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.
Dont confuse DHA with EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). They are both in fish oil, but they are not the same. DHA
can be converted into EPA in the body. See separate listings for fish oil and EPA.
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.
DHA is used for treating type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease (CAD), dementia, and attention deficithyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Some people use DHA is for improving vision, preventing an eye disease called age-related macular
degeneration (AMD), preventing and treating depression, and 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 heartrhythm, asthma, cancer, painful menstrual periods, hayfever, lung
diseases, systemiclupus erythematosus (SLE), and certain kidney diseases. EPA and DHA are also used in
combination for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, psoriasis, Raynauds 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.
How does it work?
DHA 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.

DHA DOCOSAHEXAENOIC ACID USES & EFFECTIVENESS

Possibly Effective for:

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.

Possibly Ineffective for:

Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Many children with ADHD have low levels of DHA in
their blood. However, taking DHA does not seem to improve ADHD symptoms, although some early
research suggests that DHA might help children with ADHD become less aggressive and get along
better with others.

Mental performance. Research suggests that taking 400-1000 mg of DHA daily for 2-4 months does
not improve mental performance in healthy children. Taking DHA daily for 4 months also does not
improve memory and learning in elderly women.

Depression. Taking DHA by mouth does not seem to relieve depression symptoms.

Diabetes. Taking DHA by mouth does not seem to lower blood sugar or cholesterol in people with type
2 diabetes.

Insufficient Evidence for:

Alzheimers disease. Some research suggests that getting more DHA from the diet might help to
prevent Alzheimers disease. However, evidence suggests that taking 2 grams of DHA daily for 18
months does not slow mental or functional decline in people with Alzheimers disease.

Cystic fibrosis. Early research suggests that taking 70 mg per kg of body weight of DHA for 6 weeks
might not improve lung function in people with cystic fibrosis.

Dementia. Early research suggests that taking 0.72 grams of DHA daily for one year might improve
symptoms of dementia.

Dyslexia. Taking DHA by mouth seems to improve night vision in children with dyslexia.

Movement and coordination disorder (dyspraxia). Taking DHA by mouth together with evening
primrose oil, thyme oil, and vitamin E (Efalex) seems to improve movement disorders in children with
dyspraxia.

Improving infant development. Evidence about the effects of DHA on infant development is
inconsistent. There is some evidence that infants who do not receive DHA from breast milk or formula
have delayed mental and visual development compared to those who receive enough DHA. Some
researchers reasoned that giving DHA in formula might improve development. However, when they
tested this theory, study results did not agree. The reason for the differences may be due to the way
the studies were designed. For now, experts generally recommend breast-feeding instead of formulafeeding. However, if formula is used, some experts suggest a formula providing at least 0.2% of fats
from DHA.

Liver disease (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease). Early research suggests that taking 250-500 mg of
DHA daily for 6 months reduces the risk of severe fat accumulation in the liver in children with liver
disease.

Prostate cancer. Some results from clinical research suggest that higher levels of DHA in the blood
are linked with an increased risk of developing prostate cancer that grows rapidly. However, other
evidence shows that higher intake of DHA in the diet reduces the risk of developing this type of
prostate cancer. Also, some research suggests that higher intake of DHA in the diet is linked with a
reduced risk of developing prostate cancer that spreads to other tissues.

Inherited vision loss (retinitis pigmentosa). Evidence on the effectiveness of DHA for people with an
inherited condition causing vision loss is inconsistent. Some research suggests that taking 1200 mg of
DHA daily for 4 years does not improve eye function in people with retinitis pigmentosa who are also
taking vitamin A. However, taking 400 mg of DHA daily for 4 years seems to improve eye function in
some people, but visual function does not seem to improve.

Other conditions.

More evidence is needed to rate DHA for these uses.

DHA DOCOSAHEXAENOIC ACID SIDE EFFECTS & SAFETY
DHA is LIKELY SAFE for most people when taken by mouth. DHA can cause nausea, intestinal gas, bruising,
and prolonged bleeding. Fish oils containing DHA can cause fishy taste, belching, nosebleeds, and loose stools.
Taking DHA with meals can often decrease these side effects.
DHA is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth in large amounts. When used in amounts greater than 3 grams
per day, fish oils containing DHA can thin the blood and increase the risk for bleeding.
DHA is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when used in large amounts. When used in amounts greater than 3 grams per day,
fish oils containing DHA can thin the blood and increase the risk for bleeding.
Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: DHA is LIKELY SAFE when used appropriately during pregnancy
and breast-feeding. DHA is commonly used during pregnancy and is an ingredient in some prenatal
vitamins. DHA is a normal component of breast milk and is added as a supplement to some infant
formulas.
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.
DHA DOCOSAHEXAENOIC ACID 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.

DHA DOCOSAHEXAENOIC ACID DOSING

Experts recommend increasing your daily dietary intake of cold-water fish, including mackerel, herring, tuna,
halibut, and salmon.
DHA is usually administered with EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) as fish oil. A wide range of doses have been used.
A typical dose is 5 grams of fish oil containing 169-563 mg of EPA and 72-312 mg of DHA