Eicosapentaenoic acid

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5 n-3) is a long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid that competes with arachidonic acid for cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase, yielding the less inflammatory 3-series eicosanoids and specialised pro-resolving mediators. Salivary EPA reflects long-chain omega-3 status and the capacity to resolve exercise-induced inflammation and support recovery. Calder (2017) established EPA as a central regulator of the inflammatory response and the omega-6/omega-3 balance in athletes.