Eicosapentaenoic Acid ethyl ester-d5 (Synonyms: EPA ethyl ester-d5)

Fish oils in the diet have anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular benefits due to an abundance of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).¹ EPA ethyl ester is a stabilized ethyl ester form of this ω-3 C20:5 PUFA. EPA competitively inhibits the metabolism of (ω-6) arachidonic acid by cyclooxygenase enzymes, suggesting that EPA ethyl ester may also directly modulate the actions of enzymes involved in fatty acid metabolism.² In addition, dietary EPA ethyl ester in rats increases fatty acid β-oxidation enzyme levels, indicating that EPA ethyl ester may alter the expression of genes related to fatty acid metabolism.^3,4 Consistent with this concept, dietary supplementation with EPA ethyl ester in rats also down-regulates lipogenic genes, and decreases plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels.⁵ Also, in rats fed a high-fat diet, supplementation with EPA ethyl ester blocks induced insulin resistance and corrects changes in adiponectin levels and TNF-α expression.⁶

1.von Schacky, C.A review of omega-3 ethyl esters for cardiovascular prevention and treatment of increased blood triglyceride levelsVascular Health and Risk Management2(3)251-262(2006) 2.Wada, M., DeLong, C.J., Hong, Y.H., et al.Enzymes and receptors of prostaglandin pathways with arachidonic acid-derived versus eicosapentaenoic acid-derived substrates and productsJ. Biol. Chem.282(31)22254-22266(2007) 3.Hong, D.D., Takahashi, Y., Kushiro, M., et al.Divergent effects of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid ethyl esters, and fish oil on hepatic fatty acid oxidation in the ratBiochimica et Biophysica Acta163529-36(2003) 4.Arachchige, P.G., Takahashi, Y., and Ide, T.Dietary sesamin and docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acids synergistically increase the gene expression of enzymes involved in hepatic peroxisomal fatty acid oxidation in ratsMetabolism: Clinical and Experimental55381-390(2006) 5.PÉrez-Echarri, N., PÉrez-Matute, P., Marcos-GÓmez, B., et al.Down-regulation in muscle and liver lipogenic genes: EPA ethyl ester treatment in lean and overweight (high-fat-fed) ratsJournal of Nutritional Biochemistry(2008) 6.PÉrez-Matute, P., PÉrez-Echarri, N., MartÍnez, J.A., et al.Eicosapentaenoic acid actions on adiposity and insulin resistance in control and high-fat-fed rats: Role of apoptosis, adiponectin and tumor necrosis factor-αBritish Journal of Nutrition97389-398(2007)