Docosahexaenoic acid: an omega-3 fatty acid
that is a primary structural component of the human brain, cerebral cortex,
skin, sperm, testicles and retina. It can be synthesized from alpha-linolenic
acid or obtained directly from maternal milk or fish oil. DHA's structure is a
carboxylic acid (-oic acid) with a 22-carbon chain (docosa- is Greek for 22) and
six (hexa-) cis double bonds (-en).