DHA

Docosahexaenoic Acid

What's

DHA

DHA, or Docosahexaenoic Acid, is a vital Omega-3 fatty acid that plays a key role in maintaining the health of your brain and eyes. It's an essential building block of the human brain, the outer layer of the brain, skin, and the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. DHA is crucial for the development of the nervous system and vision during the first six months of life and remains necessary for ongoing brain and eye function throughout life. It also supports a healthy heart. While your body can produce a small amount of DHA, it's important to get enough of it through your diet, mainly from fatty fish or foods with added DHA.

If Your Levels Are High

Elevated DHA levels might mean that you're consuming a lot of omega-3 fatty acids, possibly from eating fatty fish, fortified foods, or taking omega-3 supplements. Some medications, like those used for lowering triglycerides, could also contribute to higher DHA levels. While DHA is important for brain and eye health, having too much of it could disrupt the balance between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in your body, which is essential for overall well-being.

Symptoms of High Levels

Symptoms of high levels of DHA are generally uncommon, but in some cases, they could include a fishy aftertaste, bad breath, heartburn, nausea, or diarrhea.

If Your Levels are Low

Low DHA levels might mean that your diet doesn't have enough omega-3 rich foods, like fatty fish, flaxseeds, and walnuts, or that your body isn't great at absorbing or changing the fats you eat into DHA. Things like stress or drinking a lot of alcohol could also make it harder for your body to use DHA properly. Some specific health issues that could lead to low DHA levels are digestive problems that make it tough to absorb fats, or metabolic issues that change how your body deals with fats. Certain medications might also affect your DHA levels.

Symptoms of Low Levels

Symptoms of low levels of DHA could include difficulty concentrating, dry skin, poor vision, and mood swings.

Hey practitioners! 👋 Join Dr. Chris Magryta and Dr. Erik Lundquist for a comprehensive 6-week course on evaluating functional medicine labs from two perspectives: adult and pediatric. In this course, you’ll explore the convergence of lab results across different diseases and age groups, understanding how human lab values vary on a continuum influenced by age, genetics, and time. Register Here! Register here.

See References

Test for

Docosahexaenoic Acid

NutrEval® Plasma by Genova Diagnostics

Whole Blood

Urine

Serum

Plasma

The NutrEval® Plasma evaluates a variety of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and other biomarkers to determine nutritional deficiencies and imbalances. This test cannot be ordered for patients under 2 years of age.

NutrEval® FMV by Genova Diagnostics

Whole Blood

Urine

Serum

The NutrEval® FMV evaluates a variety of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and other biomarkers to determine nutritional deficiencies and imbalances. This test cannot be ordered for patients under two years of age.

Metabolomix+ Add-On: Bloodspot Essential & Metabolic Fatty Acids by Genova Diagnostics

Blood Spot

This test measures fatty acids to determine cardiovascular risk. It can only be added to the Metabolomix+. This test cannot be ordered for patients under two years of age.

Omega-3 and -6 Fatty Acids by Access Med Labs

Whole Blood

This test measures Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are used to monitor patients on omega-3 supplementation/therapy to determine treatment efficacy.

Cellular Nutrition Assay by Cell Science Systems

Whole Blood

The Full Cellular Nutrition Assay combines the Cellular Micronutrient Assay and the Redox/Antioxidant Protection Assay to provide a personalized assessment of a patient's nutritional needs. This test cannot be ordered for patients under 16 years of age.

CONTENTS

What is it?

High Levels

Low Levels

Order, track, and receive results from 30+ labs in one place.