Preliminary sales figures of drinks enriched with omega-3 show strong growth in 2007, taking volumes up 6.5% year-on-year to 2,362Ml, according to the 2008 Omega-3 Drinks report from food and drink consultancy Zenith International.

"Omega-3 is a key route for functional drinks to move into the consumer mainstream," says Zenith market intelligence director Gary Roethenbaugh. "Still a niche sector in relative terms, it holds considerable potential for further development, with a wide range of applications open across the food and drinks spectrum."

The report identifies a broad scientific consensus on omega-3 being essential to heart health, its anti-inflammatory benefits, and its associations with increasing brain health.

It also reviews ongoing research into the implications for dementia, Alzheimer's, behavioural and attention deficit disorders, depression, schizophrenia and a wide range of other illnesses and symptoms.

The report revealed that Western Europeans drink an average 1.3l per year, while Eastern Europeans consume an average of 0.4l.

Contact: Zenith International; Tel: 01225 327900