DHA, or docosahexaenoic acid, and EPA, or eicosapentaenoic acid, both classify as omega-3-acid ethyl esters, a good type of fatty acid that can help decrease your high cholesterol. You can find both of these in common fish oil supplements because fish oil contains them both. These fatty acids can help you prevent heart disease by keeping you arteries and blood vessels clear of fatty deposits from triglycerides, part of cholesterol. DHA specifically may help children in particular to grow up healthy, For this reason, you may find DHA alone most often in prenatal vitamins. DHA may induce some side effects.
Muscle Aches
Aches in your muscles can occur with DHA supplement consumption, Drugs.com indicates. You may experience this common side effect the first couple of days, but it soon will go away on its own. You will reap the benefits of fish oil as it too helps with chronic back pain. If the muscle aches do not go away after a few days to a week of consumption, call your practitioner for treatment.
Upset Stomach
You may suffer from nausea or an upset stomach when first taking DHA supplements, RxList.com indicates. This occurs commonly during your adjustment period to a new supplement. You can avoid or at least lessen this side effect by taking the supplement with a meal. Eating food with your fish oil supplement will provide your stomach with contents so the fish oil will have less chance of possibly irritating the lining. If you continue to experience side effects from DHA, call your doctor.
Headaches
Headaches may happen when you first take DHA omega-3, Drugs.com indicates. This common side effect should leave you after a few days of use. Once your body becomes used to the fish oil, you should not experience the side effect any longer. If you do still get headaches, consult your doctor because headaches may indicate an underlying health issue exists.
Taste Changes
Food may taste different to you once you start taking the supplement, but usually this taste change will dissipate with further use. You may not like the same foods. Tell your doctor if this common side effect does not go away after a few days of consumption, Drugs.com recommends.
Bleeding
The use of DHA omega-3 as a supplement may cause bleeding concerns as side effects, RxList.com reports. You may bleed from even a small cut for a longer period that you normally would. If you injure yourself without breaking the skin, a bruise may develop. You may notice the blood welling up under your skin in excess of what you usually would see for the level of injury. Unless such bleeding continues or appears serious, it should decrease and then end as your body acclimates to DHA.
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