Docosahexaenoic Acid ethyl ester (DHA-EE) is an alternate form of Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and an ethyl ester derivative. DHA is an ω3 fatty acid involved in altering the physical properties of membranes and plays an important role in the development of the visual and nervous systems in mammals. Mouse erythrocyte fatty acid studies demonstrate that sn-2 docosahexaenyl monoacylglyceride elevates erythrocyte DHA and plasma levels in comparison to DHA-EE. Other mouse fatty acid studies show that DHA-EE increases 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase activity and does not replicate the affects of fish oil on hepatic fatty acid oxidation. DHA-EE has been used to study the dietary effects of learning in mice and in peroxisomal disorder studies.
