Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a type of Omega-3 fatty acid that is a primary structural component of the human brain, cerebral cortex, skin, and retina. It can be synthesized from Alpha-linolenic acid or obtained directly from maternal milk or fish oil.

Pronunciation

DHA is pronounced as /ˌdoʊkoʊsəˌheksəˈɛnoʊɪk ˈæsɪd/

Etymology

The term "Docosahexaenoic acid" comes from the Greek word "Dokosa" which means 22, and "hexa" which means six. This refers to the 22 carbon atoms and 6 double bonds in the chemical structure of DHA.

Related Terms

• Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)
• Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
• Omega-3 fatty acid
• Brain
• Cerebral cortex
• Skin
• Retina

See Also

• Fatty acid metabolism
• Essential fatty acid
• Polyunsaturated fat

References

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