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Zooca® Calanus® Oil Supports Heart and Metabolic Health in New Clinical Study

(October 2025) New pilot study from Leibniz University Hannover, published in Metabolites, shows improved heart relaxation and metabolic balance in women with obesity and prediabetes.

Zooca/Calanus AS and their distributor partners in Europe LEHVOSS Group,  are pleased to announce the publication of a new clinical data in Metabolites, highlighting the potential of Zooca® Calanus® Oil to support both heart health and metabolic health support in women at increased cardiometabolic risk.

Conducted by researchers at the Institute of Food Science and Human Nutrition at Leibniz University Hannover, this 12-week trial followed 20 middle-aged women with obesity (BMI ≥ 28) and with occasional blood sugar irregularities, conditions known to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. This is also an important at-risk group that is less frequently studied in clinical research.

Participants received 4 g/day of Zooca® Calanus® Oil, which contains omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) in a unique slow-release wax ester form, along with natural policosanols and the antioxidant astaxanthin.


Clinical findings


The main outcome of the study was a significant improvement in cardiac diastolic function, assessed by the E/A ratio — a key measure of how efficiently the heart relaxes and fills with blood between beats. Improved diastolic function is considered an important marker of cardiovascular health.

Other Outcomes:

•         A reduction in the Metabolic Syndrome Severity Score, indicating better overall metabolic balance.
•         An improvement in the TyG-WHtR index (a composite measure of triglycerides, glucose, waist and height), suggesting enhanced insulin sensitivity and lower metabolic stress.
•         Lower resting heart rate and central diastolic blood pressure, further supporting positive cardiovascular effects.

“These results are encouraging because they point to combined benefits in both cardiac function and metabolic regulation,” says Marianne Mæhlum, Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer at Zooca. “For women with obesity and prediabetes — a group at elevated cardiometabolic risk — finding safe and natural strategies to support long-term health is of great importance. With its unique slow-release composition, Zooca® Calanus® Oil represents a promising nutritional approach to supporting cardiometabolic support during the aging process.” Teresita Rudà, Head of Marketing and Brand Positioning at LEHVOSS Nutrition commented from her side that “What is exciting about this new study is the benefits seen in insulin sensitivity among people with prediabetes, suggesting once more the valuable role of Zooca® Calanus Oil in supporting long-term metabolic health”


Why it matters

Diastolic dysfunction and impaired metabolic control are often early, silent precursors to cardiovascular disease and/or diabetes. By addressing both areas simultaneously, Zooca® Calanus® Oil may offer a new preventive strategy for populations at increased risk who are experiencing occasional blood sugar irregularities. While this was a pilot trial, the results add to a growing body of evidence supporting the unique role of Zooca® Calanus® Oil in cardiometabolic health.
 

ABOUT Zooca® Calanus® Oil

Zooca® Calanus® Oil is derived from Calanus finmarchicus, a zooplankton sustainably harvested in the Norwegian sea. The oil is unrefined, preserving its full spectrum of over 40 naturally occurring fatty acids, including the essential omega-3s EPA, DHA, and SDA. It also contains marine policosanols and astaxanthin—a unique combination of bioactive compounds shown to influence fat metabolism, inflammation, and insulin action. This broad and balanced nutritional profile sets Zooca® Calanus® Oil apart as a next-generation marine oil, going beyond traditional omega-3 supplements.

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