Table 1.

Summary of studies comparing various parameters for natural product omega-3 fatty acids and synthetic agonists of free fatty acid receptors.

Parameter	Natural Product O3FA	Synthetic Agonists of FFAR	Refs.
Proposed Mechanism of Action	Membrane incorporation and activation of FFAR	Activation of FFAR	[192]
Receptors	FFA1 and FFA4 – medium and long-chain FA (EPA and DHA)	FFA1 – GW9508, AM4668, TAK-875, AMG-837 FFA4 – TUG-891, GW9508	[173]
Half Life	Approximate values of ALA, EPA and DHA are 1, 50, and 20h, respectively	Largely unknown	[180, 181]
Brain Transport Coefficient	[14C]-DHA: 48 ± 3 μl g−1 s−1 [14C]-EPA: 52 ± 4 μl g−1 s−1	Largely unknown	[182]
Routes of Administration	Oral, Parenteral, IP	Oral, IP, ICV,	[182]
Prescription Therapies	Lovaza, Vascepa, Epanova Omtryg	None	[67]
Indications	Hypertriglyceridemia	None	[193]
Dose	2–4g/day	Largely unestablished	[193]
Commonly Reported Adverse Effects	Infections, skin rashes, eructation, nausea/ vomiting, dyspepsia, taste perversion	Largely unestablished TAK-875 – liver toxicity	[194]

FFAR=Free Fatty Acid Receptors; FFA1=Free Fatty Acid Receptor 1; FFA4=Free Fatty Acid Receptor 4; EPA=Eicosapentaenoic Acid; DHA=Docosahexaenoic Acid; ALA=Alpha-Linolenic Acid; IP =Intraperitoneal; ICV= Intracerebroventricular; O3FA= Omega-3 Fatty Acids.