Aliases: Fish oil, EPA + DHA, omega3, omega-3-epa-dha, fish oil, epa, dha
Pharmacological Mechanism
Long-chain ω-3 PUFAs. Incorporate into phospholipid membranes → altered fluidity + eicosanoid precursor shift away from arachidonic acid. EPA → resolvins E-series; DHA → protectins + resolvins D-series (pro-resolution lipid mediators). REDUCE-IT trial 2019 demonstrated CV event reduction with 4 g/day EPA ethyl ester; mixed-EPA-DHA trials have been less consistently positive.
Half-Life (t½)
PO: 46h
Dosing Guidelines
PO: Typical 1.67 g (Range: 1–3 g)
Target Organ Systems
cardiovascular
Interactions
Alpha-Linolenic Acid (synergistic): ALA is upstream dietary ω-3; direct EPA/DHA from fish is more potent per gram.
Arachidonic Acid (caution): EPA and DHA compete with ARA for incorporation at the sn-2 position of phospholipids; co-supplementation blunts ARA's eicosanoid-substrate role.
Docosapentaenoic Acid (n-3) (synergistic): n-3 DPA retroconverts to EPA and is a parallel resolvin/protectin substrate.