Do you know the difference between EPA and DHA omega 3 in a fish oil supplement? This article discusses the main differences between the two and explains why you should look for more of one than the other in a quality supplement.
What's the Difference Between EPA and DHA?
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DHA omega-3 is without a doubt the most complex and beneficial fatty acid as far as the human body is concerned. It's a 22 carbon chain bond with six double bonds.
This type of omega-3 is essential for the growth and functional development of infants. Babies constantly collect DHA omega-3 in their brain for the first years of their life.
It's also required for maintenance of normal brain function in adults and is needed in high concentrations for providing optimal mental performance (cognitive and neurological function, learning ability, memory, focus, etc.).
EPA omega-3 is another important essential fatty acid, although not near as important is DHA is. EPA has 20 carbon chain bonds with 5 double bonds.
Although found in trace amounts in the brain, EPA does help improve brain function and health by maintaining a healthy blood flow and influencing hormones and the immune system. They are also important for infants, as they help in the development of the cardiac and circulatory systems.
The main difference between EPA and DHA is the benefits we get from each. DHA without a doubt provides the most benefits for brain, heart, and body health. But there's another reason you want more DHA than EPA in a fish oil supplement.
Another difference between EPA and DHA is the availability and conversion efficiency of each. Because you have to add two carbon bonds to EPA to make DHA, it's difficult for the body to convert it. On the other hand, all you have to do is remove 2 carbon bonds from DHA to make EPA, which is much easier.
So when you look at it that way, more DHA omega-3 is preferable because:
1) you use more of it than EPA and
2) it can be easily converted into any kind of omega-3 fatty acid.
When looking for the ideal fish oil supplement, make sure that it contains at least 250 mg of DHA and 100 mg of EPA. This way, you only have to take 2 capsules a day in order to reach the daily recommended amount of DHA/EPA (combined) of at least 650 mg.
There are some other things you should look for in a quality fish oil supplement as well. Knowing these things now could save you a lot of time and money as oppose to learning them through trial-and-error like I did.