Carlson® Super DHA™ contains the following elements: Vitamin E Natural, 1000 mg of Fish Body Oil Concentrate, DHA 500mg and EPA 100mg.

EPA and DHA are two of the most potent and sought after Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Carlson®’s Super DHA™ is a formula that spotlights the fact that it contains far more DHA than EPA. In fact, it contains 500mg of DHA and only100mg of EPA, but according to our research, most high performance products contain at least 700 mg of each. However, Carlson® Labs is highlighting DHA because some of its abilities are a tad different than EPA’s and visa versa. But frankly, there is a lot of overlap, and in fact, in some cases they actually have a tag team affect when used together in equal amounts.

The scientists in the U.S. Agricultural Research Service have been conducting a lot of research on Omega-3 Fatty Acids, and they recently found that DHA could help protect people from heart disease without some of the negative side effects that accompany other methods. DHA is also an “essential building block of the brain,” where it helps billions of cells broadcast electrical signals and directions throughout the body. In fact, the brain is heavily comprised of fat—at least 60% of its raw material is fat, with 25% being DHA. This means that it plays a role in mental and retinal health. Individuals who have certain visual disorders, dementia and depression have been shown to have low levels of Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Clearly, DHA is an extremely valuable nutrient, but we feel that EPA should be considered just as important.

EPA is as vital to human health as DHA, and it too has been shown to be able to help augment heart health. It helps prevent the plaque in our arteries from sticking to the artery walls, which reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke. It also plays a vital role in reducing inflammation, especially inflammation associated with arthritis, asthma, cancer and other joint issues. It has been shown to be able to quell the aches and pains that often accompany arthritis, as well as being able to improve flexibility. However, this particular formula only offers users 100 mg of EPA, which is nowhere near enough to do the job, which is unfortunate.

• Contains both EPA and DHA
• Supplement appears to be moderately priced

• Product does not contain optimal amounts of EPA and DHA
• Supplement only contains 100mg of EPA

There may be consumers who are more interested in increasing their body’s access to DHA, and for them, Carlson®’s Super DHA™ may be a viable option. However, even in this instance, it does not contain the optimal amount of DHA. Our research suggests that both EPA and DHA work best in higher dosages. Also, this formula only contains a minimal amount of EPA, which will significantly reduce its ability to help ease and prevent inflammation-related issues including asthma, arthritis, cancer and allergies.

EPA and DHA are teamed up in Fish Oil because they work very well together, especially when it comes to cardiovascular issues, helping boost each other’s strengths ,while reducing their weaknesses. Therefore, we suggest that consumers who want to increase overall health and ease or prevent certain conditions, look for a well-rounded formula that contains at least 700 mg of pharmaceutical-grade DHA and EPA.