Fish residuals may hold the key to male fertility

Senior Scientist Tone Aspevik at Nofima has spent several years studying the potential of salmon heads.

Birth rates across Europe are declining, and so is male fertility. Fertility problems affect around 17 % of Norwegian men.

Could part of the solution lie in the past?

In earlier times, we consumed a much larger share of the fish than we do today. Nowadays we mostly eat fish fillet, but new research shows there are significant health benefits in eating parts such as skin, tendons and bones.

“Across several research projects, we have found positive health effects from protein powder made from salmon heads. The powder has proven beneficial for skin, hair and mental health,” says Senior Scientist Tone Aspevik at Nofima.

Now, the research team has reason to believe that salmon head proteins may also improve sperm quality, and thereby increase male fertility.

Protein powder production

Using advanced biotechnology, the researchers extract a protein powder with the right texture and flavour.

“At Nofima’s pilot plant, Biotep, we use state-of-the-art equipment to refine the salmon heads into an extremely pure protein powder,” Aspevik explains.

The resulting powder consists of more than 95 % pure fish protein and minerals such as sodium, potassium, phosphorus and calcium.

Using every part of the fish

One reason Nofima’s scientists refine the salmon heads into protein powder is that it makes consumption easier. The material is broken down in a way that releases its bioactive properties. This approach also means that nothing goes to waste. The residual raw materials remaining after the protein powder is extracted are used for new products.

“We send fish bones to Italy to test their potential use as an ingredient in sunscreen. The extracted oil can be used in feed ingredients, while the process water is used to cultivate microalgae,” says Aspevik.

In this way, scientists have managed to utilise every part of the fish, creating added value and new high-quality products.

About the research

At Nofima in Bergen, the scientists tested a variety of processes based on salmon and cod. The bioactivity of the resulting products was first studied in cell culture before moving on to animal testing with project partners in Greece. Following a well-documented process, the team received authorisation to conduct trials on humans.

The protein powder has now been produced and will be sent to Lund University in Sweden, where volunteer participants will test the supplement.

The BLUEWAYSE project

Nofima coordinates the EU project BLUEWAYSE, funded through the Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership, co-funded by the European Union (Horizon Europe) and national funding agencies, including the Research Council of Norway.

The project’s goal is to develop new ways of fully exploiting all residual raw materials from fish. Scientists use these materials to create high-end products. After the fish is processed, the remaining bones, oils and proteins are used to develop products such as sunscreen and feed ingredients. Even the process water is repurposed to cultivate microalgae.

About Biotep

Biotep, located in Kaldfjorden outside Tromsø, is Nofima’s pilot plant that produces food-grade products for human consumption. Here, salmon heads are transformed into highly refined protein powder intended for premium dietary supplements.