Omega-3 Fish Oils – From Heart to Smart

Fish oils are derived predominantly from cold water fish which have fed on other marine life such as phytoplankton. These oils, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, are excellent sources of essential EPA and DHA. EPA and DHA have multiple actions in a number of body systems including the cardiovascular, ocular and the central nervous systems. In the cardiovascular system, fish oils have been shown to support healthy lipid parameters(1,2), blood pressure(3) and promote normal platelet activity(4,5). Studies by Calabresi(1) and Harris(2) have shown that as little as 1.5 grams of fish oils can support healthy cholesterol levels.

More recently, fish oils have been shown to have beneficial effects on vision health. Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation can help maintain visual acuity and support macular density as you age.* EPA and DHA supplementation have recently been investigated in new frontiers of neuroscience research. The brain's need for omega-3 fatty acids is now well established since about 20 percent of the brain by weight is composed of DHA(6).

The role of omega-3 fish oils for maintaining cognitive health during pregnancy is becoming increasingly clear and recognized. According to a news release of the American Psychiatric Association (May 2003), "During pregnancy, women who become depleted of omega-3 essential fatty acids have increased risk of depressive symptoms. With beneficial health effects and no adverse side effects, omega-3 fatty acids are shown to reduce the risk of depression in pregnancy," according to Dr Joseph Hibbeln, a psychiatrist and nationally recognized researcher from the National Institutes of Health.

Additionally, omega-3 fatty acid supplementation is becoming more main stream for clinicians in order to promote healthy cognitive function with stable mood(7).

References

1. Calabresi, L., et al. An omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrate increases plasma high-density lipoprotein 2 cholesterol and paraoxonase levels in patients with familial combined hyperlipidemia. Metabolism. 53(2): 153-158, 2004.

2. Marlene P. Freeman, Joseph R. Hibbeln, David Mischoulon, et al. Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Evidence for Treatment and Future Research in Psychiatry. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, December 2006

3. Harris, W. Fish oils and plasma lipid and lipoprotein metabolism in humans: a critical review. Journal of Lipid Research. 30(6): 785-807, 1989.

4. Geleijnse, J., et al. Blood pressure response to fish oil supplementation: metaregression analysis of randomized trials. Journal of Hypertension. 20(8): 1493-1499, 2002.

5. Mori, T., et al. Interactions between dietary fat, fish, and fish oils and their effects on platelet function in men at risk of cardiovascular disease. Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 17(2): 279-286, 1997.

6. Cangemi, F. TOZAL Study: an open case control study of an oral antioxidant and omega-3 supplement for dry AMD. BMC Ophthalmology. 7:3, 2007.

7. Logan, A. Neurobehavioral aspects of omega-3 fatty acids: possible mechanisms and therapeutic value in major depression. Alternative Medicine Review. 8(4): 410-425, 2003.