DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) vs. Docosahexaenoic Acid Ethyl Ester
Among 2,024 on-market omega-3 fatty acids (epa + dha) products with an identifiable primary form, 37.7% use DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) (763 products) and 3.8% use Docosahexaenoic Acid Ethyl Ester (77).
| DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) | Docosahexaenoic Acid Ethyl Ester | |
|---|---|---|
| Quality tier | Tier 1 | Tier 3 |
| Omega-3 Fatty Acids (EPA + DHA) by weight | — | — |
| Share of market | 37.7% | 3.8% |
| On-market products | 763 | 77 |
| Median declared dose | 248 mg middle half: 100–550 | 500 mg middle half: 500–500 |
| Most common brands | Dr. Sinatra, Carlson, Douglas Laboratories | Nature Made, Carlson, Schiff MegaRed |
Doses are declared per serving in mg. “By weight” is the share of the ingredient that is the nutrient itself (e.g. elemental magnesium in a magnesium salt).
Why DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) is tier 1
Same bioavailability ranking as EPA (rTG > natural TG ~ FFA > EE); algal-oil DHA (vegan source) was bioequivalent to cooked-salmon DHA at 600mg/day, and different algal oils were equivalent to each other at 200-1000mg/day.
Source: Dyerberg J et al. 2010, PMID 20638827; Arterburn LM et al. 2007, Lipids 42(11):1011-24, PMID 17713804 (algal oils equivalent at 200-1000 mg/day); Arterburn LM et al. 2008, J Am Diet Assoc 108(7):1204-9, PMID 18589030 (algal-oil DHA 600 mg/day equivalent to cooked salmon)
Why Docosahexaenoic Acid Ethyl Ester is tier 3
Ethyl ester form had the lowest bioavailability index (73%) of the forms tested (Dyerberg 2010).
Source: Dyerberg J et al. 2010, PMID 20638827