How to Take Eicosapentaenoic acid

Pediatric

• Babies who are breastfed should get enough EPA if their mother is getting enough EPA in her diet.

Adult

• The adequate daily intake of EPA for adults should be at least 220 mg per day.

• In the diet: 2 to 3 servings of fatty fish per week, which is the same as about 1,250 mg EPA and DHA per day.

• Fish oil supplements: 3,000 to 4,000 mg standardized fish oils per day. Read the label to check levels of DHA and EPA, which are not the same as mg of fish oil. People who take blood-thinning medication, such as warfarin (Coumadin), clopidogrel (Plavix), or aspirin, or people who have hemophilia, should ask their doctors what is a safe dose.

Some fish oil supplements also contain vitamin E for freshness. Check the label to see whether the product needs to be refrigerated. DO NOT use products beyond their expiration date.