Docosahexaenoic Acid

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome and neurodevelopmental abnormalities continues to rise, and the clinical value of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids has received increasing attention. Among them, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an essential n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid for the human body, is an important structural component of tissues such as the cerebral cortex and retina, and exerts effects by participating in processes including cell membrane fluidity regulation, inflammatory mediator inhibition and nerve signal transduction. In clinical practice, this API is widely used in nutritional supplements for premature infants and infant formulas. It can also assist in improving the blood lipid levels of patients with hyperlipidemia, and provide support for nutritional intervention of diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and dry eye syndrome, covering applicable people of all age groups.

At present, the global market size of docosahexaenoic acid API has exceeded 1.2 billion US dollars, with a compound annual growth rate of around 8%. The market presents a two-track competition pattern: algae-derived DHA accounts for more than 65% of the market share due to no risk of heavy metal enrichment and suitability for vegetarians, and its production is mainly concentrated in China, the United States and other regions; fish oil-derived DHA occupies the middle and low-end market by virtue of its cost advantage. In terms of the domestic market, with the upgrading of infant formula food standards and the release of consumer demand for dietary supplements, the annual growth rate of demand for docosahexaenoic acid API has reached 12% in the past three years, and the procurement of nutrition-related preparations under centralized procurement has further promoted the expansion of compliant production capacity of upstream APIs.

Docosahexaenoic acid is a natural nutritional component with no clear single original research enterprise. The earliest commercial product was launched by Martek Biosciences Corporation in the United States, with the trade name life's DHA. Its core production process patent expired in 2020. The current mainstream dosage forms include soft capsules, oral solutions and powders, and common specifications are 100mg/capsule, 200mg/capsule, etc. Docosahexaenoic acid raw materials from multiple overseas manufacturers have been included in the FDA GRAS list. Up to now, there are more than 30 valid registration numbers for docosahexaenoic acid on China's CDE API Registration Platform, among which more than 15 are in A status. The number of domestically approved preparations such as docosahexaenoic acid soft capsules and oral powders has exceeded 80. (Data as of June 2025, please refer to the official CDE website for the latest information)

CATO provides a full set of docosahexaenoic acid impurity reference standards, covering all categories including process impurities and degradation impurities. Most products are in stock, and in-stock orders placed before 16:00 can be shipped on the same day. All products meet the requirements of multiple regulatory systems such as Chinese Pharmacopoeia and FDA, and can fully support enterprises in API quality research, preparation consistency evaluation and registration declaration work.