DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid): A Biomolecule with Diverse Roles and Health Benefits

With the increasing interest in health and nutrition for longevity of life and more performance ability, the idea of health foods and nutrients has attracted more research and studies. Omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a nutrient molecule with various diverse roles and health benefits in the human body. Though DHA originally comes from microalgae and sea plants, the main source of DHA is fish, shellfish, and fish oils. DHA is a key nutrient with a structural and functional role in the cell membrane and cell organelles, and abundant in brain and eye. It is good for the heart, and protective against heart diseases. It is rather a very ancient molecule with more modern concepts. Really, DHA has been proven to be a key nutrient that is required in the processes of physical and mental development and health, and prevention of diseases throughout the life span. Driven by the values of physical and mental health, the demand for DHA in the international market is expected to grow. This review is an attempt to update the research findings about DHA and its health benefits in an easy and lucid way.