eicosapentaenoic acid

**Eicosapentaenoic acid** is a C20 polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid found in fish oils and other marine lipid sources. In biological systems, the naturally occurring all-cis form is incorporated into membrane phospholipids and serves as a precursor of omega-3-derived eicosanoids, including prostaglandin-3 and thromboxane-3 series mediators; it can also alter arachidonic-acid eicosanoid metabolism. The unqualified chemical name is stereochemically nonspecific, although nutritional and clinical literature commonly uses it to refer to naturally occurring all-cis EPA. It has been studied as an oral intervention, including in colorectal cancer liver metastases. It must not be conflated with **icosapent ethyl**, the distinct ethyl-ester pharmaceutical active ingredient in Vascepa. ([pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov](https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Icosapent))

Brand names

Vascepa

Other names

EPAeicosa-5,8,11,14,17-pentaenoic acideicosapentanoic acid