Docosahexaenoic Acid DHA supplementation, side effects by Ray Sahelian, M.D. Health benefit of fish oils and omega-3 fatty acids

Docosahexaenoic acid is abbreviated as DHA  and has the chemical structure 22:6(?-3), all-cis-docosa-4,7,10,13,16,19-hexaenoic acid. Docosahexaenoic acid is an omega-3 essential fatty acid. Docosahexaenoic acid is most often found in fish oil. If you would like to buy a product with eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, see below for a fish oil product.

Source Naturals DHA, 100 mg

DHA is derived from algae, not fish, hence it is a vegetarian source. Docosahexaenoic acid is an omega-3 fatty acid which plays a significant role in cerebral development, especially during the crucial period of fetal development and infancy.

Supplement Facts:
DHA - 100 mg
   Docosahexaenoic Acid (from algal oil)
Suggested Use: 1 to 3 DHA softgels daily.

Docosahexaenoic acid in breastmilk
Concentrations of the long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n–3) and arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4n–6) in human breast milk are important indicators of infant development. The highest docosahexaenoic acid concentrations in breast milk worldwide are primarily in coastal populations and are associated with marine food consumption.

Docosahexaenoic acid supplements and blood lipids
Docosahexaenoic acid supplementation improves cardiovascular health by lowering concentrations of triacylglycerols and small, dense LDL particles.

Dose-dependent effects of docosahexaenoic acid-rich fish oil on erythrocyte docosahexaenoic acid and blood lipid levels.
Br J Nutr. 2007; School of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Consumption of long-chain n-3 PUFA, particularly docosahexaenoic acid, has been shown to improve cardiovascular risk factors but the intake required to achieve benefits is unclear. We sought to determine the relationship between DHA intake, increases in erythrocyte DHA content and changes in blood lipids. A total of sixty-seven subjects completed a 12-week intervention. Subjects consumed 2, 4 or 6 grams a day of DHA rich fish oil (26 % DHA, 6 % EPA) or a placebo (Sunola oil). The close association between incorporation of DHA in erythrocytes and its effects on serum lipids highlights the importance of erythrocyte DHA as an indicator of cardiovascular health status.

Docosahexaenoic acid supplements and eczema
Docosahexaenoic acid DHA supplementation in atopic eczema: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.
Br J Dermatol. 2008. Allergy-Center-Charité, Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
The aim of the pilot study was to determine the efficacy of dietary n-3 PUFA docosahexaenoic acid DHA in patients with atopic eczema. Methods Fifty-three patients suffering from atopic eczema aged 18-40 years were recruited into this randomized, double-blind, controlled trial and received either docosahexaenoic acid 5.4 g daily or an isoenergetic control of saturated fatty acids for 8 weeks. docosahexaenoic acid, but not the control treatment, resulted in a significant clinical improvement of atopic eczema. The docosahexaenoic acid group showed an increase of plasma n-3 PUFA and a decrease in the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio. Our data suggest that dietary docosahexaenoic acid could be bioactive and might have a beneficial impact on the outcome of atopic eczema, but our results need to be confirmed in a larger study.

Mental alertness
Emerging evidence suggests that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n–3), the principal omega-3 (n–3) fatty acid in brain gray matter, positively regulates cortical metabolic function and cognitive development.
   Study: Docosahexaenoic acid supplementation increases prefrontal cortex activation during sustained attention in healthy boys: a placebo-controlled, dose-ranging, functional magnetic resonance imaging study. Robert K McNamara, Jessica Able, Ronald Jandacek, Therese Rider, PatrickTso, James C Eliassen, David Alfieri, Wade Weber, Kelly Jarvis, Melissa PDelBello, Stephen M Strakowski, and Caleb M Adler. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2010. Consider Mind Power Rx for better mental focus, concentration, and mood;