I know about EPA/DHA, but what is DPA in Omega 3?
If you are interested in Omega 3 supplements, you are well versed in looking at the EPA/DHA details on labels. In clinic, we would typically start with a minimum recommendation of 1200mg/day of EPA + DHA.

However, there is another form of Omega 3 fatty acid - DPA - which is now appearing on some Omega 3 supplement labels.
What is DPA and how can it change the recommended dosage?
DPA (Docosapentaenoic Acid) is also an Omega 3. It is notable and interesting as it can become either DHA or EPA on demand by the body. Think about DPA as a reservoir of both Omega 3 fatty acids that are part of every cell in your body.
Traditional thinking favors EPA being more targeted for inflammation control and dry eye vs. DHA being more targeted for brain and inside-eye health. DPA is less understood but if it can be both EPA & DHA on demand, perhaps it has more of a regenerative function.
There are certainly some question marks about the efficiency of this conversion and if DPA has its own unique benefits beyond the ability to fluidly convert to the more well-understood forms of Omega 3.
Because it is less well understood, the presence of DPA in an Omega 3 supplement has not changed our recommendation math... yet. The best recommendation for how much Omega 3 to take comes from personalization (see article on Omega 3 Index), however the standard 1200mg/day is our typical clinic advice for dry eye.
See our 2025 Value Omega 3 with DPA - TG GOLD
Additional information: Raise your Understanding of Omega 3 Supplementation, Is Omega 3-6-9 better than just 3?,