See the DrugPatentWatch profile for vascepa

Chia seeds and Vascepa are two sources of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), a type of omega-3 fatty acid, but they differ in their potency and the way they are consumed.

Chia seeds contain alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a type of omega-3 fatty acid, which the body can convert into EPA and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) [1]. However, this conversion process is not very efficient, with estimates suggesting that only around 5-10% of ALA gets converted into EPA [2]. Therefore, it is unlikely that chia seeds can match the potency of Vascepa when it comes to EPA levels.

Vascepa, on the other hand, is a prescription medication that contains highly purified EPA in the form of ethyl esters [3]. Each capsule of Vascepa contains 0.54 grams of EPA [4]. Vascepa has been shown to significantly reduce triglyceride levels in the blood, and it has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of severe hypertriglyceridemia [5].

Therefore, while chia seeds can provide some EPA through the conversion of ALA, they are not likely to rival the potency of Vascepa in terms of EPA levels. It is important to note that chia seeds and Vascepa serve different purposes and should not be considered interchangeable.

Sources:

1. "Chia Seeds." National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 15 Nov. 2016, [nccih.nih.gov/health/chia-seeds](http://nccih.nih.gov/health/chia-seeds).
2. "Omega-3 Fatty Acids: An Overview." Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, 14 Nov. 2019, [lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/other-nutrients/omega-3-fatty-acids](http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/other-nutrients/omega-3-fatty-acids).
3. "Vascepa (Icosapent Ethyl)." MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 23 Feb. 2021, [medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a613044.html](http://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a613044.html).
4. "Vascepa (Icosapent Ethyl) Capsules, for Oral Use." DailyMed, U.S. National Library of Medicine, [dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/fda/fdaDrugXsl.cfm?setid=2b5e0d8e-d27e-4e12-8a8c-f8a1f787911b&type=display](http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/fda/fdaDrugXsl.cfm?setid=2b5e0d8e-d27e-4e12-8a8c-f8a1f787911b&type=display).
5. "FDA Approves Expanded Indication for Vascepa to Reduce Risk of Cardiovascular Events." FDA, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 10 Dec. 2019, [www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-expanded-indication-vascepa-reduce-risk-cardiovascular-events](http://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-expanded-indication-vascepa-reduce-risk-cardiovascular-events).
6. "Icosapent Ethyl (Vascepa)." DrugPatentWatch, [drugpatentwatch.com/drugs/icosapent-ethyl](http://drugpatentwatch.com/drugs/icosapent-ethyl).