Algal powdered DHA
What is Algal DHA?
Algal DHA is produced from microalgae, which is a natural and pollution-free source of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The microalgae are grown in a controlled environment and are sustainable with no concern for heavy metals, PCB’s or other toxins.
Studies have shown that algal DHA delivers the same Omega-3 levels as fish.
Your body can only produce a small amount of DHA from fatty-acids, so you need to consume it directly from food or a supplement.
There are a number of benefits in talking DHA:
Reduces Heart Disease Risk
Omega-3 fats are commonly recommended for heart health. The majority of studies test DHA and EPA combined rather than individually. The few studies that test DHA alone suggest that it may be more effective than EPA for improving several markers of heart health
In one study in 154 obese adults, daily doses of 2,700 mg of DHA for 10 weeks increased the omega-3 index — a blood marker of omega-3 levels that’s linked to a reduced risk of sudden heart-related death — by 5.6%. The same daily dose of EPA increased the omega-3 index of the same participants by only 3.3%.
DHA also decreased blood triglycerides more than EPA — 13.3% versus 11.9% — and increased “good” HDL cholesterol by 7.6% compared to a slight decrease for EPA.
Notably, DHA tends to increase “bad” LDL cholesterol levels but mainly the number of large, fluffy LDL particles, which — unlike small, dense LDL particles — aren’t linked to increased heart disease risk.
Fights Inflammation
Omega-3 fats such as DHA have anti-inflammatory effects. Increasing your DHA intake can help balance the excess of inflammatory omega-6 fats that is typical of Western diets rich in soybean and corn oil.
DHA’s anti-inflammatory properties may reduce your risk of chronic diseases that are common with age, such as heart and gum disease, and improve autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, which causes joint pain.
For example, in a 10-week study in 38 people with rheumatoid arthritis, 2,100 mg of DHA daily decreased the number of swollen joints by 28%, compared to a placebo. Though previous studies had shown supplements combining DHA and EPA helped improve rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, this study was the first to indicate that DHA alone could reduce inflammation and ease symptoms.
Supports Muscle Recovery After Exercise
Strenuous exercise can trigger muscle inflammation and soreness. DHA — alone or in combination with EPA — may help reduce muscle soreness and limitations in range of motion after exercise, partly due to its anti-inflammatory effects.
In one study, 27 women taking 3,000 mg of DHA daily for a week had 23% less muscle soreness after doing bicep curls than the placebo group. Similarly, when 24 men supplemented with 260 mg of DHA and 600 mg of EPA daily for eight weeks, they had no decrease in their range of motion after an elbow-strengthening exercise, whereas men in the placebo group saw an 18% decrease.
Helps Some Eye Conditions
It’s uncertain whether DHA and other omega-3 fats help age-related macular degeneration (AMD) as once thought, but they may improve dry eyes. What’s more, two recent studies suggest that DHA may decrease contact lens discomfort and glaucoma risk.
In one 12-week study in contact lens wearers, 600 mg of DHA and 900 mg of EPA daily improved eye discomfort by 42% — which was similar to improvements noticed with corticosteroid eye drops.
Additionally, 500 mg of DHA and 1,000 mg of EPA daily for three months decreased eye pressure in healthy people by 8%. Elevated eye pressure is a risk factor for glaucoma, a disease that gradually erodes vision.
Lowers Blood Pressure and Supports Circulation
DHA supports good blood flow, or circulation, and may improve endothelial function — the ability of your blood vessels to dilate.
A review of 20 studies found that DHA and EPA may also help lower blood pressure, though each specific fat may affect different aspects. DHA reduced diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number of a reading) an average of 3.1 mmHg, while EPA reduced systolic blood pressure (the top number of a reading) an average of 3.8 mmHg.
Though elevated systolic blood pressure is a greater risk factor for heart disease than diastolic pressure for people over 50, elevated diastolic blood pressure also increases your risk of heart attack and stroke.
- Supports Men’s Reproductive Health
Almost 50% of infertility cases are due to factors in men’s reproductive health, and dietary fat intake has been shown to affect sperm health. In fact, low DHA status is the most common cause of low-quality sperm and frequently found in men with subfertility or infertility problems.
Getting adequate DHA supports both the vitality (percentage of live, healthy sperm in semen) and motility of sperm, which impacts fertility.
May Help Protect Mental Health
Up to 20% of Americans live with mild depression while 2–7% have major depression. Getting adequate amounts of DHA and EPA is associated with a reduced risk of depression.
In a study of about 22,000 adults in Norway, those who reported taking cod liver oil daily — which supplied 300–600 mg each of DHA and EPA — were 30% less likely to have symptoms of depression than those who didn’t.
While this study does not prove cause and effect, other research suggests ways in which DHA and EPA may reduce depression risk. DHA and EPA aid serotonin, a nerve messenger which can help balance your mood. The anti-inflammatory effects of these omega-3 fats on nerve cells may reduce depression risk as well.
If you have a health condition or are taking any medications, check with your doctor before taking DHA supplements.
Large doses of DHA and EPA can thin your blood, so if you’re taking a blood-thinning drug or have surgery planned, your doctor may advise you to avoid fish oil supplements or may need to monitor you more closely.
Algal powered DHA supplements (DHA supplements) can be taken in DHA capsules or DHA tablets and purchased online. Simply Nootropcis Elevate includes a daily active of 300mg.
Bernstein, Adam M., Michael F. Roizen, and Luis Martinez. “Purified palmitoleic acid for the reduction of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and serum lipids: a double-blinded, randomized, placebo controlled study.” Journal of clinical lipidology 8.6 (2014): 612-617.
Sinn, Natalie, et al. “Effects of n-3 fatty acids, EPA v. DHA, on depressive symptoms, quality of life, memory and executive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a 6-month randomised controlled trial.” British Journal of Nutrition 107.11 (2012): 1682-1693.
Stough, Con, et al. “The effects of 90-day supplementation with the omega-3 essential fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on cognitive function and visual acuity in a healthy aging population.” Neurobiology of aging 33.4 (2012): 824-e1.
