DHA and EPA supplements carry different anti-inflammatory health functions

09 Dec 2020 --- US researchers have uncovered key differences in two omega 3 fatty acids’ functions. The findings suggest docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) each play separate roles in regulating the immune system.

Both long-chain fatty acids have long been believed to reduce inflammation and lower heart disease risks.

However, the study from Tufts University revealed four central differences between EPA and DHA’s anti-inflammatory properties:

• DHA lowered the genetic expression of four types of proinflammatory proteins, whereas EPA lowered only one type.
• DHA lowered white blood cell secretion of three proinflammatory proteins, whereas EPA lowered only one type.
• DHA reduced levels of an anti-inflammatory protein, whereas EPA did not.
• EPA improved the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory proteins by producing by-products associated with immune regulation, which work differently from those derived from DHA. 

DHA was found to have more profound anti-inflammatory properties than EPA. These results have important implications for the use of supplements in combating specific health issues, say the study authors. 

“The jury has been out, so to speak, on how the two major components of fish oil work – and whether one might be better than the other,” says Stefania Lamon-Fava, a researcher at the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNCRA).

“These results suggest that DHA is the more powerful of the two on markers of inflammation in the body – but that’s not the end of the story.”

“In our bodies, there is always this balance between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory proteins, and we found EPA was better than DHA at enhancing that balance,” explains Jisun So, another HNCRA researcher.   

“For the prevention of cardiovascular disease, previous research tells us that balance is essential.”

Testing supplementation 
The double blind study gave nine men and 12 postmenopausal women with obesity and chronic inflammation either DHA or EPA supplements.

There was first a four-week lead-in phase, during which participants were given non-omega 3 supplements as placebos to create a basis for comparison. 

There then followed two ten-week phases during which either DHA or EPA supplements were prescribed. Knowing the different functions of DHA and EPA could help in supplement applications.

Participants took 3 g doses of either per day. There was then a ten-week washout phase between supplement periods. 

The results were published in Atherosclerosis. 

Room for innovation 
The discovery could have important consequences for industry supplement innovations and marketing.  

Last year, health experts warned omega 3 supplements can have varying effects on different consumers and should not be considered a panacea for inflammation problems. 

Industry also fired back at a range of studies this year that casted doubt over the effectiveness of omega 3’s impact on cardiovascular health. Some experts claim the link between the supplement and improved heart health is weak. 

The findings at Tufts University may strengthen claims behind DHA blends, for example, targeted at preventing obesity in children. 

Edited  

By Louis Gore-Langton