What is "eicosapentaenoic acid"

n. An omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), having 20 carbon atoms and 5 ''cis'' double bonds, that acts as a precursor for prostaglandin-3, thromboxane-3, and leukotriene-5 eicosanoids.

n. an omega-3 fatty acid with 20 carbon atoms; found in fish (especially tuna and bluefish)

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA or also icosapentaenoic acid) is an omega-3 fatty acid. In physiological literature, it is given the name 20:5(n-3). It also has the trivial name timnodonic acid. In chemical structure, EPA is a carboxylic acid with a 20- carbon chain and five cis double bonds; the first double bond is located at the third carbon from the omega end.

EPA is a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) that acts as a precursor for prostaglandin-3 (which inhibits platelet aggregation), thromboxane-3, and leukotriene-5 eicosanoids. Studies of fish oil supplements, which contain EPA, have failed to support claims of preventing heart attacks or strokes.