Omega-3s protect and accelerate peripheral nerve healing

Omega 3 supplements: also an aid for peripheral nerve injury

Omega 3s could help prevent damage to peripheral nerves and regenerate them after trauma. This is suggested by a study coordinated by Adina Michael-Titus of Queen Mary University of London (UK), published in the Journal of Neuroscience. According to Michael-Titus, results obtained in preliminary experiments in mice suggest that these nutrients could be useful in treating nerve damage located outside the brain and spinal cord.

Damaged nerves, it's not just a matter of pain

Pain is not the only problem that those who suffer nerve injury have to deal with. Other possible consequences of damage to nerve structures can be a feeling of weakness or, even, muscle paralysis. Peripheral nerves, located outside the brain and spinal cord, have the ability to regenerate. Not only that, targeted medical techniques can help restore function. With the exception of the mildest damage, recovery from this type of injury is generally not complete.

The role of omega-3s in nervous tissue

Results obtained in past studies have demonstrated the benefits of Omega-3s against various neurological disorders, including acute trauma. These fatty acids are a key constituent of nerve cell membranes, whose multiplication and differentiation they ensure. Not only that, these nutrients are important for neurons to properly utilize neurotransmitters, the molecules responsible for nerve impulse transmission. Experts speculate that these activities are useful in the prevention, control and treatment of the following psychiatric disorders:

• depression;
• bipolar disorder;
• Neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer's).

Omega-3s help protect nerves

During their studies, Michael-Titus and colleagues simulated trauma in the nerve cells of mice that, due to fat-1 gene expression, are able to accumulate higher than normal levels of Omega-3. The researchers damaged peripheral nerves by stretching them or depriving them of oxygen, and then assessed cell death levels instead. They found that high levels of Omega-3 protected neurons from both types of damage. A second experiment, in which scientists damaged the sciatic nerve of mice, revealed that animals that accumulated higher amounts of these fatty acids were able to recover nerve function more quickly. All these findings were confirmed by analyzing the expression of certain markers of damage. Finally, mice expressing fat-1 were also found to be protected frommuscle atrophy that can be caused by neurological damage.

Omega-3 to protect nerves from the consequences of trauma

According to Michael-Titus, these results indicate the usefulness of Omega-3s in protecting damaged nerve cells. They may also accelerate the healing of peripheral nerves after trauma. The researcher explains that this phenomenon is a key step toward healing. Further research may better elucidate the protective role of Omega-3s toward human nerves.  

Source 

1. Gladman SJ, Huang W, Lim SN, Dyall SC, Boddy S, Kang JX, Knight MM, Priestley JV, Michael-Titus AT, "Improved outcome after peripheral nerve injury in mice with increased levels of endogenous ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids," J Neurosci. 2012 Jan 11;32(2):563-71