Intestinal inflammation occurs in several intestinal conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease -- an autoimmune condition affecting the intestinal tract. The National Institutes of Health estimates that as much as 20 percent of the population in the United States experiences irritable bowel syndrome. Research shows mix results on benefits of fish oil for intestinal inflammation. Consult your doctor before using fish oil.
Colitis
Fish oil along with medium-chain triglycerides may alleviate symptoms of colitis -- inflammation of the colon -- according to a study published in the November 2010 issue of the journal "Translational Research." In the study on laboratory animals, diets enriched with a combination of the two fats for two weeks showed decreased levels of the pro-inflammatory molecules. Activity of white blood cells known as monocytes and macrophages was inhibited by the oil-supplemented diet. The researchers concluded that fish oil combined with medium-chain triglycerides was more effective than either one alone at reducing bowel inflammation and may be an effective natural therapy for management of inflammatory bowel disease.
Pregnancy
Women who consume fish oil while pregnant may increase their babies' risk of developing colitis, according to a study published in the December 2010 issue of the "American Journal of Physiology." In the laboratory study, offspring of mothers whose diets contained 10 percent and 20 percent percent fish oil showed lower levels of omega-6 fatty acids and higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids. At a later stage these offspring showed impaired intestinal barrier function and increase response to inflammatory insults. The researchers concluded that fish oil consumption while pregnant may increase chances of colon inflammation later in life.
Intravenous vs. Oral
Fish oil given intravenously may be more effective at promoting intestinal healing after surgery than oral fish oil supplementation, according to a study published in the September 2010 issue of the "Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition." In the laboratory animal study, intravenous fish oil showed increased bowel weight -- a sign of efficient healing -- improved intestinal structure and faster rates of cell regrowth compared with study animals that did not receive fish oil supplementation.
Irritable Bowel Disease
Patients with irritable bowel disease may wish to avoid fish oil, according to a study published in the October 2010 issue of the journal "Cancer Research." In the laboratory animal study, diets containing 0.75 percent or 6.0 percent fish oil for eight weeks resulted in severe colitis and cancer formation. Fish oil also caused decreased immune function. The researchers concluded that, contrary to expectations, fish oil supplementation may not be warranted in irritable bowel disease and called for establishment of an upper limit for consumption of fish oil for patients with inflammatory bowel conditions.
References
- "Translational Research"; Enteral Diets Enriched with Medium-chain Triglycerides and N-3 Fatty Acids Prevent Chemically Induced Experimental Colitis in Rats; H.Kono, et al.; November 2010
- "American Journal of Physiology"; Perinatal Lipid Nutrition Alters Early Intestinal Development and Programs the Response to Experimental Colitis in Young Adult Rats; S.M. Innis et al.; December 2010
- "Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition"; Parenteral but Not Enteral Omega-3 Fatty Acids (Omegaven) Modulate Intestinal Regrowth after Massive Small Bowel Resection in Rats; I. Sukhotnik et al.; September 2010
- "Cancer Research"; Dietary Fish Oil Alters T Lymphocyte Cell Populations and Exacerbates Disease in a Mouse Model of Inflammatory Colitis; H. Woodworth, et al.; October 2010
- National Institutes of Health: Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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