Support for Heart Health
DHA Background

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an omega-3 fatty acid also known as cervonic acid. Its chemical name is all-cis-docosa-4,7,10,13,16,19-hexaenoic acid, which has the short name 22:6(n-3).
DHA is available directly from the diet, primarily from fish oil and breast milk. Microalgae such as Crypthecodinium cohnii synthesize DHA, which is found in high concentrations in animals at the top of the food chain. These microalgae are also the most important commercial source of DHA.
 
Oily fish are the most prolific sources of DHA, which primarily include cold-water marine fish. Boiled salmon is one of the best sources of DHA fish oil, with concentrations as high as 1,500 mg per 100-gram serving. Other fish with a high DHA content are anchovies, blue fish, herring, mackerel and sardines.
 
DHA can also be biosynthesized from alpha-linolenic acid, a shorter omega-3 fatty acid that is readily available from many food sources. The need to synthesize DHA exists primarily in herbivores and carnivores that do not eat marine animals. Humans may also depend on the biosynthesis of DHA, especially if they follow a strict vegetarian diet.
 
In humans, the largest concentration of DHA is found in the brain, particularly in the cerebral cortex. DHA is also an essential component of other tissues such as the retina, skin, and testes.
 

Uses and benefits of DHA

The main dietary supplement benefits of DHA relate to the cardiovascular system. Other benefits include support for eye and brain health.

Signs of DHA deficiency

The most common signs of DHA deficiency involve the nervous and cardiovascular systems. It can lead to an insufficient amount of myelin sheaths around nerve cells, which can cause a number of conditions such as attention deficit disorder. Low DHA levels are also associated with low mood, as omega-3 fatty acids are an essential component of the neurotransmitter serotonin. Unhealthy cholesterol condition is reversed by DHA.