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EPA (20:5n-3) is a 20-carbon omega-3 that: (1) COMPETES with arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4n-6) for membrane phospholipid incorporation — higher EPA:AA ratio = less inflammatory substrate available; (2) is converted by COX-2 into PGE3 (weakly inflammatory) instead of PGE2 (strongly inflammatory); (3) is converted by 5-LOX into LTB5 (weakly chemotactic) instead of LTB4 (strongly chemotactic); (4) is converted by 15-LOX into resolvin E1/E2 — specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) that actively promote inflammation RESOLUTION (clearing neutrophils, stimulating macrophage efferocytosis); (5) suppresses NF-κB activation via GPR120 receptor. For depression: EPA reduces neuroinflammation (microglial activation) and increases BDNF — both mechanisms relevant to depression pathophysiology.
Based on independent third-party laboratory analysis
Category pass rate: ~90% of fish oil products passed content testing. Rancidity is the primary failure mode — ~10% of products are already oxidized before opening.
Contamination risk: MODERATE. All tested products passed heavy metal testing. Mercury, lead, cadmium all below detection limits. Fish oil purification processes (molecular distillation) effectively remove contaminants.
Independently graded against 173,636 indexed supplements with 177 published clinical interactions, sourced from PubMed, FDA CAERS, openFDA, and NIH DSLD | Last updated:
Not medical advice. Based on published clinical research and systematic reviews.
EPA · interaction landscape
6 flagged
3
Dangerous
2
Moderate
0
Timing
1
Pre-op
Safety
Clinically significant interactions per published research. Talk to your prescriber or pharmacist before using this supplement if you take any of these.
Warfarin (Coumadin)
SourcePMID: 25062404
Clopidogrel (Plavix)
SourceFDA label
High-dose Aspirin
SourceClinical consensus
Moderate interactions. Monitoring, timing separation, or dose adjustment may be required.
Blood pressure medications
SourceClinical consensus
Orlistat (Alli)
SourceFDA label
Stop 2 weeks before surgery
Bleeding risk from antiplatelet effect.
Educational information only. This is not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Talk to your prescriber before starting, stopping, or combining any supplement with prescription medication.