Eicosapentaenoic acid, Docosahexaenoic acid (EPA, DHA)
What it is · too little · too much · daily reference values by country
For reference only. This is not a diagnosis or a prescription. If you have concerns, talk to a doctor or pharmacist.
What it is
- DHA is a component of the membrane lipids of the cerebral cortex, and omega-3 fatty acids are especially abundant in nerve cells and the retina. (Korea Ministry of Health and Welfare · Korean Nutrition Society)
- As a component of membrane structural lipids, DHA has several biological functions in the body (e.g. cell membrane stability, neurological development and function). (European Food Safety Authority)
Getting too little
- If arachidonic acid and DHA are low in infancy and early childhood, brain development, vision function, and more may be affected. (Korea Ministry of Health and Welfare · Korean Nutrition Society)
Getting too much
- Mild side effects such as diarrhea, altered taste, and a tendency to bleed have been reported when omega-3 fatty acids are taken as supplements, but the scientific evidence on whether long-term use is safe is not yet clear. (Korea Ministry of Health and Welfare · Korean Nutrition Society)
Daily reference values by country
Korea · US · EU — tap to open
These tables are daily reference values for healthy people. Numbers in the text above are a different kind of value, and you cannot diagnose yourself from them. How to read RDA, AI and UL
Korea — 2025 Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans (Ministry of Health and Welfare)
| Group | AI |
|---|---|
| 0–5 months | 100 mg |
| 6–11 months | 150 mg |
| 1–2 years | 150 mg |
| 3–5 years | 200 mg |
| Male · 6–8 years | 200 mg |
| Male · 9–11 years | 200 mg |
| Male · 12–14 years | 200 mg |
| Male · 15–18 years | 200 mg |
| Male · 19–29 years | 250 mg |
| Male · 30–49 years | 250 mg |
| Male · 50–64 years | 250 mg |
| Male · 65–74 years | 250 mg |
| Male · 75+ years | 250 mg |
| Female · 6–8 years | 200 mg |
| Female · 9–11 years | 200 mg |
| Female · 12–14 years | 200 mg |
| Female · 15–18 years | 200 mg |
| Female · 19–29 years | 250 mg |
| Female · 30–49 years | 250 mg |
| Female · 50–64 years | 250 mg |
| Female · 65–74 years | 250 mg |
| Female · 75+ years | 250 mg |
EU — EFSA (European Food Safety Authority)
| Group | AI | UL |
|---|---|---|
| 7–11 months | 100 mg | |
| 1–1 years | 100 mg | |
| 2–3 years | 250 mg | |
| 4–17 years | 250 mg | |
| 18+ years | 250 mg | — |
| Pregnancy · 18–60 years | — | |
| Lactation · 18–60 years | — | |
| Pregnancy · 18+ years | — | |
| Lactation · 18+ years | — |
Sources
- EFSA DRV Finder (Dietary Reference Values) · checked 2026-10-07
- EFSA DRV Finder — nutrient descriptions · checked 2026-10-07
- EFSA Overview on Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (v11, August 2025) · checked 2026-10-07
- 2025 Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans, Vol. 1: Energy and Macronutrients (Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare · The Korean Nutrition Society; in Korean) · checked 2026-10-07
- 2025 Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans — summary tables (Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare · The Korean Nutrition Society; in Korean) · checked 2026-10-07
The sentences are plain-language summaries of official sources written by SuppleBoard. Each English sentence was checked against the source text by an AI reviewer before publishing. The agencies do not endorse this site. Published 2026-10-16.