Fish oil fights inflammation and keeps the heart healthy

Confirmed benefits of Omega 3 for heart health: they reduce inflammation by lowering blood levels of compounds associated with cardiovascular disease. This was demonstrated in a study conducted by researchers at the University of Amsterdam (Netherlands) and the University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio (Finland), published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The research findings strengthen the evidence for theanti-inflammatory efficacy and heart health benefits of taking these fatty acids.

Omega-3 and the heart: anti-inflammatory properties of fatty acids

Several studies have demonstrated the anti-inflammatory potential of Omega-3s, fatty acids in which fish such as mackerel, salmon and halibut are particularly rich. Blood levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and those of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are associated with concentrations of C-reactive protein, a known marker of inflammation. On the other hand, high amounts of this protein have been associated with an increased risk of certain heart disorders, such as coronary heart disease.

DHA, anti-inflammatory efficacy confirmed

The study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition investigated this relationship between Omega-3 and C-reactive protein levels in the blood of 1,395 Finnish men aged 42 to 60 years, all of whom were in good health. The researchers thus confirmed that the higher the blood concentrations of Omega-3, the lower the levels of C-reactive protein in the blood. This association was found to be valid by taking into account total Omega-3 levels and focusing on DHA and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) concentrations. In contrast, no correlation was shown between levels of C-reactive protein and EPA or alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), another food-derived Omega-3.

The mechanism of action of Omega-3

Current hypotheses regarding the mechanism of action that gives Omega-3s anti-inflammatory properties are based on the ability of these fatty acids to interfere with the synthesis of molecules involved in inflammation. In fact, Omega-3s have been shown to inhibit the metabolism of arachidonic acid, a molecule from which several proinflammatory compounds are derived. Once introduced into the body, both DHA and EPA give rise to compounds whose inflammatory properties are less than those of the molecules derived from arachidonic acid. In some cases, these compounds even have an anti-inflammatory action. According to Jyrki Virtanen, co-author of this research, Omega-3s could counteract inflammation due to their chemical structure. These molecules, the researcher explains, contain chemical bonds that would allow them to inactivate reactive oxygen species, compounds associated with inflammation. In addition, intake of fish oil, an Omega-3-rich supplement, has been associated with the expression of genes with anti-inflammatory function.    

Source 

1. Reinders I, Virtanen JK, Brouwer IA, Tuomainen TP, "Association of serum n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids with C-reactive protein in men," Eur J Clin Nutr. 2011 Nov 23