What are the ingredients in Lovaza (omega-3-acid ethyl esters)?

Lovaza Ingredients

Lovaza contains omega-3-acid ethyl esters, specifically eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in ethyl ester form, at a total dose of 3600 mg per day (typically four 1-gram capsules), with each gram containing approximately 850-882 mg of combined EPA and DHA in a ratio of approximately 1:1.2. 1

Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients

• EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) Ethyl Esters: Lovaza contains EPA as an ethyl ester, which is one of the two primary omega-3 fatty acids in the formulation 2, 3

• DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) Ethyl Esters: The second major component is DHA, also in ethyl ester form 2, 3

• Total Omega-3 Content: The standard dosing provides 3600 mg of omega-3-acid ethyl esters daily, with the EPA and DHA comprising approximately 850-882 mg of the total content per gram 1

• EPA to DHA Ratio: The formulation maintains an approximate ratio of 1:1.2 (EPA:DHA) 1

Formulation Characteristics

• Ethyl Ester Form: Lovaza uses the ethyl ester formulation of omega-3 fatty acids, which requires pancreatic lipase hydrolysis for absorption 2

• Absorption Requirements: Unlike free fatty acid formulations, Lovaza's ethyl ester form requires significant pancreatic lipase stimulation with high-fat meals for adequate intestinal absorption 4

• Bioavailability Considerations: The ethyl ester formulation has lower bioavailability during low-fat consumption compared to free fatty acid formulations, with studies showing 4-fold lower absorption under low-fat conditions 4

Clinical Context

• FDA Approval: Lovaza is FDA-approved for treating severe hypertriglyceridemia (≥500 mg/dL) in adults 2

• Prescription Status: Lovaza is a prescription medication and should not be confused with over-the-counter fish oil supplements, which have variable content, quality, and may contain impurities 5