Eicosapentaenoic acid is used in combination with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in fish oil preparations for a variety of conditions, including preventing and reversing heart disease, and decreasing irregular heartbeats; as well as asthma, cancer, menstrual problems, hot flashes, hay fever, lung diseases, lupus, and kidney disease caused by an immune reaction.
The combination is also used for migraine headache prevention in adolescents, skin infections, Behçet's syndrome, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, psoriasis, Raynaud's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis.
Eicosapentaenoic acid is long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which compete with arachidonic acid for inclusion in cyclo-oxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways.
It's actions include hypolipidaemic action (especially a reduction in plasma triglycerides) by reducing very-low-density lipoproteins; anti-inflammatory action, attributed to effects on leukotriene synthesis; and antiplatelet effect, attributed to effects on prostanoid synthesis, which promote vasodilatation, reduction in platelet aggregation, increased bleeding time and decreased platelet counts.
- Nausea
- Gastrointestinal discomfort
- Burping
- Vomiting
- Joint,back and muscle pain
- Diarrhea
- Nosebleed
When used in amounts greater than 3 grams per day, eicosapentaenoic acid can thin the blood and increase the risk for bleeding.
If you are sensitive to aspirin, eicosapentaenoic acid might affect your breathing.
Eicosapentaenoic acid might lower blood pressure.