Now Foods DHA-500 Double Strength180 Softgels, DHA & EPA

DHA is the most influential omega-3 fatty acid in the brain (about 30% to 40% of the gray matter of the cerebral cortex and the photoreceptor cells in the retina). It is an important component of nerve cell membranes, which can maintain fluidity and neuroplasticity, regulate genes performance and nerve conduction, and activate enzymes and ion channels.

Archaeological investigations have found that DHA plays an important role in the evolution of the human brain and is the key to improving the brain-to-body mass ratio, which means improving cognitive ability, better concentration, planning and solving problem skills, more complex language, social, emotional and behavioral development.

Benefit of DHA

1. Beneficial for fetal brain development
   The good development of fetuses and children requires various nutrients, and DHA in Omega-3 fatty acids often receives special attention. Both animal and human studies have found that DHA is important for the development of the central nervous system and is the key to determining the level of cognitive, behavioral and executive abilities.
2. Reduces Preterm Birth Rates and Brain Damage
   Preterm birth is mainly defined as newborns born before 37 weeks of gestation. It is estimated that about 12 million premature babies are born every year in the world, accounting for about 9.6% of the total birth population. With the improvement of the medical environment, although the survival rate of premature infants has greatly improved, the risk of related developmental disorders (cerebral palsy, cognitive and language delay, emotional/behavioral problems) remains high, increasing the burden of relative care.
3. Prevention and adjuvant treatment of cancer
   Cancer is one of the most threatening diseases among human beings, which is comparable to cardiovascular disease. It is estimated that more than 14 million people are diagnosed with cancer every year in the world. In the United States, nearly 50% of men and 70% adult women have had cancer in their lifetime. DHA not only has the effect of inducing oxidative damage to the DNA of cancer cells, and then promotes the apoptosis of cancer cells, but also improves the sensitivity of tumor tissue to anticancer drugs and improves the therapeutic effect.
4. Prevent age-related macular degeneration
   Age-related macular degeneration is one of the main causes of blindness in western countries (the average incidence is about 8.01%). In the early stage of the disease, macular pigment abnormalities and choroidal drusen are the main causes of progressive vision loss. Taking more OMEGA-3 fatty acids (especially DHA) can help reduce the risk of early macular degeneration by 17% to 40%
5. Improve Cognitive Degeneration and Prevent Dementia
   Cognitive decline is a major feature of aging, of which memory degradation is the most distressing, second only to cardiovascular disease. According to statistics, about 22.2% (more than 5 million people) of the middle-aged and elderly population in the United States have cognitive impairment, and 12% develop dementia within one year. A follow-up study (9.1-year follow-up period, the subjects were elderly people without dementia, average age 76 years), the group with the highest blood DHA concentration was able to reduce the incidence of all-cause dementia by 47%
6. Anti-inflammatory
   Inflammation is a complex series of mechanisms that the body uses to repair tissue and restore physiological balance in response to cellular damage caused by trauma or infection. If the tissue is not fully repaired or the cause of inflammation is not ruled out, chronic inflammation develops and is an important factor in Alzheimer’s disease, atherosclerosis, diabetes and cancer. Compared with EPA, DHA has superior anti-inflammatory effect (can reduce interleukin 18 and 16, C-type reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α)).

Possible Side Effects

Moderate use of DHA products is very safe for most people, but side effects such as loose stools, upset stomach, hiccups, and nausea have been reported, which can be reduced when taken with meals. In addition, DHA products often contain EPA. EPA has the effect of reducing blood viscosity and thinning blood (blood-thinning). Excessive or long-term use may reduce coagulation function and increase the risk of bleeding.