DPA fish oil and its importance in omega-3 supplements and brain development

Consider the quality of the product, whether it follows Good Manufacturing Practices, and if the DPA fish oil is manufactured in an FDA-registered facility…

Omega-3s can help reduce the risk of death due to heart disease, according to the National Center of Complementary and Integrative Health, also aiding in the lowering of triglyceride levels. Yet, the discussion surrounding these fatty acids generally only involves eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), with alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) mentioned to a lesser extent. Another omega-3, docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), is often left out of the equation, even though DPA fish oil offers a variety of health benefits.

Benefits of DPA fish oil

One of the benefits of DPA is a greater reduction of triglyceride levels. In a 2019 study sponsored by the University of Arizona, subjects were given either four grams of a DPA concentrate each day for two weeks or the same amount of EPA. While the EPA group reduced their plasma triglyceride levels by 11%, the triglyceride levels of the DPA group were reduced by 33%, providing three times as much benefit.

Researchers in this study further indicated that low DPA levels have been associated with an elevated risk of acute coronary events, heart attack, and — for some ethnic groups — an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Research published in the European Journal of Lipid Science and Technology in 2016 adds that DPA has the ability to convert to both DHA and EPA, helping the body achieve healthier levels of each of these omega-3s in cases where they might be lacking. Additionally, human breast milk contains roughly the same amount of DPA as DHA and is linked to greater neural development and bone health in children who are breastfed. Higher DPA blood levels have also been associated with a reduction of allergy-based diseases such as asthma, rhinitis, and eczema according to this research.

A push to learn more

In the past, some have called for more research to further understand how DPA fish oil supports optimal health in its purified form, such as in a 2015 article published by Lipid Technology. The hope was that learning more would provide more insight into how important this fatty acid is and how it works with the other omega-3s as, until that point, most of the research had involved only EPA and DHA.

More recent research has attempted to clarify what we know about DPA. For instance, an article published in Biochimie in April 2019 shares that, in addition to improving cardiovascular and metabolic disease risk markers, after DHA, DPA is the most abundant long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid in the brain. It appears to offer neuroprotective benefits for the elderly, making this supplement beneficial not just at the beginning of life but later in life as well.

Filling the DPA gap with high-quality omega-3 supplements

Despite the many potential health benefits of DPA, this omega-3 is often missing from fish oil supplements. Filling this gap requires looking for options that include this fatty acid in addition to EPA and DHA.

Reading product labels will reveal whether a supplement contains DPA and, if it does, in what amount. It’s important to also consider the quality of the product, such as by looking at whether it follows Good Manufacturing Practices, if the DPA fish oil is manufactured in an FDA Registered Facility, and whether it disintegrates in a way that supports maximum bioavailability.

Menhaden fish oil offers even more benefit

Finding a menhaden fish oil supplement, such as that offered by Dee Cee Laboratories, provides even more benefits. Menhaden are fish that are found in the Atlantic Ocean, according to NOAA Fisheries, and are a major source of omega-3s.

Research indicates that the U.S. produces enough menhaden fish oil to meet the long-chain omega-3 needs of both older Americans with coronary heart disease and women who are pregnant or lactating. Plus, choosing a supplement containing this fish oil could save the country as much as $1.7 billion every year in hospital-related medical costs, also potentially raising children’s IQ by up to 5.5 points.