dsm-firmenich's life's®OMEGA innovations named NutraIngredients-USA Award finalists

Two innovations from dsm-firmenich’s life’s®OMEGA portfolio have been named finalists at the NutraIngredients-USA Awards 2026. The microalgae omega-3 solutions have been shortlisted for the ‘Mind and Mood Ingredient of the Year’ and ‘Healthspan Product of the Year’ categories, ahead of winners being announced on July 13^th. Earning dual recognition for both a B2B ingredient and a consumer-facing finished product, these nominations reflect the company’s support for advanced innovation across the omega-3 value chain, from cutting-edge formulation science to impactful products on retail shelves.

“What connects both nominations is the same principle: rigorous science translated into products that make a measurable difference,” shares Seletha Periman MS, MPH, RD, Director of Innovation, Application, and Premix Formulation, Health, Nutrition & Care, North America, dsm-firmenich. “With life's®OMEGA O33-P100, we solved a longstanding formulation challenge to deliver substantial, clinically relevant omega-3 levels in formats consumers truly enjoy. We have also helped bring the findings of one of the largest healthy aging trials ever conducted to everyday consumers with the Spring Valley product. We're also proud to help make high-potency microalgae omega-3 nutrition more accessible through the Spring Valley product, in response to growing demands for supplements that support healthy longevity. That journey—from evidence to innovation to impact—is what drives our R&D investment across the life's®OMEGA portfolio.”

High-dose omega-3 gummies, delivered

Gummy and soft chew formats have historically posed a significant technical hurdle when it comes to delivering consistent and effective EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) levels due to challenges with stability, taste and formulation. Nominated for ‘Mind and Mood Ingredient of the Year’, life’s®OMEGA 033-P100 is a high-potency, microencapsulated omega-3 powder that’s purpose-built for challenging formats like gummies and soft chews. This microalgae omega-3 ingredient was recognized for its advanced encapsulation technology that delivers reliable heat, oxygen, and light protection for omega-3 oils. For manufacturers, that means new formulation and format innovation possibilities, with up to 500 mg of omega-3s per two-piece gummy serving.

Bringing landmark longevity science to consumers

One of the largest healthy aging trials ever conducted, DO-HEALTH, followed 2,157 adults aged 70 and older across five countries to evaluate whether targeted nutrition and lifestyle changes could support healthy aging. Using life’s®OMEGA microalgae omega-3 and Quali-D® vitamin D, the study found that daily omega-3 supplementation slowed biological aging across multiple epigenetic clocks (DNA methylation clocks PhenoAge, GrimAge2 and DunedinPACE), with additive effects when combined with vitamin D and exercise.¹

These landmark findings establish life’s®OMEGA as an ingredient backed by emerging health aging science. The microalgae omega-3 is already bringing those science-backed benefits to consumers today with products like the Spring Valley Maximum Care Omega-3 from Algal Oil with Vitamin D3. This innovation earns its recognition as a finalist for ‘Healthspan Product of the Year’ for demonstrating how clinical innovation can translate into real-world impact.

“Being recognized as a finalist in both Ingredient of the Year and Product of the Year categories reflects the breadth of what our life's®OMEGA platform can deliver—from solving formulation challenges for our customers, to putting science-backed omega-3 nutrition directly into consumers' hands,” comments Paulo Henrique Santos, Associate Director, Marketing DS, Health, Nutrition & Care, North America, dsm-firmenich. “Brain health and healthy aging are two of the most dynamic categories in the current supplement market, and these nominations reinforce our commitment to advancing microalgae omega-3 innovation that meets real consumer needs in both.”

To learn more about dsm-firmenich’s life’s®OMEGA portfolio, visit: life’s®OMEGA | dsm-firmenich Health, Nutrition & Care

About dsm-firmenich

As innovators in nutrition, health, and beauty, dsm-firmenich reinvents, manufactures, and combines vital nutrients, flavors, and fragrances for the world’s growing population to thrive. With our comprehensive range of solutions, with natural and renewable ingredients and renowned science and technology capabilities, we work to create what is essential for life, desirable for consumers, and more sustainable for the planet. dsm-firmenich is a Swiss-Dutch company, with dual headquarters in Kaiseraugst, Switzerland and Maastricht, Netherlands, listed on the Euronext Amsterdam, with operations in almost 60 countries and revenues of more than €12 billion. With a diverse, worldwide team of nearly 30,000 employees, we bring progress to life™ every day, everywhere, for billions of people.