What is EPA?
EPA’s full name is Eicosapentaenoic Acid. It was identified in the 1960s and research began on it. It is incorporated into cells throughout the body and has the effect of reducing blood triglycerides and LDL cholesterol, thus helping to improve blood characteristics. Therefore, it contributes to the prevention and improvement of atherosclerosis and hypertension.
What is DHA?
DHA’s full name is Docosahexaenoic Acid. Research on DHA started approximately ten years after EPA. Like EPA, it is incorporated into cells throughout the body and helps to reduce blood triglycerides and LDL cholesterol, thereby aiding in improving blood characteristics and helping to prevent and improve atherosclerosis and hypertension. However, its effect is inferior to that of EPA. There are no studies using 100% pure DHA, and because some data includes EPA, the exact effectiveness of DHA alone is unknown.
The Difference Between EPA and DHA
There is a significant difference between EPA and DHA, which is whether they can pass through the blood-brain barrier.
The brain is a very delicate area, and to prevent various drugs and components from easily entering, there is a barricade called the blood-brain barrier. DHA is one of the few components that can penetrate this blood-brain barrier.
Because it can “penetrate the blood-brain barrier, thus affecting the central nervous system“, it is used for preventing dementia by activating brain cells. It’s also recommended for infants (during growth) for brain development.
Additionally, DHA can “penetrate the blood-retinal barrier“. Since 40-60% of the retina’s fat is composed of DHA, taking DHA can potentially “alleviate eye symptoms (such as dry eye)“.
On the other hand, since EPA cannot penetrate the blood-brain barrier, it does not affect the central nervous system. Similarly, it cannot penetrate the blood-retinal barrier, so it does not help in alleviating eye symptoms. However, EPA is easily increased in the bloodstream after ingestion, making it crucial for the health of the circulatory system, including blood and blood vessels. Therefore, the saying “eating blue fish makes your blood flow smoothly” refers to the work of EPA.
As summarized above, EPA and DHA have different effects. However, since currently marketed supplements contain both EPA and DHA together, it is believed they can be effective for both the entire body and the brain. There are various manufacturers selling these products, so please make sure to check the raw materials and ingredients carefully and choose products with fewer additives that can be given safely.
At the Cordy Lab, we are conducting research on krill oil, which contains EPA/DHA extracted from Antarctic krill.
Our lab is advancing research on the interaction between fatty acids and Cordy, particularly focusing on the interaction between krill oil, which contains EPA/DHA extracted from Antarctic krill, and Cordy.
If you have any questions, please contact us.
監修獣医師：林美彩 所属クリニック：chicoどうぶつ診療所
代替療法と西洋医学、両方の動物病院での勤務経験と多数のコルディの臨床経験をもつ。 モノリス在籍時には、一般的な動物医療（西洋医学）だけでは対応が困難な症例に対して多くの相談を受け、免疫の大切さを痛烈に実感する。
ペットたちの健康維持・改善のためには薬に頼った対処療法だけではなく、「普段の生活環境や食事を見直し、自宅でさまざまなケアを取り入れることで免疫力を維持し、病気にならない体づくりを目指していくことが大切である」という考えを提唱し普及活動に従事している。
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