Docosahexaenoic acid
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is a fatty acid found in the meat of cold-water fish, including mackerel, herring, tuna, halibut, salmon, cod liver, whale blubber, and seal blubber.
Contents
Uses
- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD): Increased consumption of DHA in the diet is associated with a lower risk of developing vision loss due to aging.
- Clogged arteries (coronary artery disease): Increased consumption of DHA in the diet might lower the risk of death in people with coronary artery disease.
- High cholesterol: Research suggests that taking 1.2-4 grams of DHA daily can lower triglyceride levels in people with high cholesterol. DHA does not seem to lower total cholesterol, and might increase both high-density lipoprotein (HDL or “good”) cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL or “bad”) cholesterol.
- DHA is used as a supplement for premature babies and as an ingredient in baby formula during the first four months of life to promote better mental development. This practice probably started because DHA is found naturally in breast milk. DHA is also used in combination with arachidonic acid during the first four to six months of life for this purpose.
Other Uses:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Coronary artery disease (CAD)
- Dementia
- Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
- Improving vision
- Preventing an eye disease called age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
- Preventing and treating depression
- Reducing aggressive behavior in people in stressful situations.
- DHA is used in combination with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) for a variety of conditions, including the prevention and reversal of heart disease, stabilizing heart rhythm, asthma, cancer, painful menstrual periods, hayfever, lung diseases, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and certain kidney diseases. EPA and DHA are also used in combination for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, psoriasis, Raynaud’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, bipolar disorder, certain inflammations of the digestive system (ulcerative colitis) and preventing migraineheadaches in teenagers.
- It is also used in combination with Evening Primrose Oil, thyme oil, and vitamin E (Efalex) to improve movement disorders in children with a condition called dyspraxia.
Benefits
- DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) plays a key role in the development of eye and nerve tissues. DHA may also reduce the risk of heart and circulatory disease by decreasing the thickness of the blood and lowering blood levels of triglycerides.
Cautions
- Aspirin-sensitivity: DHA might affect your breathing, if you are sensitive to aspirin.
- Bleeding conditions: DHA alone does not seem to affect blood clotting. However, when taken with EPA as in fish oil, doses over 3 grams daily might increase the risk of bleeding.
- Diabetes: DHA seems to increase blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes.
- High blood pressure: DHA can lower blood pressure and could lower blood pressure too much in people who are also taking blood pressure medications. If you have high blood pressure, check with your healthcare provider before taking DHA.
Interactions
Moderate Interaction Be cautious with this combination:
- Medications for high blood pressure (Antihypertensive drugs) interacts with DHA (DOCOSAHEXAENOIC ACID): DHA can decrease blood pressure. Taking DHA along with medications for high blood pressure might cause you blood pressure to go too low.
Some medications for high blood pressure include captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), losartan (Cozaar), valsartan (Diovan), diltiazem (Cardizem), Amlodipine (Norvasc), hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDiuril), furosemide (Lasix), and many others.
- Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs) interacts with DHA (DOCOSAHEXAENOIC ACID): DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is often combined with EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). EPA might slow blood clotting. Taking DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) along with medications that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding.
Some medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), and others
Other Names
Acide Docosahexaénoïque, Acide Gras d’Huile de Poisson, Acide Gras Oméga 3, Acide Gras N-3, Acide Gras W-3, Acido Docosahexaenoico, ADH, DHA, Fish Oil Fatty Acid, N-3 Fatty Acid, Neuromins, Omega 3, Oméga 3, Omega 3 Fatty Acids, Omega-3 fatty acids, W-3 Fatty Acid.
Resources
Source: WebMD, “DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid)”, http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-864-dha%20docosahexaenoic%20acid.aspx?activeingredientid=864&activeingredientname=dha%20docosahexaenoic%20acid
Also See: Omega-3 fatty acid