The proportion of DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, in your red blood cells.
DHA, or docosahexaenoic acid, is a long-chain omega-3 fatty acid that is a major building block of the brain, eyes, and nerve cell membranes. It comes mainly from oily fish and algae. This test reports how much DHA sits in your red blood cell membranes, as a percentage of all fatty acids there.
Because red blood cells live for about four months, this percentage reflects your average DHA status over weeks rather than your last meal.
DHA is central to brain and eye health and, with EPA, to heart health. It is the larger contributor to the Omega-3 Index in most people. A low DHA percentage is common in those who rarely eat oily fish or take omega-3 supplements.
Seeing DHA on its own helps show whether your intake is reaching the tissues that depend on it most.
Aniva reads your result against research-backed ranges, not just the lab's wide normal. The reference shown below is specific to this biomarker.
There is no single official cut-off for DHA alone. It is interpreted as part of the Omega-3 Index, where EPA plus DHA above 8% of red blood cell fatty acids is considered desirable. DHA values vary with diet and supplements. Ranges depend on the lab and method.
You learn your long-term DHA status as a clear percentage and how it feeds into your overall omega-3 picture. A low value can guide oily fish, algae, or supplement choices within a personalized action plan.
Recent changes in fish or supplement intake take weeks to show in the membrane value. Methods differ between labs, so compare results from the same assay.
Best read alongside the Omega-3 Index, EPA percentage, and ALA percentage.
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