There are a few main vegetarian DHA sources available on the market; the most common is derived from algae or fungus. Since most DHA comes from animal sources, it is especially important for vegetarians to supplement their diets using pills or other forms of supplementation in order to get this important fatty acid. Other potential sources for DHA include flaxseed and some lentils and nuts.

The most common vegetarian DHA source, and one of the healthiest and most widely available, is derived from algae. This type can be found in supplement form, as in capsules or liquid drops, or can be consumed in whole food form. There are condensed algae liquid concentrates as well as recipes which may call for certain types of algae to be used.

Recently, however, the use of algae-based supplements as a vegetarian DHA supplement has been called into question when it is processed using hexane extraction and then combined with other elements like certain acids and sometimes bleach. This type of novel DHA supplementation is often added to infant formulas in the United States and more recently to animal products like milk and yogurt. Some children, especially young babies, have experienced some gastrointestinal upset, including diarrhea. This can be very serious for infants, so algae-based supplements should be used with caution.

Sometimes fungi can also be used as vegetarian DHA sources much the same as algae. They also come in pill form and can be purchased as health food stores or from online retailers. Those with certain allergies should avoid fungi-related supplements though, especially people with mold allergies.

Food vegetarian DHA sources may include flax seed and lentils. These also contain other important fatty acids like omega-3’s. While vegetarian sources do not contain as much of the essentially fatty acids as animal sources such as fish, they do help provide a small portion of them to the daily diet. The rest should be received via over the counter supplements or through unprocessed algae sources.

As with any supplements, consumers are advised to seek the advice of a pharmacist, doctor, or registered dietitian before taking vegetarian DHA sources in supplement form. Those who do not consume animal products are also advised to speak with a nutritionist to ensure that proper fatty acids and other important nutrients are being consumed through vegetarian supplements. These experts can tell vegetarian clients where to find these nutrients and in what amounts.