DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)Does DHA lower inflammation?
Updated 9 Nov 2026
Short answer
Some blood markers of inflammation fall. In the ComparED trial, 154 adults with abdominal obesity and low-grade inflammation took 2.7 g of DHA or of EPA a day for 10 weeks each. DHA lowered interleukin-18, a signal of inflammation, by 7.0%, and EPA by 0.5%.[1] Changes in CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α did not differ between DHA and EPA.[1]
A 2026 review of 96 trials found that omega-3 supplements lowered CRP, TNF-α and IL-6. Products with more DHA than EPA gave the largest falls in cytokines, the signal proteins of inflammation. Doses of 1 to 3 g of EPA and DHA a day gave the most consistent falls. These trials measured blood markers, not symptoms.[2]
Sources (2)
- A randomized, crossover, head-to-head comparison of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid supplementation to reduce inflammation markers in men and women: the Comparing EPA to DHA (ComparED) Study. Allaire J, Couture P, Leclerc M, Charest A, Marin J, Lépine MC, et al. Am J Clin Nutr, 2016. PMID 27281302
- Role of the EPA: DHA dosing ratio in omega-3 supplements on blood fatty acid profiles and inflammation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Khabir Z, Abdelhafez A, Camponovo F, Joyce P, Garcia-Bennett A Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 2026. PMID 41568426
More about dha (docosahexaenoic acid)
What is DHA?How much DHA is recommended in pregnancy?What is the difference between DHA and EPA?What is DHA used for?Can the body make its own DHA?Which foods are high in DHA?For education; not medical advice. Talk to a doctor before you start, stop or change a supplement.