US nutrition company Martek Biosciences Corporation announced this week that the European Patent Office has granted European Patent No. EP-B-0 568 606 to the company covering compositions and uses of blends of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) containing oils as additives or supplements for the human diet and infant formula. The patent covers the blending of DHA from microbial or fish oil sources with any microbial source of ARA and the inclusion of this blend in infant formula, nutritional supplements and food ingredients. This patent is effective in 15 European countries. DHA and ARA are fundamental building blocks of the brain. They are naturally delivered to babies through breast milk. Infant formulas can provide a balance of these essential fatty acids as found in human milk. Martek Biosciences Corporation develops, manufactures and sells products from microalgae.
