Evidence supporting the use of: DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)
For the health condition: Stress
Synopsis
Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is an omega-3 fatty acid most commonly associated with brain health, cognitive function, and development. Its use to support or treat stress is based on emerging scientific interest, though robust clinical evidence is limited. Several observational and interventional studies have examined the relationship between omega-3 fatty acid intake and stress-related outcomes, such as perceived stress, anxiety, and mood disorders. Some research suggests that omega-3 supplementation—including DHA—may help modulate the body's response to stress by influencing neuroinflammation, neurotransmitter function, and neuronal membrane fluidity. For example, a few small clinical trials have reported that omega-3 supplementation can reduce perceived stress or anxiety scores in certain populations, such as medical students or individuals under chronic stress. However, these effects are often modest, and studies frequently use a combination of EPA and DHA rather than DHA alone, making it difficult to isolate DHA’s specific impact. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses generally conclude that while there may be a potential benefit, the quality and consistency of evidence are not strong. Therefore, the use of DHA for stress is scientifically plausible but not definitively validated, and more large-scale, well-controlled studies are needed. Its use is not strongly rooted in traditional medicine for this purpose.
Other ingredients used for Stress
5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)7,8-Dihydroxyflavone
7-Keto-DHEA
Acetyl L-carnitine
Acetyl-L-Tyrosine
Agarwood
Agastache
Agmatine
Agrimony
Akebia
Albizia
Algal protein
Alpha lactalbumin
alpha-pinene
AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)
anemarrhena asphodeloides
anise
Anserina
antler
Antrodia camphorata
apigenin
Aralia
Arginine aspartate
arjun tree
arjuna
ashitaba
ashwagandha
asparagus
astragalus
baccosides
Bacopa
Bacopin
bacoside
baicalein
baicalin
Baikal Skullcap
banana
banyan
Basidiomycota
bee pollen
benegut perilla (proprietary)
bergamot
betony
Bifidobacteria
Bifidobacterium bifidum
Bifidobacterium lactis
Bifidobacterium longum
biota seed
bird\'s nest
black ginger
Black spruce
black tea
bonito peptide
borage
brahmi
Buddha\'s hand
Bupleurum
bupleurum falcatum
C-phycocyanin
calamus
Calea zacatechichi
California poppy
Canscora
Capitate Valerian
cardamom
caterpillar mushroom
catnip
catuaba
Celastrus
Centella asiatica
Centella triterpenes
chaga mushroom
chamomile
cherimoya
Chinese fleeceflower
Chinese mountain ant
chocolate
chuchuhuasi
Clary sage
Clerodendrum phlomidis
coca
cocoa
Codonopsis
Convolvulus pluricaulis
Convolvulus prostratus
cordyceps
coriander
corktree
Corydalis
cowslip
curcumin
Cymbopogon martini
cypress
damiana
date
devil\'s club
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)
dibenzo-alpha pyrones
dismutase
dodeca-2E, 4E, 8Z, 10Z/tetraenoic acid isobutylamide
dodeca-2E, 4E-dienoic acid isobutylamide
dong quai root
eleuthero
emblicanin
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)
epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)
Eplotab
Erythrina
Eurycoma Longifolia
Ficus religiosa
fish
fish protein
flavones
fo-ti
fragrant rosewood
frankincense
Fumaria parviflora
GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid)
galactooligosaccharides
gardenia
gastrodin
Gelsemium
Ginsenosides
Glycine
goji berry
goldthread
gotu kola
green tea
Griffonia simplicifolia
guayusa
gum
heartwood
Hemidesmus
hericium mushroom
hibiscus
Homalomena
honeybush
Honokiol
hops
Hypericum
isoliquiritigenin
Japanese kadsura
jasmine
Jatamansi
jiaogulan
jujube
jujubosides
kanna
kava
kavalactones
kola nut
kuding tea
kudzu
Kukicha
L-ornithine
L-taurine
L-theanine
L-tryptophan
l-tyrosine
lactalbumin
lactiplantibacillus plantarum
lactium casein decapeptide
Lactobacillus brevis
Lactobacillus casei
Lactobacillus helveticus
Lactococcus rhamnosus
Lactucarium
Lactucopicrin
Large-leaved linden
Lavandin
lavender
lemon balm
Lentinula edodes mycelia
Leptadenia
limonene
linden
lingzhi
lion's mane
liquid liver fractions
longan
lotus
lupulinum
Lycium
maca
macaenes
macamides
magnesium
magnolia
magnolol
mandarin
mangiferin
maral root
Marjoram
Matcha
Mate
Meadow sage
Melatonin
Mentha haplocalyx
Mesembrine
Methylxanthine
Mimosa
Mimulus
Mint
Mistletoe
Monkey flower
Motherwort
Muira puama
Mulberry
Mulungu
Mung bean
Myrcene
Nardostachys
Night jessamine
noni
Nymphaea caerulea
oat
oolong tea
orchid
oriental arborvitae
Oxindole alkaloids
passionflower
Passionfruit
Patchouli oil
Pentatropis capensis
Pepper Bark Tree
Peppermint
perilla
phosphatidylserine
phospholipids
pine bark
Piper chaba
Pistachio
Polygala
polygala root
poppy
pregnenolone
Purple Monkeyflower
pyrroloquinoline disodium salt
pyrroloquinoline quinone
quail egg
Rauvolfia
Rehmannia
relora® (proprietary)
Rhodiola
Rooibos
Rosabin
rosavins
rose
rose oil
Safed musli
saffron
Safranal
Salidroside
Sandy Everlasting
Sarivan
sarsaparilla
sceletium
Schisandrins
Schizandrol A
Scleranthus annus
Semecarpus anacardium
sesame
Shankhpushpi
Shataverins
Shilajit
Sida cordifolia
silk tree
skullcap
spearmint leaf
Speedwell
Spikenard
spinach
St. John's Wort
Stachytarpheta cayennensis
star of Bethlehem
suma
Sumbul
Sweet Woodruff
Tagara
Taurine
Taxillus chinensis
Tetracyclic oxindole alkaloids
Tetrahydropalmatine
Traveler's Joy
Trichilia catigua
Trichopus zeylanicus
Uncaria
Valerenic acid
Valerian root
Vanilla
velvet bean
Verbena
Vetiver
Viburnum
Vine tea
vitamin B12
vitamin B6
Vitexin
Waterhyssop
whole adrenal glandular
Withanolides
Wogonin
Wood betony
Xanthine
Xanthone
Xanthophyll
Xylaria nigripes
Yellow-Fruit Nightshade
Yerba mate
Ylang ylang
Yohimbine
Yumberry
Yuzu
Zinc
Other health conditions supported by DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)
Alzheimer's DiseaseAnxiety
Arthritis
Asthma
Autism
Bipolar Mood Disorder
Cancer (natural therapy for)
Cancer (prevention)
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)
Cardiovascular Disease
Cholesterol (high)
Circulation (poor)
Circulation (to the brain)
Concentration (poor)
Concussions
Confusion
Congestive Heart Failure
Convulsions
Coordination
Dementia
Depression
Diabetes
Inflammation
Inflammatory Bowel Disorders
Macular Degeneration
Memory and Brain Function
Metabolic Syndrome
Migraine
Parkinson's Disease
Peripheral Neuropathy
Post Partum Depression
Pregnancy (herbs and supplements for)
Psoriasis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Schizophrenia
Stress
Strokes
Triglycerides (high)
Products containing DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)
Thorne
Advanced DHA
Vitabase
Brain Support
Vitabase
Complete Essential Fatty Acids
Pure Encapsulations
DHA Ultimate
Pure Encapsulations
DHA Ultimate
Pure Encapsulations
EFA Essentials
Pure Encapsulations
Energize Plus™ Pure Pack
Pure Encapsulations
EPA/DHA
Pure Encapsulations
EPA/DHA essentials 1,000 mg
Pure Encapsulations
EPA/DHA essentials 1,000 mg
Vitabase
EPA / DHA Omega-3
Pure Encapsulations
EPA/DHA with Lemon
Pure Encapsulations
EPA Ultimate
Klean Athlete
Klean Omega ™
Douglas Laboratories
Krill Oil
Pure Encapsulations
Krill-Plex
Pure Encapsulations
Krill-Plex
Metagenics
MetaKids DHA
Metagenics
MetaKids Nutrition Powder Chocolate
Metagenics
MetaKids Nutrition Powder Vanilla
Pure Encapsulations
NeuroMood Pure Pack
Pure Encapsulations
O.N.E.™ Omega
Pure Encapsulations
O.N.E.™ Omega
Thorne
Omega-3 w/ CoQ10
Thorne
Omega Superb Lemon Berry
Metagenics
OmegaGenics Algae EPA-DHA 300 mg
Metagenics
OmegaGenics EPA DHA 2400 Fish Oil
Metagenics
OmegaGenics EPA-DHA 300 Lemon Lime
Metagenics
OmegaGenics Fish Oil EPA-DHA 1000 mg
Metagenics
OmegaGenics Fish Oil EPA-DHA 1000 mg
Metagenics
OmegaGenics Fish Oil EPA-DHA 500 mg
Metagenics
OmegaGenics Fish Oil EPA-DHA 500 mg
Metagenics
OmegaGenics Fish Oil EPA-DHA 720 mg
Metagenics
OmegaGenics Fish Oil EPA-DHA 720 mg
Metagenics
OmegaGenics Fish Oil EPA-DHA 720 mg
Metagenics
OmegaGenics Fish Oil Mega 10®
Metagenics
OmegaGenics Neuro 1000 mg
Designs For Health
OmegAvail™ Hi-Po
Designs For Health
OmegAvail™ Hi-Po
Designs For Health
OmegAvail™ Hi-Po Liquid
Designs For Health
OmegAvail™ Liquid
Designs For Health
OmegAvail™ Synergy
Designs For Health
OmegAvail™ Synergy
Designs For Health
OmegAvail™ TG1000
Designs For Health
OmegAvail™ Ultra
Designs For Health
OmegAvail™ Ultra
Designs For Health
OmegAvail™ Ultra DHA
Designs For Health
OmegAvail™ Ultra with Vitamin D3, K1 and K2
Douglas Laboratories
Opti-EPA 500 ™ Cholesterol Free
Douglas Laboratories
Opti-EPA 500 ™ Cholesterol Free
Metagenics
PlusOne® Daily Prenatal Packs
Thorne
Prenatal DHA
Pure Encapsulations
Pro-Resolve Omega
Thorne
Pro-Resolving Mediators
Integrative Therapeutics
Pure Omega HP
Integrative Therapeutics
Pure Omega Liquid
Integrative Therapeutics
Pure Omega Ultra HP
Pure Encapsulations
PureNutrients EPA/DHA
Douglas Laboratories
QÜELL® FISH OIL DHA Ultra SPM
Douglas Laboratories
QUELL Fish Oil ® - EPA/DHA Plus D
Metagenics
SPM Active
Thorne
Super EPA
Thorne
Super EPA NSF
Thorne
Super EPA Pro
Vitabase
Super Omega-3
Douglas Laboratories
Ultra G.L.A. Borage Oil
Douglas Laboratories
Ultra G.L.A. Borage Oil
Pure Encapsulations
Ultra Pure Pack
Pure Encapsulations
VisionPro EPA/DHA/GLA
Pure Encapsulations
VisionPro EPA/DHA/GLA
Metagenics
Wellness Essentials Active Daily Packs
Metagenics
Wellness Essentials Brain Health Daily Packs
Metagenics
Wellness Essentials® Daily Packs
Metagenics
Wellness Essentials Healthy Balance Daily Packs
Metagenics
Wellness Essentials Men's Vitality Daily Packs
Metagenics
Wellness Essentials Women's Daily Packs
Metagenics
Wellness Essentials Women's Prime Daily Packs
Designs For Health
XanthOmega™ Krill Oil
