EPA Better for Men, DHA for Women

CALLAGHAN, AustraliaFish oil is heart healthy for both men and women, but a new study finds the different omega-3s found in the oil affect men and women differently. Researchers from Australia report for healthy individuals, males may benefit more from eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) supplementation while females are more responsive to docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (doi:10.1016/j.numecd.2010.04.012). The reason for the difference may be due to interactions between sex hormones and omega-3 fatty acids and their ability to reduce platelet aggregation.

Platelet aggregation occurs when platelets in the blood clump together. Platelet aggregation is part of the sequence of events leading to the formation of a thrombus (clot), and is a major risk factor for heart attacks and stroke. The long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) EPA and DHA have been shown to reduce platelet aggregation; and previous in vitro studies have demonstrated inhibition of platelet aggregation by both these omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs) is gender specific.

For this study, researchers wanted to study the effects of dietary supplementation with EPA- or DHA-rich oils on platelet aggregation in healthy male and females. They conducted a blinded placebo-controlled trial involving 15 male and 15 female subjects. Platelet aggregation was measured at baseline and 2, 5 and 24 hours after each received a supplement of a single dose of a placebo, an EPA-rich oil capsule, or DHA-rich oil capsules. The relationship between each EFA and platelet activity at each time point was examined according to gender.

They found EPA was significantly the most effective in reducing platelet aggregation in males 2, 5 and 24 hours after the supplement by 11 percent, 10.6 percent and 20.5 percent respectively. However, DHA was not effective relative to placebo in the men.

In contrast, in females, DHA significantly reduced platelet aggregation at 24 hours by 13.7 percent while EPA was not effective.