dry Mouth

Treatment of Omega-7 SBA24 capsules over 4 weeks was able to effectively relieve dry mouth symptoms in research.  Other benefits includes the improvement of the general condition of the mucous membranes in the mouth ³.

Dry Skin

Dry skin can be improved by sea buckthorn oil, with supplementing alleviating the symptoms of dry skin in two forms: when taken orally and when applied onto the skin. It also significantly slows down the appearance of skin ageing by moisturising, improving softness, elasticity, and reducing the number of deep wrinkles ⁴.

Sjögren’s Syndrome

Sjögrens Syndrome is an immune system disorder with various symptoms including dry eyes, mouth and vaginal dryness.  In a placebo-controlled, double-blind study, female participants with the syndrome took Omega-7 SBA24 ® or a placebo each day for three months.  The conditions of the mucosa of the eyes, mouth and genital tract and the skin were evaluated before and after the supplementation period.  The result was an overall improvement in symptoms of Sjögren’s syndrome ⁵.

Why Pharma Nord?

Unique Extraction Process

Unlike most omega-7 on the market, SBA24 is extracted from both the seed and the berry of the sea buckthorn plant, offering a wider range of nutrients to support mucous membranes. An effective extraction process is used known as 'supercritical fluid extraction', shown below:

Image: Supercritical Fluid Extraction used to carefully obtain sea buckthorn oil

Carbon dioxide is pressurized and cooled, turning it into a liquid solvent.  This prevents sea buckthorn from being damaged by temperature and oxidation, a damaging chemical event that can happen to any oil.  The finished product is a sea buckthorn oil with all of the many nutrients kept safely intact.

Supercritical extraction is exceptionally clean and environmentally friendly as there are no waste products or harsh chemical solvents used. 

Natural vs Purified

It is possible to ‘purify’ sea buckthorn oil to separate palmitoleic acid from the other nutrients.  In reality, a purification process strips the extract of the wide range of nutrients found naturally in sea buckthorn oil, including the other omega-7 fatty acid, cis-vaccenic acid. 

Purification is a harsh process, typically using bleach and surfactant chemicals.  Omega-7 SBA24 does not use this process, maintaining a complex nutrient content and being environmentally friendly.

Loved by consumers

Consumer research involving over 7300 users found that 98% of users would recommend Omega-7 SBA24 and 92% of customers noticed benefits within 6 weeks or less!

References

1. larmo P et al (2010). Oral Sea Buckthorn Oil Attenuates Tear Film Osmolarity and Symptoms in Individuals with Dry Eye. The Journal Of Nutrition
2. Larmo P, Yang B, Hyssälä J, Kallio H, Erkkola R. Effects of sea buckthorn oil intake on vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Maturitas. 2014;79(3):316-321.
3. Erkkola, R, Yang, B. (2003) Sea buckthron oils: towards healthy mucous membranes. AGROFood.
4. Yang B and Kallio H (2003) Effects of sea buckthorn oil on skin. Asia Pacific Personal Care 4 (5), 46‐49
5. Published at the 97th Annual Meeting & Expo of the American Oil Chemists’ Society (April-May, 2006, St. Louis, USA).