Taking more flavonoids also increases Omega 3 in blood

Introducing flavonoids into the diet increases plasma levels of omega-3 fatty acids. This was demonstrated in a study published in the Journal of Nutrition, in which researchers from the Faculty of Medicine at the Université Joseph Fourier in Grenoble, France, confirmed and clarified data obtained in previous studies on the beneficial effects of these nutrients. According to the results obtained in this research, the effect on plasma levels of Omega-3 is observable both if the diet is enriched with these fatty acids and if a diet low in Omega-3 is followed.

Flavonoids: what they are

The benefits associated with the consumption of fruits and vegetables also depend on the presence, within them, of so-called flavonoids. Flavonoids, sometimes referred to by the general term "vitamin P," are chemical compounds produced naturally by plants. Their high antioxidant activity allows them to counteract the damage associated with the presence of free radicals and makes them valuable health allies. The presence of flavonoids brings several benefits to the body, determining the proper functioning of the liver, immune system and capillary vessels. The antioxidant activity of these molecules has also been associated with the prevention of several diseases:

• Diseases whose basis is inflammatory processes;
• cardiovascular disease;
• some types of cancers.

Flavonoids and Omega-3

Some studies have suggested that flavonoids in wine might influence the body's ability to utilize Omega-3s. This interaction would cause increased levels of these fatty acids in both blood and cells. To test the validity of this hypothesis, French researchers evaluated the effect of flavonoid intake on plasma levels of the 2 main food-derived Omega-3s:EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid).

The study

The research involved 3 different experiments, all conducted on rats. In a first case, animals were fed for 8 weeks on a diet rich or free of anthocyanins, a specific class of flavonoids, obtained from corn. During the entire period all animals received a constant amount of Omega-3. Analysis of the levels of EPA and DHA in the blood showed that the amounts of both of these Omega-3s were higher in the plasma of the rats fed the flavonoid-enriched feed. Similar results were obtained in the next 2 experiments. In one case, the researchers fed the animals a diet rich or poor in flavonoids along with palm oil, a food low in Omega-3s. In the last experiment, rats received 60 milligrams per day of fish oil, for a total of 35 milligrams of DHA and 12 milligrams of EPA daily. In both experiments, it was shown that plasma levels of EPA and DHA were significantly higher among animals whose baseline diet was rich in flavonoids

More flavonoids to increase Omega-3

According to the study authors, these results show that consumption of flavonoids increases the presence of Omega-3 in the blood.    

Source 

1. Toufektsian MC, Salen P, Laporte F, Tonelli C, de Lorgeril M, "Dietary flavonoids increase plasma very long-chain (n-3) fatty acids in rats," J Nutr. 2011 Jan;141(1):37-41. Epub 2010 Nov 10