Home Ingredients BioPure DHA® (Tuna Oil Omega-3 DHA)
CardiovascularAnti-Inflammatory

BioPure DHA® (Tuna Oil Omega-3 DHA)

Evidence Level
Limited
1 Clinical Trial
3 Documented Benefits
2/5 Evidence Score

BioPure DHA® is a branded fish oil from Bioriginal, made from tuna oil in its natural triglyceride form and specified at a minimum 25 percent DHA, with roughly five times more DHA than EPA. No published human study has tested BioPure DHA itself, so everything on this page comes from research on generic EPA and DHA. In that research omega-3 lowers triglycerides by about 15 percent, but a 2020 Cochrane review of 86 randomised trials found, at high certainty, little or no effect on deaths or on cardiovascular events, and trials in healthy adults have not shown a cognitive benefit.

Studied Dose Generic EPA plus DHA trials used about 1 to 3 g/day. No dose of BioPure DHA itself has been tested in a published human study.
Active Compound DHA and EPA from tuna oil in natural triglyceride form; minimum 25 percent DHA, about five times more DHA than EPA.

Benefits

Healthy triglycerides

In a 2020 Cochrane review of 86 randomised trials, EPA and DHA lowered triglycerides by about 15 percent, dose-dependently, at high certainty. The same review found little or no effect on deaths or on overall cardiovascular events.

Supported by Trial 1

Brain DHA, with no measured cognitive gain in adults

DHA is a major structural fat in the brain, but randomized trials have not turned that into measured gains in adults. A meta-analysis of 10 trials in 2,327 older adults given DHA found no effect on memory, attention, working memory or executive function. An 18-month trial of DHA-rich fish oil in 403 cognitively healthy older adults found no benefit either, and a Cochrane review of three omega-3 trials in 4,080 healthy older people reached the same result.

Supported by Trial 1

Lower C-reactive protein

The inflammation outcome actually measured is C-reactive protein. A 2025 dose-response meta-analysis of 40 randomised trials in people with cardiometabolic conditions found CRP fell with EPA and DHA up to about 1.2 g/day, with no significant reduction in participants who were overweight or obese. Joint symptoms were not the outcome measured.

Supported by Trial 1

Mechanism of action

1

Membrane incorporation

EPA and DHA are built into cell membranes throughout the body, where they alter membrane fluidity and the signalling that runs through it. DHA is most concentrated in the retina and the brain.

2

Eicosanoid balance

Omega-3s are converted into signalling molecules (resolvins and prostaglandins) studied in the resolution of inflammation. That work is laboratory and animal work; in people the outcome measured is C-reactive protein.

Clinical trials

1
Systematic review, not a trial: omega-3 and heart disease
PubMed

Pooled analysis of 86 randomised trials of generic EPA and DHA, not a single study and not a study of BioPure DHA. (Abdelhamid et al. 2020, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews)

162,796 adults pooled across 86 randomised trials of ordinary fish, algal and ethyl-ester omega-3. No participant took BioPure DHA.

Long-chain omega-3 lowered triglycerides by about 15 percent, dose-dependently, at high certainty. It made little or no difference to all-cause mortality (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.93 to 1.01, high certainty) or to cardiovascular events (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.01, high certainty), and none to stroke (RR 1.02, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.12, moderate certainty). Coronary heart disease events fell slightly (RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.85 to 0.97, low certainty).

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Generally well tolerated, but this is a tuna oil: avoid it if you have a fish allergy.
Fishy aftertaste, burping, or mild digestive upset can occur. A meta-analysis of 8 cardiovascular outcome trials in 83,112 people found omega-3 supplementation increased atrial fibrillation (RR 1.24, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.38), with greater risk at higher doses (RR 1.51, 95% CI 1.26 to 1.80).
Marine oils go rancid; a strongly fishy smell or taste means the oil has oxidised and should be discarded. Take with meals, store cool, and choose an oil with published peroxide and anisidine values.

Important Drug interactions

Anticoagulants and antiplatelets (warfarin, apixaban, clopidogrel, aspirin): omega-3 reduces platelet aggregation, but a meta-analysis of 11 randomized trials in 120,643 people found no increase in bleeding events (rate ratio 1.09, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.31). Tell the prescriber you are taking it rather than stopping either medicine.
Blood pressure medication — possible mild additive effect.
Tell your doctor before surgery if taking high doses.

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Frequently asked questions about BioPure DHA® (Tuna Oil Omega-3 DHA)

What is BioPure DHA?

BioPure DHA® is a branded fish oil from Bioriginal, made from tuna oil in its natural triglyceride form and specified at a minimum 25 percent DHA, with roughly five times more DHA than EPA. No published human study has tested BioPure DHA itself, so everything on this page comes from research on generic EPA and DHA.

What is BioPure DHA used for?

BioPure DHA is researched primarily for Cardiovascular and Anti-Inflammatory. In a 2020 Cochrane review of 86 randomised trials, EPA and DHA lowered triglycerides by about 15 percent, dose-dependently, at high certainty. The same review found little or no effect on deaths or on overall cardiovascular events.

What is the recommended dosage of BioPure DHA?

The clinically studied dose is Generic EPA plus DHA trials used about 1 to 3 g/day. No dose of BioPure DHA itself has been tested in a published human study. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is BioPure DHA safe, and does it have side effects?

For most healthy adults, BioPure DHA is well tolerated at studied doses. Reported effects can include: Generally well tolerated, but this is a tuna oil: avoid it if you have a fish allergy. Fishy aftertaste, burping, or mild digestive upset can occur. It may also interact with some medications. BioPure DHA is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does BioPure DHA interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Anticoagulants and antiplatelets (warfarin, apixaban, clopidogrel, aspirin): omega-3 reduces platelet aggregation, but a meta-analysis of 11 randomized trials in 120,643 people found no increase in bleeding events (rate ratio 1.09, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.31). If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for BioPure DHA?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for BioPure DHA as Limited (2 out of 5). It is backed by 1 clinical trial and 5 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(5 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Abdelhamid AS, Brown TJ, Brainard JS, et al. Omega-3 fatty acids for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020;3(3):CD003177..PubMedUsed to support: Cochrane review of 86 randomized trials in 162,796 adults, none of which used this brand. Long-chain omega-3 lowered triglycerides by about 15 percent, dose-dependently, at high certainty. The review reported little or no effect on all-cause mortality (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.93 to 1.01, high certainty), cardiovascular mortality (RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.86 to 0.99, moderate certainty), cardiovascular events (RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.01, high certainty) or stroke (RR 1.02, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.12, moderate certainty). It concluded that omega-3 slightly reduces coronary heart disease mortality (RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.81 to 1.00, NNTB 334) and coronary heart disease events (RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.85 to 0.97, NNTB 167), both at low certainty. Cognition and inflammation were not examined.
  2. Sydenham E, Dangour AD, Lim WS. Omega 3 fatty acid for the prevention of cognitive decline and dementia. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;2012(6):CD005379. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD005379.pub3.PubMedUsed to support: Cochrane review of three randomised trials in 4,080 cognitively healthy older people. Omega-3 supplementation produced no benefit on cognitive function compared with placebo on any of the assessment tools used, and the reviewers noted that direct evidence on incident dementia is lacking. Supplements were well tolerated, with mild gastrointestinal upset the main complaint.
  3. Jia X, Gao F, Pickett JK, Al Rifai M, Birnbaum Y, Nambi V, Virani SS, Ballantyne CM. Association Between Omega-3 Fatty Acid Treatment and Atrial Fibrillation in Cardiovascular Outcome Trials: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther. 2021;35(4):793-800. doi: 10.1007/s10557-021-07204-z.PubMedUsed to support: Pooled analysis of 8 cardiovascular outcome trials in 83,112 participants. Omega-3 treatment was associated with a higher risk of atrial fibrillation (RR 1.24, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.38), with a larger increase at higher doses (RR 1.51, 95% CI 1.26 to 1.80) than at lower doses (RR 1.12, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.21). Stroke risk was not increased.
  4. Maltais M, Lorrain D, Léveillé P, Viens I, Vachon A, Houeto A, Presse N, Plourde M. Long-chain Omega-3 fatty acids supplementation and cognitive performance throughout adulthood: A 6-month randomized controlled trial. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2022;178:102415. doi: 10.1016/j.plefa.2022.102415.PubMedUsed to support: Six-month double-blind randomised trial in 193 healthy adults aged 20 to 80 given 2.5 g/day of omega-3 fatty acids or placebo. There was no difference from placebo on the primary measures (visuospatial ability, working memory) or on episodic memory or executive function. Only a subgroup with low baseline episodic memory scores improved (p = 0.043), and age and APOE status did not modify the result.
  5. Amlashi MA, Payahoo A, Maskouni SJ, Dehghani E, Talandashti MK, Ghelichi Y, Nikoumanesh M, Rezvani S, Shahinfar H, Shidfar F. Dose-dependent effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on C-reactive protein concentrations in cardiometabolic disorders: a dose-response meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Inflammopharmacology. 2025;33(5):2325-2339. doi: 10.1007/s10787-025-01744-8.PubMedUsed to support: Dose-response meta-analysis of 40 randomised trials in people with cardiometabolic conditions. C-reactive protein fell with EPA and DHA up to about 1200 mg/day in cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome and hypertension, and fell linearly in dyslipidaemia, but there was no significant reduction in participants who were overweight or obese. The outcome measured is a blood marker, not a symptom.