What Does EPA and DHA Do ?

Cardiovascular Disease:
Increased consumption of omega 3 fats from fish or supplements may slow the progression of atherosclerosis and thereby prevent heart attacks, and also reduce risk of sudden death due to cardiac arrhythmias. Omega-3 fatty acids have a number of heart-healthy effects, including reducing triglyceride levels, raising levels of HDL ("good") cholesterol and, possibly, "thinning" the blood, reducing levels of homocysteine and reducing blood pressure. Omega 3 fats from fish or fish oil supplements also appear to enhance the effectiveness of statin drugs used to improve cholesterol profile.


Arthritis and Other Inflammatory Diseases:
EPA and DHA have been tried in the treatment of symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis with considerable success (especially in early stages of the disease). These oils may also be useful in the treatment of menstrual cramps, inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis and Cohn’s disease), lupus, and IgA nephropathy.


Psychiatric and Mental Disorders:
Omega-3s appear to help depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, according to a limited number of double-blind trials. Fish oil has also been proposed for attention deficit disorder, borderline personality disorder, dyslexia and cognitive impairment, but as yet the supporting evidence for these uses remains exceedingly preliminary.


Other Diseases:
Other proposed uses of fish oils with some support include asthma, Raynaud's phenomenon (abnormal sensitivity of hands and feet to cold), chronic fatigue syndrome, cystic fibrosis, osteoporosis, reducing the risk of prostate cancer and preventing weight loss during cancer chemotherapy. DHA is important for normal development and functioning of the brain and retina in the fetus and in infants and may also reduce the risk of premature delivery in pregnant women.