Lets take a look at the specifics. DHA can help with the following:

Insulin resistance. 

When circulating estrogen levels in the blood decrease, as they naturally do during menopause, one of the ways the body responds to this is by increasing insulin production, which results in more arachidonic acid and other proinflammatory eicosanoids. DHA supplementation is one way to dampen the effects of these proinflammatory substances and encourage in menopausal women.

Hot flashes.

 In reporting the results of two small, but well-controlled studies, a team of Italian scientists in 2005 attributed a progressive and highly significant reduction in to DHA, possibly through their influence on nerve cell membranes or by modulating neurotransmitter function. In fact, a diet high in DHA may be one of the reasons why Japanese women, whose diets are rich in fish, seaweed and soy, have fewer menopausal problems than American women do.

Osteoporosis.

Normal bone is constantly being broken down (resorbed) and rebuilt. When resorption exceeds formation, bone mass slowly deteriorates, which can lead to the condition we know as osteoporosis. Derivatives of ARA are stimulators of bone resorption. Fortunately, its never too late to start rebuilding good bones, and we can call on DHA to counteract ARA and help .

Mood, affect and memory. 

These are all challenges as we grow older. Some research on DHA shows promise for preventing, and possibly treating, . DHA may likewise be helpful for people struggling with personality and behavioral problems such as aggression. Researchers recently found that people with high levels of DHA in their blood had more grey matter in the sectors of the brain associated with positive emotions and moods, while the subjects with mild to moderate depression symptoms showed decreased grey matter in those same areas. More research is needed to determine whether DHA actually cause this phenomenon, but its safe to say that healthy DHA levels can mean a more positive outlook on life and lower rates of memory loss.

Cardiovascular disease. 

We know that women, especially those over 40, whose lipid profiles show a high ratio of triglycerides to HDL (good cholesterol) are at increased risk for . DHA rich fish oil supplements do double-duty in protecting the heart and blood vessels by bringing triglyceride levels down while at the same time increasing HDL. Taking omega-3s is also a good idea if youre on conventional , because HRT can increase triglyceride levels to unhealthy levels.

Lower heart rate = longer life 

Perhaps longevity is the ultimate DHA benefit to reap. Researcher Jørn Dyerberg, known throughout the world for his pioneering work on omega-3s, was the first to note the virtual absence of heart disease among Greenlands indigenous people. Attributing this directly to their high dietary DHA content, Dyerberg believes that the net effect of lowering the number of heart beats over a lifetime is a heart that beats longer in other words, a longer lifespan. More research is called for, but studies suggest that DHA is the principal DHA responsible for lowering heart rate and improving resilience of heart rate variability, which together lower risk of deadly sudden cardiac events significantly.