Compositions comprising eicosapentaenoic acid suitable for high purification

Abstract

The invention relates to a microbial biomass composition produced from a heterotrophic fermentation whose fatty acid profile exhibits an eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) to arachidonic acid (ARA) ratio of about 11:1 or more, an EPA to total co-concentrating fatty acid ratio of about 8:1 or more, extract compositions, and methods of producing such compositions.

1 . A diatom grown heterotrophically comprising eicosapentaenoic acid and arachidonic acid in a ratio of at least 14:1 where eicosapentaenoic acid forms at least 1.5% w/w of the dry weight of the diatom. 
     
     
         2 . The diatom of  claim 1  wherein the diatom are comprised of marine single-celled diatoms from the genus  Nitzschia.    
     
     
         3 . The diatom of  claim 1  wherein the diatom is  Nitzschia laevis.    
     
     
         4 . The diatom of  claim 1  wherein the ratio of EPA to ARA is at least 15:1. 
     
     
         5 . The diatom of  claim 1  wherein the ratio of EPA to ARA is at least 17:1. 
     
     
         6 . The diatom of  claim 1  wherein the diatom comprises between 5 and 80% total dry weight as fatty acids. 
     
     
         7 . The diatom of  claim 6  wherein the proportion of EPA in the fatty acids is between 2 and 80% w/w. 
     
     
         8 . The diatom of  claim 7  wherein the proportion of EPA in the fatty acids is between over 20% and 80% w/w.