The micronutrients in fish oil responsible for its fame as a dietary supplement are omega-3 fatty acids. These acids are essential building blocks of the body's infrastructure and the brain's communication system, making fish oil good for every part of the body. Studies have been performed to examine the efficacy of supplementing fish oil in treating and preventing disorders of the eyes, heart and brain.
Omega-3s as Pathways to the Brain
Multiple sclerosis is named for the multiple scars it produces on the brain and spinal cord. It's characterized by the pits and distortions it creates on the membranes protecting the communication pathways to the brain. These include the myelin sheaths that encase the neuronal pathways inside the brain. When these membranes are damaged, communications become disrupted. Omega-3 fatty acids are a major structural component of these pathways. These mechanisms are explained in the December 2001 issue of "Alternative Medicine Review" in which researchers assert that three fish meals a week will help prevent further damage in multiple sclerosis patients.
Omega-3s and the Brain
Omega-3s are a major structural component of the brain. There are two types of omega-3s important to brain function named EPA and DHA. Investigators reporting in the January 2010 issue of "Womens Health" identified DHA as the most critical of the two with regard to preventing dementia. DHA comprises 60 percent of the fatty acids that interact to form the membranes that protect neurons and other brain cells. An additional 30 to 40 percent of the cortex of the brain is made of DHA. The researchers reported that supplementing fish oil in older patients with dementia yielded positive results.
Omega-3s and the Eyes
Age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, is a degenerative retinal disease that causes central vision loss and leaves only peripheral vision. It's a major cause of poor vision and the third major cause of blindness worldwide. Because omega-3 fatty acids, and particularly DHA, play an important role in the layer of nerve cells in the retina, studies have reported that omega-3 may protect against the onset of AMD. Researchers reporting in the August 2008 issue of the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" found that an increase in the consumption of omega-3s reduced the risk of AMD by almost 70 percent.
Omega-3s and the Heart
Researchers report that omega-3s are indirectly heart protective and that EPA is more beneficial than DHA. When free radicals overwhelm the antioxidant defenses of the body, oxidative stress produces inflammation. In the September 2010 issue of the "European Journal of Clinical Nutrition" researchers supplemented two groups of people at high risk of heart disease with either EPA, DHA or placebo. After six weeks researchers found 20 percent fewer signs of oxidative stress in the EPA group and 17 percent fewer signs in the DHA group. They concluded that the anti-inflammatory action of omega-3s lowers oxidative stress and thus heart disease risk.
References
- "Alternative Medicine Review"; Multiple Sclerosis, An Autoimmune Inflammatory Disease: Prospects for its Integrative Management; Parris Kidd; December 2001
- "Womens Health"; Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Cognitive Function in Women; Jennifer Robinson et al.; January 2010
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Oily Fish Consumption, Dietary Docosahexaenoic Acid and Eicosapentaenoic Acid Intakes; Cristina Augood, et al.; August 2008
- "European Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Prospective Randomized Comparison Between Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplements Plus Simvastatin Versus Simvastatin Alone; Sang-Hyun Kim et al.; September 2010
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