Does Omega 3 Fish Oil Improve Brain Function?

The American Heart Association urges everyone to eat at least two 3.5 oz servings of fatty fish per week to get the recommended intake of omega-3 fatty acids which helps reduce the risk of heart disease. Although doctors and scientists know that the body needs omega-3 fatty acids, they continue to conduct research on the complete role this nutrient plays in the body. Brain cells contain a highly concentrated amount of omega-3 fatty acids, prompting researchers to study the role it plays in brain function, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Types of Omega-3

Omega-3 fatty acid describes a group of polyunsaturated fatty acids that includes eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA; docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA; and alpha-linolenic acid, or ALA. The body converts ALA, found in plant food sources such as flax seeds, soybeans and pumpkin seeds, into EPA. Fatty cold water fish, including mackerel, tuna, herring and salmon, contain both EPA and DHA. Although these fatty acids have be shown to improve specific health conditions, the National Institutes of Medicine Food and Nutrition Board has not yet added a daily intake recommendation to their list of essential nutrients.

Role of DHA

Every cell in the body contains a membrane that surrounds and protects the insides of the cell. In the brain, approximately 30 percent of the lipid content of the membrane is DHA, according to research published in "Nature". DHA therefore functions to maintain the integrity of the brain cell membrane which affects the ability of the cell to transmit nerve signals. The DHA content of the brain cell membrane also affects the permeability of the membrane, which means it affects which ions can move into and out of the cells. Because of this vital role of DHA in the brain, it may affect cognitive behavior.

Omega-3 Deficiency

Although the exact mechanism for how DHA enhances brain function remains an area of study, the onset of mental disorders is linked to a deficiency in omega-3 fatty acids. The research published in "Nature" links an omega-3 deficiency to attention-deficit disorder, dyslexia, dementia, depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Increasing DHA levels may improve the ability of the brain cell membrane to conduct electrical impulses or it may stimulate the metabolism of the brain cells therefore increasing the usage of glucose providing more energy for the cells to use.

Disease Treatment

Since omega-3 deficiency can contribute to the onset of a brain disease, taking omega-3 fatty acid supplements or increasing your intake of omega-3 food sources may help to treat the disease. The Linus Pauling Institute reports the results of many studies using omega-3 fatty acids to treat depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Because these studies report conflicting results, with some showing improvement of the disease and other showing no improvement, additional research needs to be performed. The Alzheimer's Association reports that as of 2010 5.3 million people in the United States suffer from Alzheimer's disease. Researchers are currently trying to find new treatments for this disease and because omega-3 fatty acids show promising results in animal studies, it is the focus of recent studies, according to the Linus Pauling Institute.