Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (677 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
Important polyunsaturated fatty acid found in fish oils. It serves as the precursor for the prostaglandin-3 and thromboxane-3 families. A diet rich in eicosapentaenoic acid lowers serum lipid concentration, reduces incidence of cardiovascular disorders, prevents platelet aggregation, and inhibits arachidonic acid conversion into the thromboxane-2 and prostaglandin-2 families.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Icosapent; 5,8,11,14,17-Eicosapentaenoic Acid; 5,8,11,14,17-Icosapentaenoic Acid; omega-3-Eicosapentaenoic Acid; omega 3 Eicosapentaenoic Acid; Timnodonic Acid; Eicosapentanoic Acid; Acid, Eicosapentanoic.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Fatty Acids, Omega-3; Eicosanoids
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 8,028 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Eicosapentaenoic Acid” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 1,866 of them (23.2%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is 2010-2019 with 3,036 records.
Reviews account for 964 records (12.0%) and meta-analyses for 117. Randomized controlled trials number 1,205 (15.0%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up a comparatively large share of this literature, which means many treatment questions have been tested directly.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 1,588 |
| 2000-2009 | 1,538 |
| 2010-2019 | 3,036 |
| 2020 onward | 1,866 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 964 | 12.0% |
| Meta-analyses | 117 | 1.5% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 1,205 | 15.0% |
Method: PubMed query "Eicosapentaenoic Acid"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in drugs and chemicals
Studies of a chemical or drug can answer very different questions: what it is and how it behaves in cells and animals, how the body handles it, and whether it changes outcomes in people. Laboratory and animal findings often do not carry over to patients, and observational studies of exposures are confounded by who uses a substance and why. Nothing on this page is a recommendation to use, avoid, start or stop any substance or medicine; talk to a qualified clinician or pharmacist about your own situation. Check the dose, the species, the comparison group and whether a patient-relevant outcome was measured.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Importance of EPA and DHA Blood Levels in Brain Structure and Function | 2021 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 102 | cc by PMID 33806218 · DOI · PMC8066148 |
| Microalgae n-3 PUFAs Production and Use in Food and Feed Industries | 2021 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 82 | cc by PMID 33670628 · DOI · PMC7922858 |
| Intake of arachidonic acid-containing lipids in adult humans: dietary surveys and clinical trials | 2019 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 61 | cc by PMID 30992005 · DOI · PMC6469145 |
| Eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester, cardiac metabolomic and lipidomic signatures, and cardioprotection in myocardial infarction | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 41996379 · DOI · PMC13472692 |
Importance of EPA and DHA Blood Levels in Brain Structure and Function [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Brain structure and function depend on a constant and sufficient supply with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) by blood.
- Closing excerpt
- This indicates future trial design, and suggests a targeted use EPA and DHA, based on the Omega-3 Index.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (200 words)
Brain structure and function depend on a constant and sufficient supply with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) by blood. Blood levels of EPA and DHA reflect dietary intake and other variables and are preferably assessed as percentage in erythrocytes with a well-documented and standardized analytical method (HS-Omega-3 Index®). Every human being has an Omega-3 Index between 2 and 20%, with an optimum of 8-11%. Compared to an optimal Omega-3 Index, a lower Omega-3 Index was associated with increased risk for total mortality and ischemic stroke, reduced brain volume, impaired cognition, accelerated progression to dementia, psychiatric diseases, compromises of complex brain functions, and other brain issues in epidemiologic studies. Most intervention trials, and their meta-analyses considered EPA and DHA as drugs with good bioavailability, a design tending to produce meaningful results in populations characterized by low baseline blood levels (e.g., in major depression), but otherwise responsible for many neutral results and substantial confusion. When trial results were evaluated using blood levels of EPA and DHA measured, effects were larger than comparing EPA and DHA to placebo groups, and paralleled epidemiologic findings. This indicates future trial design, and suggests a targeted use EPA and DHA, based on the Omega-3 Index.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 33806218 · DOI · PMC8066148
Microalgae n-3 PUFAs Production and Use in Food and Feed Industries [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs), and especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are essential compounds for human health.
- Closing excerpt
- This work aims to define better the issues surrounding n-3 PUFA production and supply and the potential of microalgae as a sustainable source of compounds to enhance the food and feed of the future.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (219 words)
N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs), and especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are essential compounds for human health. They have been proven to act positively on a panel of diseases and have interesting anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory or anti-cancer properties. For these reasons, they are receiving more and more attention in recent years, especially future food or feed development. EPA and DHA come mainly from marine sources like fish or seaweed. Unfortunately, due to global warming, these compounds are becoming scarce for humans because of overfishing and stock reduction. Although increasing in recent years, aquaculture appears insufficient to meet the increasing requirements of these healthy molecules for humans. One alternative resides in the cultivation of microalgae, the initial producers of EPA and DHA. They are also rich in biochemicals with interesting properties. After defining macro and microalgae, this review synthesizes the current knowledge on n-3 PUFAs regarding health benefits and the challenges surrounding their supply within the environmental context. Microalgae n-3 PUFA production is examined and its synthesis pathways are discussed. Finally, the use of EPA and DHA in food and feed is investigated. This work aims to define better the issues surrounding n-3 PUFA production and supply and the potential of microalgae as a sustainable source of compounds to enhance the food and feed of the future.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 33670628 · DOI · PMC7922858
Intake of arachidonic acid-containing lipids in adult humans: dietary surveys and clinical trials [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) have important roles in physiological homeostasis.
- Closing excerpt
- This review presents a framework of dietary ARA intake and the effects of ARA supplementation on LCPUFA metabolism in adult humans, and the nutritional significance of ARA and LCPUFA is discussed.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (90 words)
Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) have important roles in physiological homeostasis. Numerous studies have provided extensive information about the roles of n-3 LCPUFA, such as docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid. Arachidonic acid (ARA) is one of the major n-6 LCPUFAs and its biological aspects have been well studied. However, nutritional information for ARA is limited, especially in adult humans. This review presents a framework of dietary ARA intake and the effects of ARA supplementation on LCPUFA metabolism in adult humans, and the nutritional significance of ARA and LCPUFA is discussed.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 30992005 · DOI · PMC6469145
Eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester, cardiac metabolomic and lipidomic signatures, and cardioprotection in myocardial infarction [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Background and aimsThe cardiovascular benefits of eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester (EPA-E) in MACE reduction might extend beyond its triglyceride (TG)-lowering effects.
- Closing excerpt
- HTG + EPA-E animals showed smaller infarcts (P ConclusionsEicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester treatment exerts direct cardioprotective effects and ameliorates cardiac metabolic and lipidomic signatures after MI regardless of its circulating TG-lowering effects.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (168 words)
Background and aimsThe cardiovascular benefits of eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester (EPA-E) in MACE reduction might extend beyond its triglyceride (TG)-lowering effects. However, the mechanism behind remains unknown. This study investigated whether EPA-E exerts cardioprotection in the setting of myocardial infarction (MI).MethodsHypertriglyceridaemia (HTG) was induced in male rats by a high-sucrose diet (>175 mg·dL-1; baseline). Hypertriglyceridaemia rats were administered for 2 weeks high-dose EPA-E supplementation (HTG + EPA-E; n = 21) or placebo (HTG; n = 27) in combination with the diet. A control diet group (CD; n = 15) was included. After 2 weeks, MI was induced by transient coronary ligation and animals were sacrificed 24 h thereafter for infarct size, molecular, histological, and -omic analyses. Echocardiography was performed.ResultsHTG + EPA-E animals displayed lower circulating TG levels and better cardiac function as compared to HTG group. HTG + EPA-E animals showed smaller infarcts (P ConclusionsEicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester treatment exerts direct cardioprotective effects and ameliorates cardiac metabolic and lipidomic signatures after MI regardless of its circulating TG-lowering effects.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41996379 · DOI · PMC13472692
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA: health benefits throughout life [5]
- Research article Distribution, interconversion, and dose response of n-3 fatty acids in humans [6]
- Research article A meta-analytic review of polyunsaturated fatty acid compositions in patients with depression [7]
- Research article Emerging Mechanisms of Cardiovascular Protection for the Omega-3 Fatty Acid Eicosapentaenoic Acid [8]
- Research article Omega-3 Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, EPA and DHA: Bridging the Gap between Supply and Demand [9]
- Research article Meta-analysis of the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in clinical trials in depression [10]
References
- von Schacky C. Importance of EPA and DHA Blood Levels in Brain Structure and Function. . 2021. PMID 33806218 · DOI · PMC8066148
- Remize M, Brunel Y, Silva JL, Berthon JY, Filaire E. Microalgae n-3 PUFAs Production and Use in Food and Feed Industries. . 2021. PMID 33670628 · DOI · PMC7922858
- Kawashima H. Intake of arachidonic acid-containing lipids in adult humans: dietary surveys and clinical trials. . 2019. PMID 30992005 · DOI · PMC6469145
- Alcover S, Ramos-Regalado L, Muñoz-García N, Girón GO, Otero S, López S, et al.. Eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester, cardiac metabolomic and lipidomic signatures, and cardioprotection in myocardial infarction. . 2026. PMID 41996379 · DOI · PMC13472692
- Swanson D, Block R, Mousa SA. Omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA: health benefits throughout life. Adv Nutr. 2012. PMID 22332096 · DOI · PMC3262608
- Arterburn LM, Hall EB, Oken H. Distribution, interconversion, and dose response of n-3 fatty acids in humans. Am J Clin Nutr. 2006. PMID 16841856 · DOI
- Lin PY, Huang SY, Su KP. A meta-analytic review of polyunsaturated fatty acid compositions in patients with depression. Biol Psychiatry. 2010. PMID 20452573 · DOI
- Mason RP, Libby P, Bhatt DL. Emerging Mechanisms of Cardiovascular Protection for the Omega-3 Fatty Acid Eicosapentaenoic Acid. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2020. PMID 32212849 · DOI · PMC7176343
- Tocher DR, Betancor MB, Sprague M, Olsen RE, Napier JA. Omega-3 Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, EPA and DHA: Bridging the Gap between Supply and Demand. Nutrients. 2019. PMID 30621155 · DOI · PMC6356973
- Sublette ME, Ellis SP, Geant AL, Mann JJ. Meta-analysis of the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in clinical trials in depression. J Clin Psychiatry. 2011. PMID 21939614 · DOI · PMC3534764
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-31.
See how EvidenceLib is built. Spotted an error? Email support@evidencehelix.com.
Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.