Rich sources of DHA include marine fish and shellfish. This activation may also occur when injury or neurodegeneration results in loss of DHA from excitable membranes and replenishment of DHA is needed. The first identified DHA-derived mediator, neuroprotectin D1 (NPD1; MW 359), is formed through tandem phospholipase A2 (PLA2)-lipoxygenase (LOX) action on free DHA, via a 16,17S-DHA epoxide intermediate [20,24,27,28]. Studies suggest that a baby born to a mother with high levels of DHA in her system will more likely have advanced cognitive abilities and an increased attention span (a fundamental nonverbal indicator of intelligence in very early childhood).

DHA deficiencies are associated with foetal alcohol syndrome, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, cystic fibrosis, phenylketonuria, unipolar depression, aggressive hostility, and adrenoleukodystrophy.

Brain and retinal cells therefore have a convenient and readily accessible supply of DHA that, through highly regulated, phospholipase-mediated exoprotease activities, liberates membrane-bound DHA to serve in neuroprotective and cell fate-signaling roles [20–26]. [38] In preliminary research, algae-based supplements increased DHA levels. It can be synthesized from alpha-linolenic acid or obtained directly from maternal milk (breast milk), fish oil, or algae oil.[1]. NCI CPTC Antibody Characterization Program.

J Nutr Health Aging. 2020 Aug 11;9(8):1096. doi: 10.3390/foods9081096.

2020 Jul 20;10(7):1233. doi: 10.3390/ani10071233. 2007 Feb-Apr;61(2-3):105-12. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2006.09.015. Forty-four healthy, full-term newborns were included in this study. The British Nutrition Foundation, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/World Health Organization (FAO/WHO), and the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids (ISSFAL) all recommend supplementation of premature infant formulas with both DHA and ARA. Epub 2020 Jun 19. For the vitamin C metabolite also abbreviated as DHA, see, InChI=1S/C22H32O2/c1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20-21-22(23)24/h3-4,6-7,9-10,12-13,15-16,18-19H,2,5,8,11,14,17,20-21H2,1H3,(H,23,24)/b4-3-,7-6-,10-9-,13-12-,16-15-,19-18-, InChI=1/C22H32O2/c1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20-21-22(23)24/h3-4,6-7,9-10,12-13,15-16,18-19H,2,5,8,11,14,17,20-21H2,1H3,(H,23,24)/b4-3-,7-6-,10-9-,13-12-,16-15-,19-18-, O=C(O)CC\C=C/C/C=C\C\C=C/C\C=C/C\C=C/C\C=C/CC, Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their, The omega end is the one furthest from the, Vegetarian nutrition § Omega-3 fatty acids, "Eicosapentaenoic and docosapentaenoic acids are the principal products of α-linolenic acid metabolism in young men", "Conversion of alpha-linolenic acid to eicosapentaenoic, docosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids in young women", "The Systems Theory of Autistogenesis: Putting the Pieces Together", "Docosahexaenoic acid concentrations are higher in women than in men because of estrogenic effects", "ω-3 fatty acids in the prevention of cognitive decline in humans", "Inuit Study Adds Twist to Omega-3 Fatty Acids' Health Story", "Fish Oil Claims Not Supported by Research", "Clinical Trial Evidence and Use of Fish Oil Supplements", "Phosphatidylserine in the brain: Metabolism and function", "Essential fatty acids, DHA and the human brain", "A role for docosahexaenoic acid-derived neuroprotectin D1 in neural cell survival and Alzheimer disease", "Lower docosahexaenoic acid concentrations in the postmortem prefrontal cortex of adult depressed suicide victims compared with controls without cardiovascular disease", "n-3 Fatty acids and the inflammatory response – biological background", "The metabolism of 7,10,13,16,19-docosapentaenoic acid to 4,7,10,13,16,19-docosahexaenoic acid in rat liver is independent of a 4-desaturase", "Omega-3 Fatty Acids: An Essential Contribution", "Directly quantitated dietary (n-3) fatty acid intakes of pregnant Canadian women are lower than current dietary recommendations", "Nutrition for the brain: commentary on the article by Isaacs et al. One known pathway in these organisms involves: DHA can be metabolized into DHA-derived specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs), DHA epoxides, electrophilic oxo-derivatives (EFOX) of DHA, neuroprostanes, ethanolamines, acylglycerols, docosahexaenoyl amides of amino acids or neurotransmitters, and branched DHA esters of hydroxy fatty acids, among others.