DHA

DHA is especially useful for cell membranes and is concentrated in the brain and eye. The article says DHA's high concentrations in the brain and retina explain its importance for cell membrane function there. The retina may contain 30% to 60% DHA by weight. The article rejects the idea that plant-sourced ALA is sufficient for DHA production because conversion is extremely poor. The article says less than 0.5% of ALA is converted to DHA. DHA is a longer omega-3 fatty acid with six unsaturated bonds. The article states that EPA can be converted to DHA, which is a dominant structural building block of the brain and nervous system. The article says insufficient DHA can force the nervous system to substitute other fatty acids, degrading neural signaling quality. The article says fish and fish oil supplements remain the reliable source of DHA, while grass-fed beef, dairy, and butter provide smaller amounts. The article recommends fatty fish and fish oil as the only reliable way to increase DHA.