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Dr. Fuhrman’s DHA+EPA Purity

Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids from fish are known to have a variety of health benefits, but eating fish is not the healthiest method for getting these valuable fats.

There are three major omega-3 fatty acids that we get from our diets. Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is a short-chain omega-3 found in flaxseeds, hemp seeds, walnuts, and other plant foods. ALA is an essential fatty acid – this means that the human body cannot synthesize it. When we take in ALA from plant foods, the body can elongate it into long-chain omega-3s: docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), most commonly obtained by eating fish, whose tissues accumulate these fatty acids from algae or algae-consuming marine life. EPA and DHA are important for human health, especially our brain. Insufficiency of these valuable fats can cause a multitude of health issues.

Health benefits associated with DHA and/or EPA adequacy/supplementation

For vegetarians and vegans, are omega-3 supplements necessary? Or are walnuts and flaxseed enough?
EPA and DHA are considered “conditionally essential” fatty acids; even though the body is capable of making them from ALA (the “parent” omega-3 fatty acid), they may be essential under some conditions because of inefficient conversion from ALA or insufficient ALA intake.¹ Conversion of ALA to EPA and DHA varies based on dietary omega-6 to omega-3 ratio, other dietary fats, alcohol consumption, gender, age and individual genetic differences.^2,3 On average, less than 4% of ALA is converted to DHA in men and approximately 9% in women; less than 8% of ALA is converted to EPA in men and up to 21% may be converted in women. Much of the ALA we take in from our diet is burned for energy, not converted to EPA and DHA.⁴ Because only ALA, not pre-formed DHA and EPA, is present in plant foods, vegans commonly have lower circulating levels of DHA than non-vegans.^3,5,6 Unless eating lots of fatty fish, the typical modern diet is low in pre-formed EPA and DHA for omnivores, vegetarians, and vegans alike. Most people eat a diet rich in omega-6 fats, but deficient in omega-3s. Many vegetarians who consume sufficient flax, hemp, chia, walnuts, and greens as a source of ALA may manufacture sufficient long-chain omega-3s on their own. However, even with an ideal diet, conversion efficiency may not be sufficient for many people to achieve optimal long-chain omega-3 status, especially for DHA.

One small study has suggested that vegans may have greater conversion efficiency than fish-eaters.⁷ However, the number of vegan participants was too small to come to any conclusions. Vegan diets generally have a high ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids, which inhibits conversion; a ratio of 2:1 to 4:1 is thought to result in adequate conversion, but vegetarian and vegan diets typically range between 10:1 and 20:1 (typical omnivorous diets are approximately 10:1), indicating that conversion is likely not optimal. The low long-chain omega-3 blood levels found in vegans also indicate that conversion from ALA may not produce sufficient EPA and DHA to achieve their health benefits.³ It is often the case that consuming more ALA does not guarantee sufficient DHA. For example, ALA supplementation of 2 grams/day (Adequate Intake of ALA recommended by the Institute of Medicine is 1.1 grams/day for women and 1.6 grams/day for men) was shown to produce only a very slight increase in long-chain omega-3 blood levels.⁸ I have found similarly when testing fatty acid levels in my patients that deficiencies of these fatty acids frequently exist, even in those who eat excellent diets with plenty of ALA-rich foods.

As of yet, there is no data in the scientific literature investigating whether EPA and DHA supplementation specifically in vegetarians or vegans reduces disease risk similarly to the general population.⁹ However, at least two studies in vegetarians has shown that DHA supplementation improves serum lipids; triglycerides were reduced in both studies, and one study also saw a decrease in the total:HDL cholesterol ratio and the LDL:HDL ratio. These results indicate that adding pre-formed EPA and DHA to a high-nutrient vegetarian or vegan diet would likely enhance the cardiovascular and other health benefits of the diet itself.^10,11

With so many fish oils and vegetarian long-chain omega-3 supplements on the market, what makes Dr. Fuhrman’s DHA+EPA Purity unique?

New formula now contains EPA in addition to DHA
DHA is certainly the most important omega-3 fatty acid to supplement, because conversion of ALA to DHA is much lower than that of EPA. However, EPA has vital functions as well, and adding a small amount in a supplement helps to assure adequacy. EPA is an important precursor to eicosanoids, molecules that regulate the inflammatory response. EPA’s anti-inflammatory effects have allowed it to be used therapeutically (at higher doses) for inflammatory diseases and depression.^13,14

Up until recently, vegan sources of EPA were unavailable, but since that has now changed, we can now make available a comprehensive algae-derived vegan long-chain omega-3 supplement, similar in composition to the fish oils that have been studied extensively.

Why take algae-derived supplements instead of fish or fish oil?
Fish is an unfavorable source of DHA and EPA because most fatty fish contain harmful pollutants, such as dioxin and mercury. People also report difficulty digesting fish oils because of the fishy taste and foul odor. The bad taste, indigestion, and burping from these oils do not feel healthy. Purified fish oils are an option, but our oceans are in crisis. The claims about fish benefiting heart health have increased the demand for both fish and fish oils, and this demand cannot be met by the world's current supply. In 2003, it was estimated that the world’s large predatory fish populations had declined 90% since the 1950s. ¹⁵ Farmed fish are also problematic – they are fed a diet of smaller, wild fish, driving wild fish stocks down and adding chemicals and pollutants to local waters.¹⁶ Algae-based DHA+EPA Purity is a more sustainable option, and it is free of the environmental pollutants that accumulate in the fatty tissues of fish.

Since EPA and DHA have so many crucial functions and health benefits, it is imperative to maintain adequate levels of these fatty acids.

More about the health benefits of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids

Algae derived DHA was found in recent studies to increase the HDL/LDL ratio and decrease the total cholesterol/HDL ratio as well as lower triglycerides.⁵ DHA also increases the elasticity of the blood vessels and reduces total vascular resistance resulting in a lower pulse pressure that has significant effects at lessening the occurrence of cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and strokes.⁶ It also has an anti-arrhythmic effect reducing the overall rate of fatal heart attacks.⁷

DHA is important for pregnant and nursing women
DHA is one of the crucial building blocks of human brain tissue. Omega-3 fatty acids are structural components of cell membranes - DHA specifically accumulates in the cell membranes of the retina, brain, and nervous system. Adequate levels of DHA throughout life are important for vision and learning.¹ The developing baby’s only source of DHA for beginning to build brain tissue is its mother’s dietary intake. Early in life, DHA is supplied via the placenta and from breast milk. During the last trimester of pregnancy and first two years of childhood, DHA is especially important for vision and brain development.¹⁷ Maintaining adequate DHA levels during pregnancy is believed to benefit the child’s cognitive development.¹⁸ Studies have shown improved intelligence scores of breast fed children whose mothers took DHA supplements during pregnancy and nursing.¹⁹ Similarly, the results of three randomized controlled trials in 2009 showed that babies given supplemental DHA in formula scored higher on a problem solving test at 9 months of age than babies given control formula.²⁰ DHA supplementation also reduces the risk of preterm birth – a factor known to be associated with compromised cognitive development in the infant and maternal depression.²¹

Since pregnant women are urged to limit fish consumption because of the potential harm from mercury contamination to the brain of the developing baby, supplemental DHA is a safe alternative.²²

Omega-3 fatty acids for prevention/treatment of ADHD
Insufficient DHA has been linked to a number of childhood cognitive and developmental disorders such as ADHD, dyslexia, and autism spectrum disorders.^23,24 Supplementation with omega-3s, especially in combination with certain omega-6 fatty acids, has been found to improve behavior and ADHD symptoms.^17,25-27

DHA for prevention of Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline
Low DHA intake and low levels of DHA in the blood are associated with age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease. DHA or DHA+EPA supplements have been found to improve learning and memory in mild cognitive impairment, but not in already established Alzheimer’s disease. The important message from these studies is that omega-3 supplements are most effective when taken preventively.^28-30 Maintaining adequate DHA stores throughout life, as well as eating a diet rich in natural plant foods, is necessary for preventing the late life occurrence of these age-related cognitive deficits.

Omega-3 fatty acids for prevention of cardiovascular disease
Fish consumption has been linked to decreased risk of death from coronary heart disease and sudden cardiac death. This decreased risk has been attributed to beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acids, and similar results have been seen with algae-based omega-3 supplements.³¹

A recent review of the literature has determined that 250 mg of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids per day is an effective dose for reducing cardiovascular risk. Intake of at least 250 mg/day was associated with a 35.1% reduced risk of sudden cardiac death and a 16.6% reduced risk of total fatal coronary events compared to intake of less than 250 mg/day.¹² Accordingly, DHA+EPA Purity contains 254 mg long-chain omega-3 fatty acids per serving.

Omega-3 fatty acids for preventing and treating depression, especially postpartum depression
Low omega-3 status may increase vulnerability to depression extraction of mothers’ DHA stores by their babies is thought to be responsible for many cases of postpartum depression. Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids can affect the metabolism of depression-related neurotransmitters (serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine), and their anti-inflammatory effects are thought to ameliorate depression symptoms as well.^17,34,35 High dose omega-3 supplements are also used to treat depression, and their therapeutic effects are due mostly to EPA rather than DHA, according to a recent meta-analysis.³⁶

Omega-3 fatty acids for preventing Parkinson’s disease
Recent scientific findings show diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids, in particular DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), have a protective effect against neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s disease. Studies in animals clearly show that supplementation of DHA can alter brain DHA concentrations and have protective effects on brain cells that can reduce the risk of Parkinson's.³⁷

Dr. Fuhrman explains: My experience over the last twenty years of counseling hundreds of vegan patients struck me with a peculiar oddity: I saw a number of male elderly vegans that developed Parkinson’s disease (males convert short chain omega-3 from greens, walnuts and flax less efficiently to DHA than do females). The striking thing was that when I drew their blood levels for DHA, they were not just deficient, but their DHA was almost non-existent. I observed a significant, severe deficiency of DHA in elderly vegan males. Most often these were men who ate a very healthy vegan diet with sufficient nuts and seeds and no junk food. This led me to think that DHA deficiency may be a contributory factor for Parkinson’s.

Animal studies support this idea. One recent study examined mice which were exposed to two diets; one group was fed a diet with DHA and other omega-3 fatty acids; while the other group was given ordinary food, lacking DHA. After a period of time they were given a dose of a chemical that causes the same damage to the brain as Parkinson's disease. The mice on the DHA diet seemed to be immune to the effects of the chemical, whereas the mice that ate ordinary food developed symptoms of the disease. DHA concentrations increased in the brains of the mice that had been given omega-3 supplementation, but concentrations of other omega-3s (ALA and EPA) were similar in both groups of mice. This result suggested that the protective effect against Parkinson's indeed came from DHA.³⁸

My experience confirms that a healthy diet (even with plenty of ALA-rich foods) simply may not be enough to sustain sufficient DHA levels to maintain brain health throughout life. This may be more important for males as they age. DHA deficiency carries dangerous risks and supplementation is the sensible choice.

Note: The EPA levels in DHA+EPA Purity may not be therapeutic for individuals with specific medical conditions such as depression or autoimmune disease. These individuals may require additional supplementation of EPA.

Note: Upon receipt of product, keep refrigerated to maintain freshness.