Omega-3 Fatty Acids and EPA Supplements
Introduction to Omega-3 Fatty Acids
- Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids obtained from two main dietary sources: seafood (marine sources) and certain plant oils 1
- The American Heart Association recommends that all adults should eat fatty fish at least twice weekly for cardiovascular health 7
Types of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
- The three main types of omega-3 fatty acids are: EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), and ALA (α-linolenic acid) 1
Cardiovascular Benefits
- EPA-only therapy has shown significant cardiovascular benefit in clinical trials, particularly in the JELIS study which demonstrated a 19% reduction in major coronary events when EPA was added to statin therapy 3
- Higher doses of combined EPA and DHA may be required for secondary cardiovascular disease prevention, especially in patients on high-intensity statins 4
- Patients with coronary heart disease should consume 1g/day of combined EPA and DHA 7
Cognitive Function
- DHA appears more important than EPA for cognitive function due to its high concentration in the brain 4, 5, 6
- DHA levels above the median have been associated with improvements in verbal fluency, language, memory, and visual-motor coordination 5, 6
- An omega-3 index ≥4% has been associated with improved cognitive function and delay in cognitive aging 4