eicosapentaenoic acid

noun

ei·​co·​sa·​pen·​ta·​e·​no·​ic acid ˌī-kō-sə-ˌpen-tə-ē-ˈnō-ik- 

: an omega-3 fatty acid C₂₀H₃₀O₂ found especially in fish oils

Examples of eicosapentaenoic acid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There are three main types of omega-3 fatty acids: alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), per the ODS. —Hannah Yasharoff, USA Today, 7 Apr. 2025

There are three main types of omega-3 fats: docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). —Jillian Kubala, Health, 24 Mar. 2025

Made from the tissue of oily fish (like the ones above), fish oil is just a straight, potent stuff filled with a mix of fatty acids, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). —Alessandra Signorelli, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2025

Salmon is an excellent source of the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which have powerful anti-inflammatory properties. —Jillian Kubala, Rd, Health, 27 Jan. 2025

There are several types of omega-3s, but the most common ones used in research are known by their initials: ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). —Allison Herries, Verywell Health, 14 Jan. 2025

The omega-3 fatty acids include docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). —Melissa Nieves, Verywell Health, 8 Jan. 2025

Sardines Sardines are an excellent source of the anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). —Jillian Kubala, Health, 16 Dec. 2024

The goal: to identify specialized pro-resolving mediators, produced by the body from omega-3 fatty acids, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), during the resolution phase of acute inflammation. —Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary eicosa- twenty (from Greek eikosa-, from eikosi) + penta- + -ene + -oic — more at vigesimal

First Known Use

1921, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for eicosapentaenoic acid

• antacid
• placid

Medical Definition

eicosapentaenoic acid

noun

ei·​co·​sa·​pen·​ta·​e·​no·​ic acid ˌī-kō-sə-ˌpen-tə-ē-ˌnō-ik-, -i-ˌnō-ik- 

: an omega-3 fatty acid C₂₀H₃₀O₂ found especially in the oil of cold-water fish (such as salmon, mackerel, and herring)

—abbreviation EPA