EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) vs. Docosahexaenoic Acid Ethyl Ester
Among 2,024 on-market omega-3 fatty acids (epa + dha) products with an identifiable primary form, 58% use EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) (1,173 products) and 3.8% use Docosahexaenoic Acid Ethyl Ester (77).
| EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) | Docosahexaenoic Acid Ethyl Ester | |
|---|---|---|
| Quality tier | Tier 1 | Tier 3 |
| Omega-3 Fatty Acids (EPA + DHA) by weight | — | — |
| Share of market | 58% | 3.8% |
| On-market products | 1,173 | 77 |
| Median declared dose | 630 mg middle half: 300.1–1,000 | 500 mg middle half: 500–500 |
| Most common brands | Metagenics, Life Extension, Douglas Laboratories | Nature Made, Carlson, Schiff MegaRed |
Doses are declared per serving in mg. “By weight” is the share of the ingredient that is the nutrient itself (e.g. elemental magnesium in a magnesium salt).
Why EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) is tier 1
Re-esterified triglyceride form of EPA/DHA showed the highest bioavailability index (124%) vs ethyl ester (73%) and free fatty acid (91%) in a 72-subject comparison; plain/natural triglyceride EPA is the well-absorbed baseline.
Source: Dyerberg J et al. 2010, PMID 20638827
Why Docosahexaenoic Acid Ethyl Ester is tier 3
Ethyl ester form had the lowest bioavailability index (73%) of the forms tested, especially without a fat-containing meal, due to slower pancreatic lipase hydrolysis.
Source: Dyerberg J et al. 2010, PMID 20638827