Omega-3 in lupus erythematosus therapy: prevention of neuropsychiatric symptoms
Lupus erythematosus: here's everything Omega 3 can do against the disease
Omega 3s counteract nerve tissue inflammation and brain disorders associated with lupus erythematosus. This is the conclusion reached by a group of researchers from the Medical School of the City University of New York (United States) in a study published in the journal Preventive Medicine. According to the scientists, this finding shows that increasing intake of these fatty acids could be a viable therapeutic option for preventing neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with diseases of autoimmune origin.
Omega-3s in the therapy of lupus erythematosus
Lupus erythematosus is caused by an abnormal reaction of the immune system to attack its own cells. The symptoms of lupus erythematosus are varied:
- fever
- fatigue
- appearance of spots on the skin
- joint pain or swelling
- renal and cardiovascular problems
Many of these disorders are countered by theintake of Omega-3s, nutrients that can significantly improve the health and quality of life of sufferers of this disease.Fish oil, a dietary supplement rich in these fatty acids, reduces oxidative stress associated with heart disorders and improves blood vessel function and blood flow in lupus patients. In addition, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), one of the omega-3s found infish oil, can decrease the sense of fatigue typical of this disease.
New data supporting the use of omega-3s
U.S. research has deepened the study of the effectiveness of Omega-3s in the treatment of lupus erythematosus by extending the analysis to another autoimmune disease, Sjögren's syndrome. The scientists used transgenic mice developing typical symptoms of these diseases as an experimental model: neuroinflammation, anxiety and defects in the production of neurons and certain nerve impulse transmission mechanisms in the hippocampus. The animals were fed a standard diet or food enriched with Omega-3 for 12 weeks. At the end of the treatment, the researchers assessed levels of inflammation in the hippocampus, proliferation of neuronal progenitor cells and mechanisms of nerve impulse transmission. They found that Omega-3 administration significantly reduced the phenomena associated with inflammation. Not only that, an increase in the concentration of newly formed nerve cells in the hippocampus was also found in mice that took these nutrients. Finally, the researchers showed that nerve impulse transmission mechanisms are also activated normally in these animals.
Confirmation for Omega-3s and hope for lupus sufferers
Based on these findings, the authors of the research concluded that omega-3 fatty acids prevent inflammation of the nervous system and defects in hippocampal function in mice presenting with the same symptoms as patients with lupus erythematosus or Sjögren's syndrome. These data, confirming the importance of these fatty acids in the regulation of hippocampal activity and inflammatory response, point to a possible new avenue in the prevention of neuropsychiatric symptoms of autoimmune diseases.
