UNPROVEN BENEFITS OF DHA OTHER THAN
BRAIN AND EYE

Docosahexaenoic acid or DHA is an omega-3 long chain fatty acid, the primary structural fatty acid of the brain and retina of the eye. DHA is essential for brain and eye function. Other benefits of DHA are listed below.

HEART HEALTH BENEFITS OF ESSENTIAL FATTY ACID OMEGA-3 :

Research has shown that survivors of a heart attack, who consume as little as one gram a day of the omega-3 found in fish, have half the mortality from heart disease as people who do not consume these fatty acids. More recently, evidence from Japan and elsewhere indicates that where seafood consumption is frequent, essentially every day, heart disease is extremely low.

	Lower risk of mortality from heart disease.
	Improved heart rhythms
	Improved heart rate
	Less chance of having a first heart attack
	Less chance of stroke.
	Improved blood lipids
	Reduced blood clotting
	Less inflammation

ANTI HYPERTENSIVE EFFECTS OF DHA :

The antihypertensive effects of omega-3, include those involving vascular, cardiac and autonomic function. Thickening of the arterial wall, which is characteristic of hypertension, was reduced with DHA treatment in an animal model of hypertension. DHA might lower blood pressure by modification of sodium absorption by the kidney, changes in kidney arachidonic acid (a long-chain omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid) metabolism and calcium transport, and activation of potassium channels by metabolites of arachidonic acid that dilate blood vessels.

DHA ITS ANTI-INFLAMMTORY EFFECT :

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are the precursors of substances that can promote or restrain inflammation. As a group, these chemicals are called eicosanoids. The PUFAs found in fish oil, mainly EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) suppress and counter-act the activity of arachidonic acid-derived eicosanoids.

Arachidonic acid also generates substances called lipoxins that work to stop inflammatory activity. This means that arachidonic acid is active in promoting and ending inflammatory responses. In a similar way, EPA also generates substances called "resolvins" that hasten the end of inflammation.

Fish oil PUFAs oppose inflammatory activity through decreased production of inflammatory mediators, production of weaker eicosanoids and increased production of substances that halt inflammation. As a result they lessen the inflammatory symptoms of asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease and others.

DHA IN ALZHEIMERS disease :

Long-chain omega-3s are protective in several ways. Those in dietary fish oil are anti-inflammatory. They are the source of resolvins and protectins, which are potent anti-inflammatory substances that protect brain cell survival. DHA also decreases the production of beta-amyloid protein, reducing the formation of plaques. DHA is the source of neuroprotectin, a substance involved in brain cell repair and survival that also guards against inflammation and oxidative damage.

DHA IN DEPRESSION :

Current evidence supports the involvement of omega-3s in the prevention and management of depression. There is convincing evidence that omega-3s influence brain function; however, the mechanisms by which they might affect depression are unclear. Fish oil supplements or purified omega-3s are usually well tolerated and have a long-term safety record at doses of up to 3 g daily. Further, they appear to have beneficial effects on affective and mood disorders.

DIABETES :

People with diabetes often have high triglyceride and low HDL (good cholesterol) levels. Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil can help lower triglycerides and apoproteins (markers of diabetes), and raise HDL, so eating foods or taking fish oil supplements may help people with diabetes.

COLON CANCER :

Eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids seems to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. For example, Eskimos, who tend to have a high fat diet, but eat significant amounts of fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, have a low rate of colorectal cancer.