EPA & DHA Concentration (Percent)

Why EPA and DHA matter in labels

  • Fish oil grams (for example, "1000 mg fish oil") describe total oil, not EPA + DHA.
  • Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are two long‑chain omega‑3 fatty acids often shown separately on labels.
  • Charts in VIOscan show EPA and DHA explicitly to avoid confusion about total oil vs active omega‑31,2.

How concentration relates to health effects

  • Clinical papers report EPA and DHA grams, not grams of “fish oil”.
  • Concentration changes how many capsules deliver the same EPA+DHA intake.
  • The same EPA+DHA dose can come from fewer concentrated capsules or more standard ones.
  • Outcomes depend on dose, formulation, and adherence; concentration is only one factor.
  • Form (TG, EE, FFA, PL) and taking with a fat‑containing meal can affect absorption (see references).
  • Labels may list “per serving” as 2–3 capsules; compute per capsule and per serving.
  • Higher concentration changes active‑to‑oil ratio.

How to calculate EPA and DHA percent

  • Per capsule or per serving, find: EPA (mg), DHA (mg), and total oil (mg).
  • EPA percent = EPA (mg) ÷ total oil (mg) × 100.
  • DHA percent = DHA (mg) ÷ total oil (mg) × 100.
  • EPA + DHA percent = (EPA + DHA) ÷ total oil × 100.

Label math: examples

  • Example A: 1000 mg fish oil; EPA 330 mg; DHA 220 mg → EPA+DHA = 550 mg → 55% EPA+DHA.
  • Example B: 1000 mg fish oil; EPA 600 mg; DHA 300 mg → EPA+DHA = 900 mg → 90% EPA+DHA.
  • Example C: 1200 mg fish oil; EPA 432 mg; DHA 288 mg → EPA+DHA = 720 mg → 60% EPA+DHA.

Key concepts

  • Total oil is not the same as EPA+DHA. The percent shows the active omega‑3 fraction.
  • Natural fish oils are often ~18–30% EPA+DHA. Concentrates can reach 60–90%.
  • Processing (urea complexation, winterization, enzymatic steps, supercritical CO2) changes profile and concentration.
  • Forms differ: triglycerides (TG), ethyl esters (EE), free fatty acids (FFA), phospholipids (PL). A meal with fat can increase absorption, especially for EE.
  • Always compute EPA%, DHA%, and EPA+DHA% from mg per capsule or per serving.
EPA and DHA percent comparison across fish oil concentrations
EPA and DHA percent comparison across fish oil concentrations (examples).

Related sections

References

  1. Shahidi F, Ambigaipalan P. Omega‑3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and their health benefits. Annual Review of Food Science and Technology. 2018. Annual Review of Food Science and Technology
  2. Rubio‑Rodríguez N, de Diego SM, Beltrán S, Jaime I, Sanz MT, Rovira J. Production of omega‑3 polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrates: A review. Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies. 2010. Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies
  3. Macías‑Sánchez MD, Mantell C, Rodríguez M, Martínez de la Ossa E, Lubián LM, Montero O. Supercritical fluid extraction of fish oil: A review. The Journal of Supercritical Fluids. 2008. The Journal of Supercritical Fluids
  4. Dyerberg J, Madsen P, Møller JM, Aardestrup I, Schmidt EB. Bioavailability of marine n−3 fatty acid formulations. Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids. 2010. Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids
Last Updated: 6 September 2025

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