​About Health DHA™ & Progress Biotech

Health DHA™ is an initiative of Progress Biotech, aiming to provide an overview of scientific findings on the health benefits of DHA. Contemporary publications of studies researching the role of DHA in health and disease are processed into comprehensible reports. We continuously update this site to offer high quality scientific information in clear language to anyone who might be interested.

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Progress Biotech is a Dutch company, focussing on high quality biotech products for food, nutraceutical and pharma applications. At present, our focus is biotechnologically produced Omega 3, DHA products, from the widely accepted algae species Schizochytrium. The oil is refined and concentrated to EU standards resulting in different grades of DHA algal oil. Progress Biotech is the holder of the EU novel food licence for this product. For more product information, please visit www.progressbiotech.com

            ​About DHA             

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an omega-3 fatty acid that is known for its various roles in human health. It belongs to a class of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which includes omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. In minimal amounts, the body is able to convert omega-3 fatty acid alfa-linoleic acid (ALA) into eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), which can be further converted into DHA. However, this process is very inefficient and conversion rates vary per person. Therefore, intake of DHA through dietary sources is necessary to maintain sufficient levels in support of a healthy life. This can be done by consuming fatty fish or by consuming supplementation containing DHA.

Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are crucial components of cell membranes and play pivotal roles in various physiological processes, including inflammation regulation, brain function, and cardiovascular health. The primary distinction between these two types lies in their chemical structure and biological functions. Omega-3 fatty acids, such as DHA, EPA and ALA are known for their anti-inflammatory properties, wheras omega-6 fatty acids, such as linoleic acid (LA) and arachidonic acid (AA), are often associated with pro-inflammatory responses.

DHA exists in various forms, including esterified and triglyceride (TG) forms, each with distinct bioavailability and metabolic pathways. Once consumed, DHA undergoes metabolism to produce various bioactive metabolites, including specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs), which play crucial roles in resolving inflammation and maintaining tissue homeostasis.

The health benefits associated with DHA have been researched intensively and new studies are continuously being carried out. DHA is, amongst others, well-known for its role in supporting brain development and function, cardiovascular health, eye health, and many more functions. More detailed information about the role of DHA in health and disease can be found on the page ‘Themes’.

In conclusion, DHA is a vital omega-3 fatty acid with many associated health benefits. In contemporary western diets, sufficient dietary intake of DHA is often not achieved. The  essential role of DHA in supporting various physiological processes emphasizes the need to ensure our body has sufficient levels of DHA, which can be achieved by dietary intake of foods rich in DHA and supplementation.