Is Docosahexaenoic Acid Safe?
Normal doses of docosahexaenoic acid are probably safe for most people, although high doses can cause problems. Some people may be more likely to experience problems due to docosahexaenoic acid. Therefore, you should talk with your healthcare provider prior to taking docosahexaenoic acid if you have:
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all other medicines you are taking, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
How Does Docosahexaenoic Acid Work?
Docosahexaenoic acid is an essential fatty acid, which means that humans must obtain it from the diet. Docosahexaenoic acid is thought to work in a variety of different ways, such as:
- Inflammation -- Docosahexaenoic acid seems to decrease inflammation in the body by suppressing a specific enzyme (COX-2) and inflammatory chemicals such as interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF).
- Triglycerides -- Docosahexaenoic acid lowers triglyceride levels through several different mechanisms.
- Blood clotting -- Docosahexaenoic acid decreases blood viscosity (in common terms, it "thins" the blood) and has effects on red blood cells that may decrease the risk of blood clots.
- Fetal and infant development -- Docosahexaenoic acid is important for the development of the brain and neurons.
These are just a few of the ways that researchers think docosahexaenoic acid may work for a variety of conditions. As more studies are done, more information about how docosahexaenoic acid works will become available.
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