Medicinal Ingredient (per a capsule):
Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides, Fruit) 500mg

Non-Medicinal Ingredients:
Magnesium stearate, Hypromellose (Vegetable capsule shell)

Recommended Dose:
Adults : 2 capsules 2 times per day

Cautions and Warnings:
If you are taking any prescription medication, consult a health care practitioner prior to use.

Contraindications:
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, do not use.

Q: Is there anyone who should not use this product?
A: Do not use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. If you are taking any prescription medication, consult a health care practitioner prior to use, as sea buckthorn may interact with anticoagulant medications (due to mild antiplatelet activity), antihypertensive medications, and antidiabetic medications. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Q: What is the Health Canada approved use for this product?
A: This product is approved by Health Canada (NPN 80076146) for the following use: provides antioxidants that help fight against cell damage caused by free radicals.

Q: What is sea buckthorn and what part of the plant is used in this formula?
A: Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is a thorny deciduous shrub in the Elaeagnaceae family, native to Europe and Asia with its greatest diversity in the Himalayan region and the cold temperate zones of Central Asia and northern Europe, including Siberia, Mongolia, and Scandinavia. It is a dioecious plant, meaning male and female flowers grow on separate plants, with only the female plants producing the characteristic small, densely clustered, bright orange to yellow berries. This formula uses the fruit (berry) of Hippophae rhamnoides as whole fruit powder, providing the complete antioxidant and fatty acid profile of the sea buckthorn berry.

Q: What are the primary antioxidant compounds in sea buckthorn fruit?
A: Sea buckthorn berries have one of the most diverse and concentrated antioxidant profiles of any fruit, driven by the extreme growing conditions of the plant (high altitude, intense UV radiation, cold temperatures, drought). The primary antioxidant compound classes in sea buckthorn fruit are as follows. Vitamin C: sea buckthorn berries contain among the highest vitamin C concentrations of any fruit, ranging from approximately 400 to 2,500mg per 100g of fresh berries depending on variety and growing conditions, compared to approximately 50mg per 100g for oranges. Vitamin C is a water-soluble antioxidant that scavenges reactive oxygen species and regenerates oxidized vitamin E. Carotenoids: the intense orange colour of sea buckthorn berries is due to their exceptionally high carotenoid content, including beta-carotene (provitamin A), lycopene, zeaxanthin, and lutein. Zeaxanthin and lutein are concentrated in the macula of the eye where they filter high-energy blue light. Flavonoids: quercetin, isorhamnetin (a methylated metabolite of quercetin and a marker compound for sea buckthorn), and kaempferol. Tocopherols: alpha, beta, gamma, and delta tocopherols (vitamin E complex), which protect cell membranes from lipid peroxidation.

Q: What is omega 7 and why is sea buckthorn associated with it?
A: Omega 7 refers to palmitoleic acid (C16:1n-7), a monounsaturated fatty acid present in unusually high concentrations in sea buckthorn fruit pulp oil, where it can comprise up to 40% of total fatty acids, making sea buckthorn one of the richest plant sources of palmitoleic acid. Other notable sources include macadamia nuts and some fish oils. Palmitoleic acid is distinctive among dietary fatty acids because it is also produced endogenously in human adipose tissue and the liver by the enzyme stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD-1), which introduces a double bond at the delta-9 position of palmitic acid. Palmitoleic acid has been studied as a lipokine, a lipid-derived signaling molecule secreted by adipose tissue that acts on distant organs including the liver, muscle, and pancreas to regulate metabolic processes.

Q: This product is fruit powder, not oil. How does that affect the omega 7 and antioxidant content?
A: Sea buckthorn produces two distinct oils with different profiles: fruit pulp oil (orange, rich in palmitoleic acid/omega 7 and carotenoids) and seed oil (yellow, rich in alpha-linolenic acid/omega 3 and linoleic acid/omega 6). This formula uses whole fruit powder rather than extracted oil. The key advantage of whole fruit powder is that it retains the complete spectrum of fruit compounds including the water-soluble antioxidants (vitamin C and flavonoids) that are entirely absent from extracted oils. The fat-soluble compounds (carotenoids, tocopherols, and palmitoleic acid) are also present in the fruit powder as part of the whole fruit matrix. The omega 7 content per gram is lower in whole fruit powder than in concentrated sea buckthorn oil, as the fatty acids are concentrated in the oil fraction of the fruit. Those specifically seeking a high-concentration omega 7 supplement should consider a sea buckthorn oil product; those wanting the complete fruit antioxidant profile including vitamin C benefit from the whole fruit powder format.

Q: How should I take this product and how long does the bottle last?
A: The suggested use is 2 capsules, 2 times per day (4 capsules per day, 2,000mg of sea buckthorn fruit powder per day). At this dose, the 120 capsule bottle provides a 30 day supply. Take with food if gastrointestinal sensitivity occurs. Consult your healthcare provider to determine the appropriate dosage and duration of use for your individual needs.

Q: Is this product suitable for vegans and vegetarians?
A: Yes. Sea buckthorn fruit powder is 100% plant derived. The capsule shell is made from hypromellose (vegetable cellulose), not gelatin. The non medicinal ingredients (magnesium stearate and hypromellose) are both suitable for vegans. The product is non GMO and free from gluten, soy, and dairy.