title: Short update on docosapentaenoic acid: a bioactive long-chain n-3 fatty acid.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) is a long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid that is intermediary between eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid in the n-3 synthesis pathway. DPA is part of our normal diet through fish and lean red meat. In recent years, DPA has received increasing attention as an important bioactive fatty acid in light of its potential beneficial health effects, which include anti-inflammatory actions, antiplatelet aggregation, and improved plasma lipid prolife. This review provides a short summary of the most recent research on DPA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this review, we report on the latest association data as well as data generated from in-vitro and in-vivo studies on DPA and cardiovascular health, mental health, inflammation, and cancer. We also report on the newly identified DPA metabolites and their effects on exacerbation of inflammation in animal models.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although there is a growing body of evidence supporting DPA's role as an important bioactive fatty acid, there is a need for more 'cause and effect studies', clinical trials and studies which can reveal whether DPA plays separate roles to those identified for eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid.
authors.affiliation: aCentre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research (CPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia bDepartment of Food Science and Nutrition, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China cSchool of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong dDepartment of Nutrition and Dietetics, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia eDepartment of Food Science and Nutrition, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Gunveen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.forename: Xiao-Fei
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Sinclair
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008603:Mental Health; D009369:Neoplasms
chemical_list: D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D004281:Docosahexaenoic Acids; D015118:Eicosapentaenoic Acid; C026219:docosapentaenoic acid