Research
Mixed
EPA and DHA modify cell membrane structure and function, leading to altered lipid mediator production (eicosanoids, resolvins, protectins) and gene expression, which underlies their anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating effects.
Consuming EPA and DHA changes how your cells work. They become more fluid, produce different signaling molecules (some anti-inflammatory), and change which genes are turned on or off. This is how fish oil exerts its health benefits.
StrongSupportsVERY_HIGH confidence
Increased content of EPA and DHA modifies the structure of cell membranes and the function of membrane proteins. EPA and DHA modulate the production of lipid mediators and through effects on cell signalling can alter the patterns of gene expression.
Why this rating
Well-established biochemical pathways described in detail.
Source
Very long-chain<i>n</i>-3 fatty acids and human health: fact, fiction and the future
Philip C. Calder · Proceedings of The Nutrition Society · 2017
DOI 10.1017/s0029665117003950
narrative_reviewCited 395×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Increased intake of EPA and DHA lowers the risk of coronary heart disease and cardiovascular mortality, primarily through the modification of risk factors such as triglycerides, blood pressure, and inflammation, as well as through anti-arrhythmic and anti-thrombotic mechanisms.Good
- Increased intake of EPA and DHA improves quality of life, appetite, and physical functioning in cancer patients, particularly those with non-small cell lung cancer and head/neck squamous cell cancer, and may enhance chemotherapy efficacy.Moderate
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