What is Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)? (3)
Docosahexaenoic acid is a type of omega-3 fatty acid. (5)
DNA is a type of anti-inflammatory (video at 2:30)
What is NOT DHA?
ALA – it is a precursor to DHA (video at 4:38)
What contains DHA?
fatty fish (2)
seafood (3)
blue fin tuna – has 5 times the about of DHA as other types of tuna (video at 4:16)
salmon
herring
cod liver
cod liver oil
oysters
sardines
grass-fed beef
egg yolks
more DHA in pasture-raised organic eggs
What does DHA do?
DHA in the form of lysophosphatidylcholine is transported into the brain by a membrane transport protein, MFSD2A, which is exclusively expressed in the endothelium of the blood-brain barrier. (4)
Where is DHA located in a human?
DHA is found in high abundance in the brain of a human. (4)
DHA is located in almost all of the cells of a human, in the membrane. It helps make the membranes fluid. It only makes up 1 to 5% of the cell membranes. (video at 2:23)
In the retina of a human, it makes up between 50 and 60% of the cell membrane. (video at 2:39)
How is DHA produced?
DHA is produced by a desaturation process, but humans lack the desaturase enzyme, which acts to insert double bonds at the w6 and w3 position (4)
DHA and Dogs
DHA aids in the proper brain and eye development of puppies. (5)
DHA may also improve cognitive function in older dogs dealing with canine cognitive dysfunction. (5)
What destroy DHA in the body?
blue light, UV light, and omega-6 destroys DHA (video at 3:15)
Resources
1. https://maculardegeneration.net/diet-nutrition
2. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/12-omega-3-rich-foods
3. https://www.webmd.com/diet/foods-high-in-omega-3
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omega-3_fatty_acid
5. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/fish-oil-for-dogs/
