Fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids, currently being studied for their effects on a number of conditions, including inflammatory conditions such as asthma. Asthma is a serious health condition that affected nearly 9 percent of all children in 2005 and that affects 34.1 million Americans at some point in their lifetime, according to the American Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology. A definite benefit for fish oil supplementation or increased fish oil intake has not been established, the University of Maryland Medical Center reports.
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Omega-3 fatty acids occur naturally in several foods, including large cold-water fatty fish such as lake trout, mackerel, salmon and albacore tuna. Fatty acids are essential, meaning the body doesn't make them; they can only be obtained from diet or supplements. Omega-3 fatty acids are known to reduce inflammation. Because asthma is a disease caused by airway inflammation that leads to airway hyper-responsiveness and airway narrowing, and because Eskimos, who eat large amounts of fish have a low rate of asthma, researchers theorized that fish oil might benefit asthma sufferers.
Effects
A review of studies in the Cochrane Airways Review Group by Monash Medical School of Australia looked at seven studies, including two that focused on children with asthma. One of the studies done on children showed an improvement in peak flow and a decrease in the amount of asthma medication used, Rosalie Woods, Ph.D of the Department of Epidemiology and Preventative Medicine at Alfred Hospital, Melbourne reported. While there was no consistent positive response to the fish oil, the treatment caused no ill effects.
Study Results
The Agency for Health Research and Quality, a department of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, disused the current issues in studies on the effects of fish oil on asthma patients. One issue discussed was the necessity to evaluate North American studies for benefit on an American population. Some populations, such as the Japanese, normally consume much more fish oil than Americans. Fish oil supplements in populations that normally consume large amounts of fish oil might have a different effect than fish oil supplementation in North America, where most people don't consume large amounts of fish oil.
Caveats
In one study reported by the AHRQ, fish oil consumption increased rather than decreased the incidence of asthma, but that study was conducted in Asia. Fish oil supplements can cause nausea and vomiting. Because fish oil can cause blood thinning, people who take anticoagulants or who have bleeding disorders should not take fish oil unless approved by their physician.
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