Research

DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid)

61 peer-reviewed studies curated from PubMed and Semantic Scholar.

8
Meta-analyses
1
Systematic reviews
47
RCTs
5
Other studies
Meta-analyses (13%)
Systematic reviews (2%)
RCTs (77%)
Observational (2%)

Studies

Sorted by quality and recency

2025·Developmental psychobiology·John Colombo, D Jill Shaddy, Nicole Mathis, et al

Effects of Prenatal DHA Dose on Infant Visual Attention.

RCTn = 215Brain Health

This study assessed the effects of different doses of prenatal DHA supplementation (200 or 800 mg daily) on infant visual attention at 4 and 6 months. Infants of mothers supplemented with 800 mg/day of DHA showed shorter look durations during habituation, indicating more rapid visual learning, and a more mature pattern of HR-defined phases of attention. No effects were observed on infant HR or performance in the gap-overlap attention task.

PubMedRead on PubMed
2025·Archives of disease in childhood. Fetal and neonatal edition·Dan Dang, Zhongyu Gao, Chuan Zhang, et al

Effect of enteral supplementation of DHA with or without ARA in preterm infants: a meta-analysis.

Meta-analysis

Meta-analysis assessing the effects of enteral DHA supplementation with or without ARA on morbidities in preterm infants. The study found an increased risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) with DHA supplementation, but no significant effects on other major complications.

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2024·Neuropsychopharmacology reports·Ernesto Calderon Martinez, Stephin Zachariah Saji, Jonathan Victor Salazar Ore, et al

The effects of omega-3, DHA, EPA, Souvenaid® in Alzheimer's disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Meta-analysisn = 2,766Brain Health

Systematic review and meta-analysis of 14 studies with 2766 subjects on the effects of n-3-PUFA, EPA, DHA, and Souvenaid in Alzheimer's disease patients. Most studies reported positive cognitive outcomes, but Souvenaid showed a significant negative effect on ventricular volumes. No significant differences were found in ADCS-ADL, MMSE, ADAS-cog, adverse events, and ventricular volume.

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2023·The American journal of clinical nutrition·Belal N Alshaikh, Adriana Reyes Loredo, Kamran Yusuf, et al

Enteral long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and necrotizing enterocolitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Meta-analysisn = 3,963Nutrition

Systematic review and meta-analysis of 15 RCTs involving 3963 very preterm infants to assess the effect of DHA supplementation, with and without ARA, on necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). DHA alone increased NEC risk, while concurrent ARA supplementation reduced it. High-dose DHA to lactating mothers also increased NEC risk.

PubMedRead on PubMed
2023·Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland)·Yu Wang, Byron J Gajewski, Christina J Valentine, et al

DHA, nutrient intake, and maternal characteristics as predictors of pregnancy outcomes in a randomised clinical trial of DHA supplementation.

RCTn = 1,100Womens Health

Phase III RCT investigating the effect of DHA supplementation (1000 mg/day vs 200 mg/day) on pregnancy outcomes in 1100 participants. DHA supplementation lowered the risk of preterm birth and NICU admission, increased gestation and birth weight, but was associated with a higher risk of gestational diabetes.

PubMedRead on PubMed
2023·The journal of prevention of Alzheimer's disease·H N Yassine, I C Arellanes, A Mazmanian, et al

Baseline Findings of PreventE4: A Double-Blind Placebo Controlled Clinical Trial Testing High Dose DHA in APOE4 Carriers before the Onset of Dementia.

RCTn = 365Brain Health

PreventE4 is a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial testing high dose DHA supplementation in 365 cognitively unimpaired individuals with APOE4 allele and dementia risk factors. The study aims to assess DHA's effect on brain imaging biomarkers and cognitive function over 2 years.

PubMedRead on PubMed
2023·The Journal of nutrition·Danielle N Christifano, Lynn Chollet-Hinton, Nicole B Mathis, et al

DHA Supplementation During Pregnancy Enhances Maternal Vagally Mediated Cardiac Autonomic Control in Humans.

RCTn = 300Heart Health

RCT examining the effects of DHA supplementation on maternal heart rate and heart rate variability in pregnant women. Women receiving 800 mg/d DHA had lower heart rate, lower sympathetic index, higher vagally mediated HRV indices, and greater HRV complexity compared to those receiving 200 mg/d.

PubMedRead on PubMed
2022·The American journal of clinical nutrition·Kevin Stephenson, Meghan Callaghan-Gillespie, Kenneth Maleta, et al

Low linoleic acid foods with added DHA given to Malawian children with severe acute malnutrition improve cognition: a randomized, triple-blinded, controlled clinical trial.

RCTn = 2,565Brain Health

A randomized, triple-blinded, controlled clinical trial in Malawian children with severe acute malnutrition tested RUTF with reduced linoleic acid and added DHA. The DHA-HO-RUTF group showed improved MDAT scores, indicating cognitive benefits 6 months post-therapy, compared to standard RUTF.

PubMedRead on PubMed
2022·Pediatrics·Mireille Guillot, Anne Synnes, Etienne Pronovost, et al

Maternal High-Dose DHA Supplementation and Neurodevelopment at 18-22 Months of Preterm Children.

RCTn = 528Brain Health

RCT assessing the effect of maternal high-dose DHA supplementation on neurodevelopmental outcomes in breastfed, very preterm neonates. No overall improvement was found at 18 to 22 months' corrected age, but a potential benefit for language was observed in neonates born before 27 weeks' gestation.

PubMedRead on PubMed
2022·Nutricion hospitalaria·Xiang-Tian Meng, Yun-Yue Shi, Zhou Hong-Yan

Dietary omega-3 LCPUFA intake in the prevention of neovascular age-related macular degeneration: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Meta-analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the protective effect of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) on the progression of wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD). The analysis included 5 observational trials and found that high dietary intake of omega-3 LCPUFAs, particularly DHA and EPA, is associated with a lower risk of progression to advanced AMD.

PubMedRead on PubMed
2021·Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland)·Ines Gonzalez Casanova, Meriah Schoen, Sonia Tandon, et al

Maternal FADS2 single nucleotide polymorphism modified the impact of prenatal docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation on child neurodevelopment at 5 years: Follow-up of a randomized clinical trial.

RCTn = 622Brain Health

Post-hoc interaction analysis of the POSGRAD RCT assessing the impact of prenatal DHA supplementation on child neurodevelopment at 5 years. The study found that maternal FADS2 SNP rs174602 modified the effect of DHA, with higher cognitive scores observed in children of TT homozygotes in the intervention group.

PubMedRead on PubMed
2021·Nutrients·Jacqueline F Gould, Peter J Anderson, Lisa N Yelland, et al

The Influence of Prenatal DHA Supplementation on Individual Domains of Behavioral Functioning in School-Aged Children: Follow-Up of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

RCTn = 543Brain Health

Multicenter, double-blind RCT of prenatal DHA supplementation in women with singleton pregnancies, assessing child behavior at age seven. The DHA group showed worse scores on various behavioral and executive function scales compared to placebo, suggesting no advantage and potential adverse effects on childhood behavior.

PubMedRead on PubMed
2021·Nutrition reviews·A Lehner, K Staub, L Aldakak, et al

Impact of omega-3 fatty acid DHA and EPA supplementation in pregnant or breast-feeding women on cognitive performance of children: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Meta-analysisBrain Health -

Systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 trials on DHA and EPA supplementation in pregnant or breastfeeding women and its impact on children's cognitive performance. No significant association was found between supplementation and cognitive outcomes or birth weight.

PubMedRead on PubMed
2017·European journal of clinical nutrition·Khemayanto Hidayat, Jing Yang, Zheng Zhang, et al

Effect of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on heart rate: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Meta-analysisn = 3,000Heart Health

Meta-analysis of 51 RCTs with approximately 3000 participants examining the effect of omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on heart rate. The analysis found that DHA supplementation significantly reduced heart rate, while EPA did not.

PubMedRead on PubMed
2026·Journal of tropical pediatrics·Taciana Maia de Sousa, Cláudia Siewerdt de Oliveira Cotting, Leydiane Andrade Ferreira, et al

Effect of high-docosahexaenoic acid omega-3 supplementation in low-risk pregnant women on maternal and neonatal health outcomes in Southeast Brazil: a randomized clinical trial.

RCTn = 60

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted among low-risk pregnant women to evaluate the effects of high-DHA omega-3 supplementation on maternal and neonatal health outcomes. The study found no significant differences in maternal and neonatal health outcomes between the omega-3 and control groups.

PubMedRead on PubMed
2024·BMC pediatrics·E Janson, P C M P Koolschijn, L Schipper, et al

Dolphin CONTINUE: a multi-center randomized controlled trial to assess the effect of a nutritional intervention on brain development and long-term outcome in infants born before 30 weeks of gestation.

RCTn = 130Brain Health

This multi-center RCT assesses the effect of a nutritional intervention containing DHA, choline, and UMP on brain development and neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants born before 30 weeks of gestation. The primary outcome is white matter integrity at three months corrected age, with secondary outcomes including brain development metrics and developmental assessments at 12 and 24 months corrected age.

PubMedRead on PubMed
2023·Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland)·Lourdes Barbosa-Cortés, Ximena Martínez-Vieyra, Juan Manuel Mejía-Aranguré, et al

Pilot study on the effect of supplementation with long-chain ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on body composition in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: randomized clinical trial.

RCTn = 72Physique

This randomized controlled trial studied the effect of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (DHA and EPA) supplementation on body composition in 72 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The study found that DHA and EPA supplementation decreased lean body mass loss compared to placebo and increased DHA and EPA concentrations in erythrocytes.

PubMedRead on PubMed
2023·Lipids·Amber B Courville, Sharon Majchrzak-Hong, Shanna Yang, et al

Dietary linoleic acid lowering alone does not lower arachidonic acid or endocannabinoids among women with overweight and obesity: A randomized, controlled trial.

RCTn = 62

RCT examining the effects of dietary linoleic acid (LA) reduction, with and without omega-3 EPA and DHA, on plasma fatty acids and endocannabinoids in 62 pre-menopausal women with overweight and obesity. Lowering dietary LA did not result in expected changes in fatty acids associated with the LA-ARA inflammatory axis.

PubMedRead on PubMed
2022·Nutrients·Yue Yang, Genyuan Li, Fang Li, et al

Impact of DHA from Algal Oil on the Breast Milk DHA Levels of Lactating Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial in China.

RCTn = 137Nutrition

RCT in China with 137 lactating women comparing DHA supplementation from algal oil to placebo over 8 weeks. DHA concentrations in breast milk increased significantly in the supplement group compared to the control group. Dietary patterns influenced the intervention effect, with cereal and bean-based diets showing less improvement.

PubMedRead on PubMed
2022·Foods·Phakkharawat Sittiprapaporn, A. Bumrungpert, Prayoon Suyajai, et al

Effectiveness of Fish Oil-DHA Supplementation for Cognitive Function in Thai Children: A Randomized, Doubled-Blind, Two-Dose, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

RCTn = 120Brain Health

RCT of 120 healthy Thai children aged 6-12 years comparing low dose (260 mg DHA) and high dose (520 mg DHA) fish oil supplementation to placebo over 12 weeks. No significant differences in cognitive test performance were observed, but ERP measurements showed increased amplitude, indicating improved attention and cognitive processing ability.

Semantic ScholarRead on Semantic Scholar
2021·The Journal of nutrition·Sonia Tandon, Ines Gonzalez-Casanova, Albino Barraza-Villarreal, et al

Infant Metabolome in Relation to Prenatal DHA Supplementation and Maternal Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism rs174602: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial in Mexico.

RCTn = 112

Secondary analysis of a double-blind RCT in Mexico investigating the effect of prenatal DHA supplementation on the infant metabolome at 3 months, considering maternal FADS SNP rs174602. No differences in metabolic features were found between DHA and placebo groups overall, but significant interactions were observed based on maternal SNP status, affecting amino acid, aminosugars, fatty acid, tricarboxylic acid cycle, and galactose metabolism pathways.

PubMedRead on PubMed
2021·The Journal of nutrition·Melissa Gabbs, Peter Zahradka, Carla G Taylor, et al

Time Course and Sex Effects of α-Linolenic Acid-Rich and DHA-Rich Supplements on Human Plasma Oxylipins: A Randomized Double-Blind Crossover Trial.

RCT

Randomized double-blind crossover trial comparing the effects of ALA-rich and DHA-rich supplements on plasma oxylipins in healthy adults. DHA supplementation tripled DHA and its oxylipins, with effects detected as early as day 1 and a plateau reached by days 5-7. ALA supplementation doubled ALA concentrations but had no effects on ALA oxylipins after 28 days. Sex differences were observed in the response to DHA supplementation.

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2020·The American journal of clinical nutrition·G. Eslamian, N. Amirjannati, N. Noori, et al

Effects of coadministration of DHA and vitamin E on spermatogram, seminal oxidative stress, and sperm phospholipids in asthenozoospermic men: a randomized controlled trial.

RCTn = 180Sexual Health

RCT in asthenozoospermic men comparing DHA and vitamin E supplementation to placebo. The DE group showed increased sperm motility, count, and concentration compared to other groups, but no significant changes in sperm morphology and vitality.

Semantic ScholarRead on Semantic Scholar
2019·The American journal of clinical nutrition·John Colombo, D Jill Shaddy, Kathleen Gustafson, et al

The Kansas University DHA Outcomes Study (KUDOS) clinical trial: long-term behavioral follow-up of the effects of prenatal DHA supplementation.

RCTn = 200Brain Health

This study is a long-term follow-up of a randomized double-blind clinical trial evaluating prenatal DHA supplementation. While prenatal DHA reduced early preterm birth and improved visual attention in infancy, few long-term cognitive and behavioral benefits were observed. Increases in maternal blood DHA were initially related to higher IQ scores, but these effects were confounded by socioeconomic status.

PubMedRead on PubMed
2018·Journal of dietary supplements·Banafshe Hosseini, Mahdieh Nourmohamadi, Shima Hajipour, et al

The Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acids, EPA, and/or DHA on Male Infertility: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Meta-analysisn = 147Sexual Health

Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials evaluating the effect of DHA and EPA on sperm parameters in infertile men. Omega-3 treatments significantly increased sperm motility and seminal DHA concentration, but did not affect sperm concentration or sperm DHA.

PubMedRead on PubMed
2018·Critical reviews in food science and nutrition·Samaneh Ghasemi Fard, Fenglei Wang, Andrew J Sinclair, et al

How does high DHA fish oil affect health? A systematic review of evidence.

Systematic reviewHeart Health Brain Health Inflammation Immunity

This systematic review examines the effects of high DHA fish oils on human health, focusing on heart and cardiovascular health, brain and visual function, inflammation, immune function, and growth/BMI. The review finds DHA to be beneficial for heart and brain function, with some evidence supporting its role in slowing cognitive decline. The effects on depression and other conditions are less clear, with some gender- and age-specific differences noted.

PubMedRead on PubMed
2017·Prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and essential fatty acids·K Wood, E Mantzioris, B Lingwood, et al

The effect of maternal DHA supplementation on body fat mass in children at 7 years: follow-up of the DOMInO randomized controlled trial.

RCTn = 252Physique -

Follow-up study of the DOMInO randomized controlled trial assessing the effect of maternal DHA supplementation on body fat mass in children at 7 years. No differences were found between the DHA and placebo groups in percentage body fat, BMI, or other growth measures.

PubMedRead on PubMed
2017·Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD·Yan-Ping Zhang, Rujuan Miao, Qing Li, et al

Effects of DHA Supplementation on Hippocampal Volume and Cognitive Function in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A 12-Month Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

RCTn = 240Brain Health Mental Clarity

RCT of 240 older adults with mild cognitive impairment comparing 12-month DHA supplementation (2g/day) to placebo. DHA group showed significant improvements in cognitive function and reduced hippocampal atrophy compared to placebo.

PubMedRead on PubMed
2013·The American journal of clinical nutrition·Susan E Carlson, John Colombo, Byron J Gajewski, et al

DHA supplementation and pregnancy outcomes.

RCTn = 350Womens Health Nutrition

This phase III, double-blind, randomized controlled trial tested 600 mg/d DHA supplementation in 350 pregnant women from <20 weeks of gestation to birth. DHA supplementation resulted in higher maternal and cord RBC-phospholipid-DHA, longer gestation duration, and greater birth weight, length, and head circumference compared to placebo. Fewer infants were born at <34 weeks of gestation, and shorter hospital stays for preterm infants were observed. No safety concerns were identified.

PubMedRead on PubMed
2013·Nutrition research (New York, N.Y.)·Szimonetta Lohner, Katalin Fekete, Tamás Decsi

Lower n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid values in patients with phenylketonuria: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Meta-analysisNutrition

Systematic review and meta-analysis assessing LCPUFA levels in PKU patients on low-protein diets. Found significantly lower levels of eicosapentaenoic acid and DHA in PKU patients compared to controls. DHA supplementation significantly increased DHA levels in plasma lipids of PKU patients.

PubMedRead on PubMed
2023·Nutrients·Ayu Kasamatsu, Hiroshi Tachimoto, Mitsuyoshi Urashima

Impact of Maternal Fish Consumption on Serum Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) Levels in Breastfed Infants: A Cross-Sectional Study of a Randomized Clinical Trial in Japan.

Cross-sectionaln = 268Brain Health

Cross-sectional study of 268 infants in Japan examining the impact of maternal fish consumption on serum DHA levels. Significant positive associations were found between maternal consumption of 'Blue-back fish' and 'White fish' and higher serum DHA levels in infants. Predominantly breastfed infants had higher serum DHA levels than those fed more cow's milk formula.

PubMedRead on PubMed
2020·Clinical nutrition ESPEN·Mar Ruperto, Nuria Rodríguez-Mendiola, Martha Díaz-Domínguez, et al

Effect of oral administration of docohexanoic acid on anemia and inflammation in hemodialysis patients: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

RCTn = 42Inflammation Nutrition

RCT of 42 hemodialysis patients assessing the effect of DHA supplementation on anemia and inflammation. DHA significantly decreased EPO doses, erythropoiesis-resistance index, total homocysteine, and levels of miR-146a, enhancing anemia management and attenuating inflammation.

PubMedRead on PubMed
2019·BMC pregnancy and childbirth·Joey A England, Joses Jain, Bradley D Holbrook, et al

Effect of prenatal EPA and DHA on maternal and cord blood insulin sensitivity: a secondary analysis of the mothers, omega 3, and mental health study.

RCTn = 126Nutrition -

This study analyzed the effect of prenatal supplementation with EPA and DHA on insulin sensitivity markers in maternal and cord blood. The RCT involved 126 pregnant women receiving either EPA-rich, DHA-rich fish oil, or a soy oil placebo. Results showed no effect on plasma markers of insulin sensitivity, although maternal serum DHA fraction was associated with increased markers of insulin sensitivity.

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2019·The American journal of clinical nutrition·Shannon L Klingel, Adam H Metherel, Maha Irfan, et al

EPA and DHA have divergent effects on serum triglycerides and lipogenesis, but similar effects on lipoprotein lipase activity: a randomized controlled trial.

RCTn = 89

RCT comparing the effects of EPA and DHA supplementation on serum triglycerides, lipogenesis, and lipoprotein lipase activity in 89 young, healthy normolipidemic men and women. DHA reduced blood triglycerides and increased LPL activity, while EPA increased the lipogenic index without changing triglyceride levels.

PubMedRead on PubMed
2019·The American journal of clinical nutrition·Adam H Metherel, Maha Irfan, Shannon L Klingel, et al

Compound-specific isotope analysis reveals no retroconversion of DHA to EPA but substantial conversion of EPA to DHA following supplementation: a randomized control trial.

RCT

RCT assessing n-3 PUFA metabolism following DHA or EPA supplementation in humans. DHA supplementation increased plasma EPA concentrations without retroconversion, while EPA supplementation increased plasma DHA concentrations, indicating conversion of EPA to DHA.

PubMedRead on PubMed
2018·The American journal of clinical nutrition·Brandon H Hidaka, Jocelynn M Thodosoff, Elizabeth H Kerling, et al

Intrauterine DHA exposure and child body composition at 5 y: exploratory analysis of a randomized controlled trial of prenatal DHA supplementation.

RCTn = 154Nutrition

This study explored the associations between intrauterine DHA exposure and body composition at 5 years in children whose mothers participated in a randomized trial of prenatal DHA supplementation. Change in maternal DHA status during pregnancy was related to higher offspring fat-free mass at 5 years, although other indicators showed non-significant trends.

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2018·The British journal of nutrition·Kelly A Mulder, Rajavel Elango, Sheila M Innis

Fetal DHA inadequacy and the impact on child neurodevelopment: a follow-up of a randomised trial of maternal DHA supplementation in pregnancy.

RCTn = 98Brain Health

Follow-up study of children aged 5-6 whose mothers received 400 mg/d DHA or placebo during pregnancy. No significant differences were found in high neurodevelopment test scores between groups, but maternal DHA status was positively related to child performance on some tests, including language and short-term memory. The study suggests a relationship between maternal and child DHA intake and status.

PubMedRead on PubMed
2017·BMC pregnancy and childbirth·Susan E Carlson, Byron J Gajewski, Christina J Valentine, et al

Assessment of DHA on reducing early preterm birth: the ADORE randomized controlled trial protocol.

RCTWomens Health

This is a protocol for a Phase III randomized controlled trial to assess the efficacy and safety of high dose DHA supplementation in reducing early preterm birth (ePTB) in pregnant women. The trial will recruit between 900 and 1200 pregnant women, randomly assigning them to receive either high dose DHA or a control. The study aims to determine if DHA can decrease the frequency of ePTB <34 weeks.

PubMedRead on PubMed
2017·Nutrients·Byron A Foster, Elia Escaname, Theresa L Powell, et al

Randomized Controlled Trial of DHA Supplementation during Pregnancy: Child Adiposity Outcomes.

RCTNutrition

Long-term follow-up of a randomized trial assessing DHA supplementation at 800 mg/day during pregnancy in obese mothers. While no significant differences in offspring adiposity were noted at birth, two or four years, DHA levels at 36 weeks gestation were associated with body mass index z-score.

PubMedRead on PubMed
2016·Nutrients·Philippa A Jackson, Joanne S Forster, J Gordon Bell, et al

DHA Supplementation Alone or in Combination with Other Nutrients Does not Modulate Cerebral Hemodynamics or Cognitive Function in Healthy Older Adults.

RCTn = 86Brain Health -

RCT of 86 healthy older adults aged 50-70 years assessing the effects of DHA supplementation alone or in combination with other nutrients on cerebral hemodynamics and cognitive function. No significant effects were found on NIRS measures or cognitive performance tasks.

PubMedRead on PubMed
2016·Pediatric research·John Colombo, Kathleen M Gustafson, Byron J Gajewski, et al

Prenatal DHA supplementation and infant attention.

RCTBrain Health

RCT of prenatal DHA supplementation (600 mg/d) during the last two trimesters of pregnancy. Infants of supplemented mothers maintained high levels of sustained attention across the first year, while the placebo group showed a decline. The supplemented group also had reduced attrition on habituation tasks.

PubMedRead on PubMed
2015·World journal of gastroenterology·Yun-Hua Li, Lu-Hua Yang, Kai-Hui Sha, et al

Efficacy of poly-unsaturated fatty acid therapy on patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

RCTn = 78Inflammation

RCT of 78 patients with NASH comparing PUFA therapy to control. PUFA group showed significant reductions in liver enzymes, lipid profiles, inflammation markers, and histological improvements, suggesting PUFA as a potential approach for NASH prevention and reversal.

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2014·Prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and essential fatty acids·Kevin C Maki, Karin Yurko-Mauro, Mary R Dicklin, et al

A new, microalgal DHA- and EPA-containing oil lowers triacylglycerols in adults with mild-to-moderate hypertriglyceridemia.

RCTn = 93Heart Health

In a double-blind, parallel trial, 93 adults with hypertriglyceridemia were randomized to receive either a microalgal oil containing DHA and EPA, fish oil, or a corn/soy oil control for 14 weeks. Both DHA-O and fish oil significantly lowered triacylglycerol levels compared to the control, with no significant difference between DHA-O and fish oil.

PubMedRead on PubMed
2012·Early human development·James R Drover, Joost Felius, Dennis R Hoffman, et al

A randomized trial of DHA intake during infancy: school readiness and receptive vocabulary at 2-3.5 years of age.

RCTn = 131Brain Health -

RCT investigating the effects of different dietary concentrations of DHA in infant formula on language development and school readiness. No significant differences were found in school readiness or language development, with lower receptive vocabulary scores observed in some DHA groups at 2 years but not at 3.5 years.

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2011·Mediators of inflammation·Esther Granot, Einat Jakobovich, Ruth Rabinowitz, et al

DHA supplementation during pregnancy and lactation affects infants' cellular but not humoral immune response.

RCTn = 60Immunity

RCT of 60 pregnant women, with 30 receiving 400mg DHA/day from the 12th week of gestation until 4 months postpartum. Infants of mothers receiving DHA showed higher percentages of CD4 naive cells and decreased CD4 and CD8 IFN(γ) production, indicating an attenuation of a proinflammatory response. No differences in immunoglobulins and anti-HBs levels were observed.

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2000·Developmental medicine and child neurology·E E Birch, S Garfield, D R Hoffman, et al

A randomized controlled trial of early dietary supply of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and mental development in term infants.

RCTn = 56Brain Health

RCT evaluating the effects of dietary DHA and DHA+AA supplementation in infant formula on cognitive development in term infants. DHA+AA supplementation was associated with a mean increase of 7 points on the Mental Development Index, indicating a developmental advantage over the control group.

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2019·European journal of nutrition·Wolfgang Bernhard, Katrin Böckmann, Christoph Maas, et al

Combined choline and DHA supplementation: a randomized controlled trial.

RCTn = 24Nutrition

RCT evaluating combined choline and DHA supplementation in 24 preterm infants. Choline supplementation increased plasma choline to near-fetal concentrations and improved DHA homeostasis. Combined treatment enhanced DHA-PC levels more than DHA alone.

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2017·Developmental medicine and child neurology·Morag J Andrew, Jeremy R Parr, Christine Montague-Johnson, et al

Nutritional intervention and neurodevelopmental outcome in infants with suspected cerebral palsy: the Dolphin infant double-blind randomized controlled trial.

RCTn = 40Brain Health -

This double-blind randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of DHA, choline, and UMP supplementation on neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants with suspected cerebral palsy. Forty infants were recruited, with 29 completing 1 to 2 years of supplementation. No statistically significant differences in neurodevelopmental outcomes were found between the treatment and comparison groups, though cognitive and language advantages were of clinically meaningful magnitude.

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2017·The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness·Jennifer A Bunn, Andrew Crossley, Morgan D Timiney

Acute ingestion of neuromuscular enhancement supplements do not improve power output, work capacity, and cognition.

RCTn = 20Physical Performance -Mental Clarity -

RCT with 20 college-aged trained males assessing the acute ingestion of supplements containing DHA, uridine, and choline on anaerobic exercise performance and cognition. No significant differences were found between the supplement and placebo groups.

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2016·Endocrine·Daniel de Luis, Joan Carles Domingo, Olatz Izaola, et al

Effect of DHA supplementation in a very low-calorie ketogenic diet in the treatment of obesity: a randomized clinical trial.

RCTn = 29Inflammation Heart Health

A randomized clinical trial comparing a very low-calorie ketogenic diet supplemented with DHA to an isocaloric diet without DHA in obese patients. The study found that DHA supplementation significantly increased anti-inflammatory effects and improved cardiovascular risk factors, although there were no statistical differences in weight loss between the groups.

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2015·Trials·Vanu R Ramprasath, Sijo J Thandapilly, Shuo Yang, et al

Effect of consuming novel foods consisting high oleic canola oil, barley β-glucan, and DHA on cardiovascular disease risk in humans: the CONFIDENCE (Canola Oil and Fibre with DHA Enhanced) study - protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

RCTn = 35Heart Health

This randomized controlled trial protocol aims to evaluate the effects of consuming novel foods containing high oleic canola oil, DHA, and barley β-glucan on cardiovascular disease risk factors in people with metabolic syndrome. The study involves a single-blind crossover design with four treatment phases, assessing various cardiovascular and metabolic health markers.

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2015·The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences·Siobhán C Strike, Alison Carlisle, E Leigh Gibson, et al

A High Omega-3 Fatty Acid Multinutrient Supplement Benefits Cognition and Mobility in Older Women: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Pilot Study.

RCTn = 27Brain Health Physical Performance

RCT assessing the effects of a multinutrient supplement containing DHA, EPA, Ginkgo biloba, phosphatidylserine, vitamin E, folic acid, and vitamin B12 on cognition and mobility in postmenopausal women. Significant improvements were observed in cognitive tests and habitual walking speed, with higher blood DHA levels in the supplement group.

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2014·Lipids in health and disease·Bodil Bjørndal, Elin Strand, Jennifer Gjerde, et al

Phospholipids from herring roe improve plasma lipids and glucose tolerance in healthy, young adults.

RCTn = 21Heart Health Nutrition

Pilot study of 21 young adults taking MOPL30, a herring roe phospholipid product, for 14 days. Results showed decreased fasting plasma triacylglycerol and non-esterified fatty acids, increased HDL-cholesterol, and improved glucose tolerance during oral glucose tolerance testing.

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2014·European journal of nutrition·Xavier Capó, Miquel Martorell, Antoni Sureda, et al

Diet supplementation with DHA-enriched food in football players during training season enhances the mitochondrial antioxidant capabilities in blood mononuclear cells.

RCTn = 15Physical Performance Inflammation

RCT of 15 male football players ingesting DHA-enriched beverage or placebo for 8 weeks. DHA supplementation increased antioxidant capabilities, reduced mitochondrial ROS production, and decreased oxidative damage markers during football training and after acute exercise.

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2000·BioFactors (Oxford, England)·T Hamazaki, M Itomura, S Sawazaki, et al

Anti-stress effects of DHA.

RCTn = 41Stress

Two double-blind studies investigated the effects of DHA intake on stress-related measures in students. In study 1, DHA intake prevented an increase in hostility during exam stress, while the control group showed a significant increase. In study 2, DHA intake significantly decreased norepinephrine levels under continuous exam stress, with no change in cortisol levels.

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2000·Lipids·J A Conquer, J B Martin, I Tummon, et al

Effect of DHA supplementation on DHA status and sperm motility in asthenozoospermic males.

RCTn = 28Sexual Health -

RCT examining the effects of DHA supplementation on DHA levels and sperm motility in asthenozoospermic men. DHA supplementation increased serum and possibly seminal plasma phospholipid DHA levels but did not affect sperm motility or DHA incorporation into sperm phospholipid.

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2023·Food & function·Zejun Hu, Peng Wu, Yiqing Chen, et al

Intestinal absorption of DHA microcapsules with different formulations based on ex vivo rat intestine and in vitro dialysis models.

In vitro

The study evaluated the intestinal absorption of DHA microcapsules with different formulations using an ex vivo rat intestine model and in vitro dialysis models. It found that DHA microcapsules with algal oil as the DHA source exhibited a higher absorption ratio of free fatty acids compared to those from tuna oil.

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2022·Food & function·Zeying Hu, Peng Wu, Luping Wang, et al

Exploring in vitro release and digestion of commercial DHA microcapsules from algae oil and tuna oil with whey protein and casein as wall materials.

In vitro

In vitro study evaluating the release and digestion of DHA microcapsules from algae oil and tuna oil with whey protein and casein as wall materials. The study found differences in release and digestion behaviors between the two sources, with A-DHA showing better stability and digestibility compared to T-DHA.

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1998·Annals of nutrition & metabolism·T Decsi, I Burus, B Koletzko

Effects of dietary long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids on plasma amino acids and indices of protein metabolism in infants: results from a randomized clinical trial.

RCTn = 22Nutrition -

A double-blind, randomized clinical trial investigated the effects of dietary LCPUFA supplementation in infant formula on plasma amino acid concentrations and protein metabolism in term infants. The study found no adverse effects on plasma amino acid concentrations and protein metabolism indicators, although interactions with some amino acids were observed.

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2022·Current Opinion in Lipidology·F. Welty

Omega-3 fatty acids and cognitive function

ReviewBrain Health

Narrative review on omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) in preventing cognitive decline and dementia. Meta-analyses and RCTs suggest DHA supplementation benefits cognitive decline in mild cognitive impairment but not Alzheimer's disease. In cognitively healthy individuals with CAD, EPA and DHA slowed cognitive aging. Results vary based on dose, trial duration, and individual characteristics.

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2014·PLoS ONE·C. Gladine, J. Newman, T. Durand, et al

Lipid Profiling following Intake of the Omega 3 Fatty Acid DHA Identifies the Peroxidized Metabolites F4-Neuroprostanes as the Best Predictors of Atherosclerosis Prevention

Animal studyHeart Health

The study investigated the impact of DHA supplementation on lipid mediator profiles and its contribution to atherosclerosis prevention in atherosclerosis-prone mice. DHA supplementation led to a dose-dependent reduction in atherosclerosis, triglyceridemia, and cholesterolemia, with F4-neuroprostanes identified as key predictors of atherosclerosis prevention.

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