Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA or sometimes misspelled as eicosapentanoic acid) is an omega-3 fatty acid that acts as a precursor for prostaglandin-3 (which inhibits platelet aggregation), thromboxane-3 and leukotriene-5 groups. Eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid - dha - are precursors to potent bioactive mediators that possess both anti-inflammatory and protective properties. These mediators are coined resolvins, docosatrienes, and protectins as general classes. If you would like to buy a product with eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, see fish oils.
Where is Eicosapentaenoic
acid found?
Eicosapentaenoic acid is found in fish oils of cod liver, herring,
mackerel, salmon, menhaden,
krill oil, and
sardine. It is also found in human breast milk.
How Eicosapentaenoic acid
is made
The main
biological role of
alpha-linolenic acid (18:3n-3) appears to be as a precursor for the
synthesis of longer chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA).
Increasing alphaLNA intake for a period of weeks to months results in an
increase in the proportion of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5n-3) in
plasma lipids, in erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets and in breast milk
but there is no increase in docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3), which may
even decline in some pools at high alphaLNA intakes.
Potential benefit of eicosapentaenoic
The correction of a subtle nutritional deficiency that
may reduce the risk of a future chronic disease is indeed a challenge. However,
some specific examples in the past, such as the addition of folic acid to
prevent neural tube defects and calcium and vitamin D to prevent osteoporosis,
should provide some encouragement that some conditions can be prevented with the
appropriate addition of a deficient compound. One of the most intriguing current
and future impacts on public health may come from a greater intake of omega-3
fatty acids such as alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and
docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The omega-3 fatty acids continue to accumulate
research that suggests that may prevent a variety of diverse chronic diseases
and potentially some acute clinical scenarios.
Eicosapentaenoic acid and depression
Depressive symptoms are commonly observed in elderly
people, and nutritional factors such as eicosapentaenoic acid intake have been
proposed as potential protective determinants of depressive disorders. Higher
plasma eicosapentaenoic acid has been found to be associated with a lower
severity of depression in elderly subjects, especially those taking
antidepressants. Am J Clin Nutr 2008;87 1156-1162.
Testing for blood levels
Press release January 2010: VitalRemedyMD, a physician-established company,
began marketing a blood testing kit to determine if you're getting enough
Omega-3 in your diet or through fish oil supplements. The HS-Omega-3 Index is
performed using a drop of blood from a simple fingerstick. It measures the two
heart-healthy fats -- Docosahexaenoic (DHA) and Eicosapentaenoic (EPA) acids.
William Harris, PhD, co-developer of the HS- Omega-3 Index comments, "Based on
what we currently know there is no nutrient more important for decreasing risk
of cardiovascular death--and more lacking--than omega-3."VitalRemedyMD, founded
by Seth J. Baum, MD, FACC, FACPM, FAHA, FNLA, is also the developer of
VitalOils1000 omega-3 fish oil that contains 1,000 mg of combined DHA and EPA in
single soft gel.
Comments: I don't see the need to test for omega-3 levels. Just
improve your diet and take 2 to 4 fish oil capsules a day. There is too much
testing done in this country without proof that such testing extends longevity.
Study in Eskimos
Associations of very high intakes of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids
with biomarkers of chronic disease risk among Yup'ik Eskimos
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2010. From the Division of Public Health Sciences Fred Hutchinson Cancer
Research Center Seattle WA, the Center for Alaska Native Health Research
Institute of Arctic Biology University of Alaska-Fairbanks Fairbanks AK.
Few studies have examined the associations of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and
docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) with biomarkers of chronic disease risk in
populations with high intakes.We examined the associations of red blood cell
(RBC) EPA and DHA, as percentages of total fatty acids, with biomarkers of
chronic disease risk across a wide range of EPA and DHA intakes. In a
cross-sectional study of 357 Yup'ik Eskimos, generalized additive models were
used to plot covariate-adjusted associations of EPA and DHA with chronic disease
biomarkers. Linear regression models were used to test for the statistical
significance of these associations. Means (5th–95th percentiles) for RBC EPA and
DHA were 2.8% and 6.8%, respectively. Associations of EPA and DHA were inverse
and linear for triglycerides and positive and linear for HDL cholesterol and
apolipoprotein A-I. Positive linear associations of DHA with LDL and total
cholesterol were observed; for EPA, these associations were nonlinear and
restricted to concentrations {approx}<5% of total fatty acids. Associations of
EPA and DHA with C-reactive protein were inverse and nonlinear: for EPA, the
association appeared stronger at concentrations {approx}>3% of total fatty
acids; for DHA, it was observed only at concentrations {approx}>7% of total
fatty acids. Increasing EPA and DHA intakes to amounts well above those consumed
by the general US population may have strong beneficial effects on chronic
disease risk.
Also occasionally spelled eicosapentanoic acid or
eicosapentenoic acid
questions
Q. Is there also a vegetarian eicosapentaenoic acid EPA supplement
available?
A. At this time we are not aware of an EPA eicosapentaenoic
acid vegetarian supplement by itself.