EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid)
Possible Choice of EPA:
Nano Singapore Omega3 Fish Oil
All Natural, High Quality Fish Oil, a great source of EPA. To obtain one, please click here. Please see below for more information on EPA.
INGREDIENTS: Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Commonly known as EPA, is a long chain (20 carbon long) fatty acid
OTHER NAMES: Most commonly known as EPA. Other names: 20:5n-3, Acide Eicosapentaénoïque, Acide Éthyle-Eicosapentaénoïque, Acide Gras Essentiel, Acide Gras d'Huile de Poisson, Acide Gras N-3, Acide Gras Omega, Acide Gras Oméga 3, Acide Gras Polyinsaturé, Acide Gras W3, Acido Eicosapentaenoico, EPA, E-EPA, Eicosapentanoic Acid, Essential Fatty Acid, Ethyl Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Ethyl-Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Ethyl-EPA, Fish Oil Fatty Acid, Icosapent Ethyl, N-3 Fatty Acid, Omega Fatty Acid, Omega 3, Oméga 3, Omega 3 Fatty Acids, Omega-3, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid, PUFA, W-3 Fatty Acid
- Overview
- Usage
- Safety
- Interactions
- Dosing
- Others
| Usage | Effectiveness |
|---|---|
|
|
| Proven | Safety |
USAGE AND EFFECTIVENESS
| Usage | Effectiveness |
|---|---|
| High Blood Pressure |
Mild effectiveness (Mild systolic blood pressure) • Shown in an analysis of patients who have high cholesterol to also lower systolic blood pressure (blood pressure when the heart contract) Source • More evidence needed to support wider use of EPA. |
| Hypertriglyceridemia |
Effective (Reduce triglyceride level) • Shown in several clinical studies, that 4 grammes daily reduces triglyceride (by as much as 33%), and in some studies reduce total cholesterol (by as much as 16%), very low density lipoprotein (by as much as 29%) (Source ) and to a lesser extent low density lipoprotein (“bad” cholesterol) (by 6.2%). ( Source 1, 2) • Effect on low density lipoprotein (“bad” cholesterol) is conflicting, with some studies finding negligible effect of EPA on it. (Source 1, 2) • Several strong clinical studies to support the point above. |
| Heart Attack |
Mild effectiveness (Reduce the risk of heart attack) • 4 grammes of EPA daily has been approved by US Food Drug Administration to reduce risk of heart attack and stroke when taken with cholesterol lowering medicine (statin);some clinical studies shows reduction of effect of heart attack (such as often deadly abnormal heart rate (Source)), improve survival rate ( Source ) and the need for heart surgery at 1.8 grams daily when used with statin (Source) • More evidence is needed to support the wider use of EPA as a supplement (at doses lower than 4 grams daily) to reduce risk of heart attack. |
| Heart & Blood Vessel Diseases |
Mild effectiveness (Reduce the risk of heart diseases such as heart attack and stroke) • 4 grams of EPA daily has been approved by US Food Drug Administration to reduce risk of heart attack and stroke when taken with cholesterol lowering medicine (statin); 1 clinical study showed lowering of probability of further heart diseases when used with statin ( Source ). • More evidence is needed to support the use of EPA as a supplement (at doses lower than 4 grams daily) to reduce risk of heart attack. |
| Cancer-related Fatigue |
Mild effectiveness (Mildly reduce tiredness after chemotherapy) • Shown in one study to reduce tiredness after chemotherapy caused by paclitaxel and cisplatin/carboplatin • More evidence needed to support wider use. |
| Chemotherapy-induced Nerve Damage |
Mild effectiveness (Moderately reduce symptoms of nerve damage) Shown in one study to reduce symptoms of nerve damage caused by paclitaxel and cisplatin/carboplatin Insufficient clinical evidence to support the above point; More evidence needed to support the point above |
| Depression |
Mild effectiveness (Reduce symptoms of depression) Analysis of several studies shows that taking EPA together with antidepressant reduces depressive symptoms; it does not improve symptoms when it is used alone More evidence is needed to support use of EPA in depression |
| Ulcerative Colitis |
Mild effectiveness (Mildly lower inflammation test result and reduce relapse rate) Shown in one study to reduce relapse rate by 27% and reduce fecal calprotectin levels (a test indicating inflammation of the intestine) by 40% Insufficient clinical evidence to support the above point; More evidence needed to support the point above |
| Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) |
Unclear Effectiveness (Reduce symptoms) Children with ADHD are known to have low level of EPA and DHA;there is no strong study to show a direct link between taking EPA and improvement of ADHD Insufficient clinical evidence to support the above point; More evidence needed to support the point above |
| Borderline Personality Disorder |
Unclear Effectiveness (Mildly reduce aggressive behaviour and depressive symptoms) Shown in one small study Insufficient clinical evidence to support the above point; More evidence needed to support the point above Borderline personality disorder is a condition where self perception and perception of others are affected, causing issues such as impulsiveness, self-destructive behaviour. |
| Chemotherapy-induced Diarrhoea |
Unclear Effectiveness (Unclear if it can prevent diarrhoea after chemotherapy) Shown in one study to be ineffective in preventing diarrhoea after chemotherapy Insufficient clinical evidence to support the above point; More evidence needed to support the point above |
| Chemotherapy-induced Nausea and Vomiting |
Unclear Effectiveness (Unclear if it can prevent nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy) Shown in one study to be ineffective in preventing nausea and vomiting Insufficient clinical evidence to support the above point; More evidence needed to support the point above |
| Colorectal Adenoma |
Unclear effectiveness (Unclear if EPA is effective alone in reducing Colorectal adenoma) Shown in one study to reduce Colorectal adenoma when used with aspirin but not alone Insufficient clinical evidence to support the above point; More evidence needed to support the point above |
| Diabetes |
Unclear effectiveness (Unclear if EPA improves any of the health screening test other than triglyceride) Shown in one study to reduce triglyceride but do not affect cholesterol, blood sugar or or glycated hemoglobin in Type 2 diabetes Insufficient clinical evidence to support the above point; More evidence needed to support the point above |
| High Cholesterol |
Unclear effectiveness (May improve high density lipoprotein(good cholesterol) but does not affect bad cholesterol level Conflicting results: produced no effect on bad cholesterol in two studies but increase good cholesterol by 12% in a different study Insufficient clinical evidence to support the above point; More evidence needed to support the point above |
| Huntington Disease |
Unclear effectiveness (Unclear if EPA improves symptoms) Studied in 5 clinical studies, producing mixed results (found to improve muscle movement in 2 out of 5 studies);clear conclusion cannot be drawn due to poor study design Insufficient clinical evidence to support the above point; More evidence needed to support the point above |
| Menopausal Symptoms |
Unclear effectiveness (Unclear due to conflicting results Shown in one study to only reduce the number of hot flushes but do not reduce the severity of hot flushes or improve quality of life Insufficient clinical evidence to support the above point; More evidence needed to support the point above |
| Post-Operation Infection |
Unclear effectiveness(reduce infection) One study showed reduction in infection and duration of hospitalisation; it is unclear if it is due to EPA or other ingredients Insufficient clinical evidence to support the above point; More evidence needed to support the point above |
| Psoriasis |
Unclear effectiveness (improve effect of etretinate) Shown in one study to improve effectiveness of oral etretinate versus etretinate alone; unclear if it is effective alone and oral etretinate is not commonly used Insufficient clinical evidence to support the above point; More evidence needed to support the point above |
| Schizophrenia |
Unclear effectiveness Conflicting results from analysis, producing effects ranging from mild improvement in mental clarity in some case to lack of effects in others Insufficient clinical evidence to support the above point; More evidence needed to support the point above |
| Allergic Rhinitis |
Unknown effectiveness Insufficient clinical evidence to support the above point; More evidence needed to support the point above |
| Asthma |
Unknown effectiveness Insufficient clinical evidence to support the above point; More evidence needed to support the point above |
| Behcet's Disease |
Unknown effectiveness Insufficient clinical evidence to support the above point; More evidence needed to support the point above |
| Cystic Fibrosis |
Unknown effectiveness Insufficient clinical evidence to support the above point; More evidence needed to support the point above |
| Dysmenorrhea |
Unknown effectiveness Insufficient clinical evidence to support the above point; More evidence needed to support the point above |
| High Blood Pressure during Pregnancy |
Unknown effectiveness One study showed no effect Insufficient clinical evidence to support the above point; More evidence needed to support the point above |
| Kidney Diseases |
Unknown effectiveness (for a type of kidney disease called IgA nephropathy) Insufficient clinical evidence to support the above point; More evidence needed to support the point above |
| Lung Cancer |
Unknown effectiveness One study showed no effect Insufficient clinical evidence to support the above point; More evidence needed to support the point above |
| Migraine Headache |
Unknown effectiveness Insufficient clinical evidence to support the above point; More evidence needed to support the point above |
| Postoperative Recovery |
Unknown effectiveness One study showed no effect Insufficient clinical evidence to support the above point; More evidence needed to support the point above |
| Pregnancy Support |
Unknown effectiveness (for reduction of Intrauterine growth restriction) One study showed no effect Insufficient clinical evidence to support the above point; More evidence needed to support the point above |
| Systemic Lupus Erythematosus |
Unknown effectiveness Insufficient clinical evidence to support the above point; More evidence needed to support the point above |
| Wounds |
Unknown effectiveness Insufficient clinical evidence to support the above point; More evidence needed to support the point above |
| Age-related Macular Degeneration |
Proven to be Not Effective Shown in a population study to be ineffective |
| Alzheimer's Disease |
Proven to be Not Effective Shown in a population study to be ineffective |
| Prostate Cancer |
Unknown Effectiveness but may increase risk of prostate cancer according to some study Avoid usage in cases where there is risk or established prostate cancer |
General Safety
- Generally safe when used orally and appropriately up to 7 years; Generally unsafe in individuals with bleeding tendency or have medication or concurrent illness that affect blood clotting
Pregnant/Breastfeeding
- Lack of clinical studies to advise self-consumption; consume only if directed by your doctor
Children
- Unsafe as a standalone supplement; however, the consumption of EPA in approved infant formula or children health supplements is safe.
Elderly
- Little data to show it is safe or otherwise; avoid if possible
Special to Note
- Unknown
Contraindications
-
May enhance effects of high blood pressure medicines and blood thinning agents, causing side effects
May increase risk of abnormal heart rhythm for individuals with conditions such as atrial fibrillation
Side Effects
-
Generally safe; common side effects may include: burping, diarrhoea, fishy aftertaste,heartburn, nausea
More serous but rare side effects include:
●Skin: itching and rashes
●Blood: bleeding
●Immunity: Theoretical risk of increase chance of infection
●Heart: risk of abnormal heart rhythm
- Medicines
Medium severity interactions with medicines for blood clotting, blood thinning medicines, high blood pressure medicines - Supplements
Medium severity interactions with herbs with potential to interfere with blood clotting and lower blood pressure - Food
None known - Lab Tests
Reduce lung function test results in patients with aspirin allergy
- Oral (Adults)
As a prescription for issues like high triglyceride level: 4 grams every day As a Supplement for issues such heart health: 1-2 grams daily for up to 6 months
- General Information
- EPA can be found in deep-sea fishes, marine mammals, and algae, along with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Other oils such as cod liver oil, fish oil, krill oil, or even DHA or Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA) have different properties as compared to EPA.
- How does it work?
- EPA possesses anti-inflammatory, blood thinning, immune system modifying effects; it can also modify cholesterol profile, affecting biochemicals such as triglycerides and HDL (good cholesterol).
| Effectiveness Score | What does it mean | Action to be taken by you |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Gold Standard | You should always consider taking this supplement. Do check if your health professional has any objection to you taking this supplement. |
| 4 | Effective | This supplement may be helpful. You may consider taking this. Do consult your health professional if you have any medical condition or if you are taking any medication. |
| 3 | Mildly Effective | This supplement may be mildly helpful. You may consider taking this if the benefit outweighs the risk. Do consult your health professional if you have any medical condition or if you are taking any medication. |
| 2 | Unclear Effectiveness due to Conflicting Results or Limited Benefit | This supplement may not provide a clear benefit to the issue(s) you seek to resolve. Do consult your health professional if you still decide to go ahead to take this. |
| Effectiveness Score | What does it mean | Action to be taken by you |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Gold Standard | You should always consider taking this supplement. Do check if your health professional has any objection to you taking this supplement. |
| 4 | Effective | This supplement may be helpful. You may consider taking this. Do consult your health professional if you have any medical condition or if you are taking any medication. |
| 3 | Mildly Effective | This supplement may be mildly helpful. You may consider taking this if the benefit outweighs the risk. Do consult your health professional if you have any medical condition or if you are taking any medication. |
| 2 | Unclear Effectiveness due to Conflicting Results or Limited Benefit | This supplement may not provide a clear benefit to the issue(s) you seek to resolve. Do consult your health professional if you still decide to go ahead to take this. |
| 1 | Unknown Effectiveness | There is no evidence of benefit for taking this supplement. Do consult your health professional if you still decide to go ahead to take this. |
| 0 | Proven to be Not Effective | Taking this supplement has been proven to be ineffective. Do consult your health professional if you still decide to go ahead to take this. |
| Amount of Medical Evidence | What does it mean | Action to be taken by you |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Proven by One or More Well Designed Analysis of Several Well Designed Medical Studies | You can rest assured that this supplement can do what it claims to do. |
| 4 | Proven by several well designed medical studies | You have good confidence that this supplement will do what it claims to do. |
| 3 | Proven by One Well Designed Medical Study | You have some confidence that this supplement will do what it claims to do. |
| 2 | Proven by One or Several Not Well Designed Medical Studies | There may be doubts about whether this supplement can do what it claims. Consider if this is necessary. |
| 1 | No Study Done or Proven by Weakly Designed Medical Studies | There are many doubts about whether this supplement can do what it claims. Consider if this is necessary. |
| 0 | Proven to be Ineffective or Harmful | You should strongly consider not to use this unless advised by your health professionals. |
| Safety Score | What does it mean | Action to be taken by you |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Safe for Everyone | This supplement is most likely to be safe for you. You may consider taking this. Do consult your health professional if you have any medical condition or if you are taking any medication. |
| 4 | Safe for General Population, with Unknown Effect on Special Population | This supplement is likely to be safe for you, except for certain circumstances. Do consult your health professional if you have any medical condition or if you are taking any medication. |
| 3 | ||
| 2 | Safe for General Population but may be Unsafe for Certain Population or have Certain Rare Side Effect | This supplement may be safe for you if you do not have any medical conditions or concurrent medication. Do consult your health professional before taking it. |
| 1 | Unknown Safety | Unless you are very healthy and have no concurrent medical conditions and medication, you should not take it. Even if safety is not an issue, you should only consider taking it if the benefit is deemed to be more than the risk. Please consult your health professional should you decide to take the supplement. |
| 0 | Unsafe | You must not take this. Please consult your health professional should you decide otherwise. |
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