EICOSAPENTAENOIC ACID

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Eicosapentaenoic acid
The chemical structure of eicosapentaenoic acid showing physiological numbering (red) and chemical numbering (blue) conventions.
Chemical name	(5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z,17Z)-icosa-  5,8,11,14,17-pentaenoic acid
Chemical formula
Molecular mass	g/mol
CAS number	[]
Melting point	°C
PubChem	446284
SMILES

'Eicosapentaenoic acid' (EPA or also icosapentaenoic acid) is an omega-3 fatty acid. In physiological literature, it is given the name 20:5(n-3). It also has the trivial name 'timnodonic acid'. Chemically, EPA is a carboxylic acid with a 20-carbon chain and five ''cis'' double bonds; the first double bond is located at the third carbon from the omega end.
:''EPA and its metabolites act in the body largely by their interactions with the metabolites of arachidonic acid; see Essential fatty acid interactions for detail.''
EPA is a polyunsaturated fatty acid that acts as a precursor for prostaglandin-3 (which inhibits platelet aggregation), thromboxane-3 and leukotriene-5 groups (all eicosanoids). It is obtained in the human diet by eating oily fish or fish oil—cod liver, herring, mackerel, salmon, menhaden and sardine. It is also found in human breast milk.
It is available from some non-animal sources—spirulina and microalgae. Microalgae are being deveolped as a commercial source. Water 4 to introduce algae DHA/EPA as food ingredient Jess Halliday EPA is not usually found in higher plants, but it has been reported in trace amounts in purslane. Omega-3 fatty acids in wild plants, nuts and seeds, Simopoulos, Artemis P, , , Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2002
The US National Institute of Health's MedlinePlus lists a large number of conditions in which EPA (alone or in concert with other ω-3 sources) is known or thought to be effective. MedlinePlus Herbs and Supplements: Omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil, alpha-linolenic acid NIH Medline Plus
Most of these involve its ability to lower inflammation.

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References

See also

★ List of omega-3 fatty acids

★ Polyunsaturated fatty acids