Evidence supporting the use of: EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)
For the health condition: Stress

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is an omega-3 fatty acid found primarily in fish oil. Its use to support or treat stress is based on emerging scientific evidence rather than traditional medicine. Several studies suggest that omega-3 fatty acids, particularly EPA, may help modulate the body’s response to psychological stress. The proposed mechanisms include anti-inflammatory effects, modulation of neurotransmitter systems (such as serotonin and dopamine), and influence on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity, which governs stress responses. However, the clinical evidence specifically linking EPA supplementation to reductions in perceived stress or biological stress markers in humans is limited and mixed. Some randomized controlled trials have reported modest benefits of omega-3 supplementation (with high EPA content) in reducing symptoms of stress, anxiety, or mood disturbances, particularly in populations under chronic stress or with depressive symptoms. Meta-analyses often note that the effect sizes are generally small and that study heterogeneity is high. The bulk of the evidence is stronger for EPA’s role in mood disorders like depression rather than in acute or chronic stress per se. In summary, while there is a plausible biological rationale and preliminary clinical data supporting EPA’s potential benefit in stress, the evidence is not robust or consistent enough for strong clinical recommendations. Therefore, EPA's use for stress is best described as scientifically plausible but not well-established, meriting a moderate evidence rating.

More about EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)
More about Stress

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

Products containing EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)

Thorne Advanced DHA
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
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
Metagenics OmegaGenics Fish Oil EPA 1200 mg
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
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