Fish Oil (EPA/DHA)

After EPA and DHA enter cell-membrane phospholipids, human-trial evidence for a drop in fasting triglycerides is relatively strong. For people who eat little fish and need to manage blood lipids, changes in fasting lipid markers are more often seen along this long-chain path after several weeks of continued use.

DHA is especially abundant in gray matter and in retinal outer segments, serving as structural lipid that supports fluidity of neuronal and photoreceptor membranes. For people who are pregnant, aging, or who eat little fish long term, this membrane-lipid path more often looks after brain and vision with continued use.

EPA can compete into eicosanoid paths so the body leans toward milder inflammatory mediators. For people with morning joint swelling or tissue discomfort after exercise, the direction of change on swelling and comfort scales is more often noticeable after several weeks of continued use.