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Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an omega-3 fatty acid that is found along with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in cold-water fish, including tuna and salmon.
DHA plays a key role in the development of eye and nerve tissues. DHA might also reduce the risk of heart and circulatory disease by decreasing the thickness of the blood, reducing swelling (inflammation), and lowering blood levels of triglycerides.
People commonly use DHA for high levels of cholesterol or other fats in the blood. It is also used for boosting memory and thinking skills, for helping infant and child development, for certain eye disorders, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support many of these uses.
Don't confuse DHA with EPA. They are both in fish oil, but they are not the same. DHA can be converted into EPA in the body in very small amounts. See separate listings for algal oil, cod liver oil, fish oil, EPA, and krill oil.
- Hyperlipidemia. Most research shows that taking oral DHA alone or with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) seems to modestly reduce triglyceride levels. However, DHA does not decrease total cholesterol and may increase levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
Login for details - Preterm labor. Most research shows that oral DHA seems to prevent preterm labor in those with low DHA status at baseline.
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- Age-related cognitive decline. Most research shows that taking oral DHA alone or with other ingredients does not slow or improve cognitive decline associated with age.
Login for details - Alzheimer disease. Taking oral DHA does not seem to slow Alzheimer disease progression.
Login for details - Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Most research shows that taking oral DHA does not improve ADHD symptoms.
Login for details - Bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Most research shows that oral DHA does not prevent bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants. Some research suggests that it might increase the risk of BPD in infants born before 29 weeks gestation.
Login for details - Cognitive function. Most research shows that oral DHA does not improve cognitive function in healthy adults.
Login for details - Cystic fibrosis. Most research shows that oral DHA does not improve symptoms of cystic fibrosis.
Login for details - Depression. Most research shows that oral DHA does not improve depression, regardless of the type.
Login for details - Macrosomia. Taking oral DHA during pregnancy does not seem to prevent fetal macrosomia.
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- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Oral DHA has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Allergic rhinitis (hay fever). Login for details
- Atopic dermatitis (eczema). It is unclear if adding DHA to infant formula prevents atopic dermatitis.
Login for details - Atopic disease. It is unclear if oral DHA during pregnancy prevents atopic disease in the infant.
Login for details - Atrial fibrillation. Oral DHA has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Autism spectrum disorder. It is unclear if oral DHA is beneficial for autism.
Login for details - Behcet disease. Login for details
- Bipolar disorder. It is unclear if oral DHA is beneficial for bipolar disorder in adults.
Login for details - Breast cancer. It is unclear if oral DHA is beneficial for breast cancer treatment or prevention.
Login for details - Cancer. Taking oral DHA with oral eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) does not seem to decrease the risk of cancer in patients with cardiovascular disease and may actually INCREASE the risk of cancer in females. The effect of DHA alone is unclear.
Login for details - Child development. It is unclear if oral DHA is beneficial for child development. However, due to the lack of significant safety concerns and the possibility of some cognitive benefit, many experts recommend DHA 200 mg daily during pregnancy.
Login for details - Cognitive impairment. It is unclear if oral DHA is beneficial for cognitive impairment in the elderly.
Login for details - Coronary heart disease (CHD). It is unclear if oral DHA is beneficial for CHD.
Login for details - Crohn disease. It is unclear if oral DHA is beneficial for Crohn disease prevention.
Login for details - Dementia. It is unclear if oral DHA is beneficial for dementia prevention.
Login for details - Developmental coordination disorder (DCD). Oral DHA has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Diabetes. It is unclear if oral DHA is beneficial for glycemic control or the prevention of type 1 or gestational diabetes.
Login for details - Diabetic retinopathy. Oral DHA has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Diarrhea. It is unclear if infant formula containing DHA is beneficial for diarrhea prevention.
Login for details - Dyslexia. It is unclear if oral DHA is beneficial for improving night vision in children with this condition.
Login for details - Dysmenorrhea. Login for details
- Fractures. Oral DHA has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Hypertension. It is unclear if oral DHA is beneficial for reducing blood pressure in adults or if prenatal supplementation reduces blood pressure in children.
Login for details - IgA nephropathy. Login for details
- Infant development. Infant supplementation with DHA does not seem to improve development. Also, most evidence shows that maternal supplementation with DHA is not beneficial for infant cognitive development. However, due to the lack of significant safety concerns and the possibility of some cognitive benefit, many experts recommend DHA 200 mg daily during pregnancy.
Login for details - Intraventricular hemorrhage. It is unclear if oral DHA is beneficial for preventing intraventricular hemorrhage in premature infants.
Login for details - Keratoconus. It is unclear if oral DHA is beneficial for improving vision in people with keratoconus.
Login for details - Lower respiratory tract infections. It is unclear if formula containing DHA is beneficial for preventing lower respiratory tract infections in infants.
Login for details - Male infertility. It is unclear if oral DHA is beneficial for improving fertility.
Login for details - Metabolic syndrome. Login for details
- Migraine headache. Login for details
- Muscle strength. It is unclear if oral DHA is beneficial for increasing muscle strength.
Login for details - Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). It is unclear if oral DHA is beneficial for preventing NEC in preterm infants.
Login for details - Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). It is unclear if oral DHA is beneficial for NAFLD.
Login for details - Obesity. It is unclear if oral DHA is beneficial for improving weight loss in overweight or obese adults.
Login for details - Otitis media. It is unclear if DHA in infant formula is beneficial for preventing otitis media in infants.
Login for details - Phenylketonuria (PKU). It is unclear if oral DHA is beneficial for PKU.
Login for details - Physical performance. It is unclear if oral DHA is beneficial for increasing physical performance in older adults.
Login for details - Postoperative pain. It is unclear if oral DHA is beneficial for reducing postoperative analgesic use.
Login for details - Prematurity. It is unclear if oral DHA during lactation or early in infancy is beneficial for increasing growth or neurodevelopment of the premature infant.
Login for details - Prostate cancer. It is unclear if oral DHA is beneficial for prostate cancer prevention.
Login for details - Psoriasis. Login for details
- Raynaud syndrome. Login for details
- Restenosis. It is unclear if oral DHA is beneficial for preventing restenosis in people with stents.
Login for details - Retinitis pigmentosa. Evidence for the use of oral DHA for retinitis pigmentosa is inconsistent and contradictory.
Login for details - Retinopathy of prematurity. It is unclear if maternal or infant supplementation with oral DHA is beneficial for preventing retinopathy of prematurity.
Login for details - Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Login for details
- Schizophrenia. Oral DHA has only been evaluated in combination with other ingredients; its effect when used alone is unclear.
Login for details - Sepsis. It is unclear if oral DHA is beneficial for preventing sepsis in premature infants.
Login for details - Spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA). It is unclear if oral DHA is beneficial for SCA.
Login for details - Stroke. It is unclear if oral DHA is beneficial for stroke prevention.
Login for details - Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Login for details
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) nephritis. Login for details
- Ulcerative colitis. Login for details
- Vascular dementia. It is unclear if DHA is beneficial for improving dementia severity.
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When taken by mouth: DHA is likely safe for most people. It's been used safely for up to 4 years. Most side effects are mild and involve stomach and intestine issues. But people shouldn't take more than 3 grams of DHA or other omega-3 fatty acids daily, and no more than 2 grams daily should come from a dietary supplement. Taking more than 3 grams daily of DHA and other omega-3 fatty acids is possibly unsafe. Doing so might slow blood clotting and increase the chance of bleeding.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: DHA is likely safe when taken by mouth in appropriate amounts during pregnancy and breast-feeding. DHA is commonly used during pregnancy and is an ingredient in some prenatal vitamins. DHA is also a normal part of breast milk and added to some infant formulas. It's recommended that 200-300 mg of DHA are consumed daily during pregnancy and breast-feeding, either from supplements or food sources.Children: DHA is likely safe when used appropriately. DHA is included in some infant formulas. Also, DHA has been safely given to children 7 years and older at doses of 30 mg/kg daily for up to 4 years. It has also been safely given to children 4 years and older at doses of 0.4-1 gram daily for up to 1 year. But DHA is possibly unsafe when used in preterm infants born at less than 29 weeks. It might worsen breathing in these infants.
Diabetes: DHA seems to increase blood sugar in some people with type 2 diabetes.
Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
DHA might increase blood sugar levels. Taking DHA along with diabetes medications might reduce the effects of these medications. Monitor your blood sugar closely.
Medications for high blood pressure (Antihypertensive drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
DHA might lower blood pressure. Taking DHA along with medications that lower blood pressure might cause blood pressure to go too low. Monitor your blood pressure closely.
Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Taking DHA might slow blood clotting. Taking DHA along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.
Herbs and supplements that might lower blood pressure: DHA might lower blood pressure. Taking it with other supplements that have the same effect might cause blood pressure to drop too much. Examples of supplements with this effect include andrographis, casein peptides, L-arginine, niacin, and stinging nettle.
Herbs and supplements that might slow blood clotting: DHA might slow blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might increase the risk of bleeding in some people. Examples of supplements with this effect include garlic, ginger, ginkgo, nattokinase, and Panax ginseng.
There are no known interactions with foods.
DHA is commonly consumed in the diet. Sources include cold-water fish, including mackerel, herring, tuna, halibut, salmon, cod liver, whale blubber, and seal blubber.
In supplements, DHA has most often been used by adults in doses of 400-800 mg by mouth daily for up to 6 months.
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