Omega 3’s standout as the most anti-inflammatory of the poly unsaturated fatty acids (omega 9’s also acting as anti-oxidants). They modulate NF-kappaB (central in the inflammation cascade), help heal leaky gut, treat pain in arthritis including rheumatoid arthritis, benefit the cardiovascular system, and even help lower allergic reactions in the current and future generations. And don’t forget, they are good for your brain whether you’re young, old or even suffering after a concussion.
Anti-inflammatory: Omega 3’s suppresses NF-kappa B through activating PPAR-alpha, causing a decrease in inflammatory triggering mediators.
Leaky Gut: At least in experimental rats, leaky gut is prevented by omega 3 administration. I have seen other research supporting their use but will have to add more later.
Arthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis: Multiple studies in rheumatoid arthritis indicate a significant benefit when omega 3’s are dosed appropriately.
Cardiovascular: This area has been widely studied. Omega 3’s can lower particle numbers for the cholesterols which trigger atherosclerosis. It causes the small dense LDL to enlarge to the less dangerous larger ones. It reduces triglycerides while increasing HDL (protective). It improves insulin sensitivity, lowers inflammation, and acts to lower clot risk. It also lowers blood pressure, decreases atrial fibrillation, and improves heart rate variability. More importantly it lowers morbidity and mortality.
Allergies: For those suffering from asthma and allergies, omega 3’s can help shift the immune system away from allergic responses. For babies in utero, the mom’s intake of omega’s 3’s lowers the baby’s future risk of allergic diseases.
Brain Health: Studies show that the Omega 3, DHA, particularly benefits brain health. Besides their cardiovascular benefits, they also seem to protect the concussed brain from suffering long term effects.
How to Get the Benefits of Omega 3’s: Sources of omega 3’s include not only marine sources (cold water fish, krill oil, and algae) but also for vegetarians flaxseed and other oils (options for vegetarians).
When using omega 3’s from marine sources, awareness of mercury toxicity risk is necessary. Eating fish without paying attention to mercury levels could lead to other health issues. Even supplements may contain mercury if not harvested and processed properly. At Sanctuary we steer our patients toward safer forms of Omega 3’s.
How to take Omega 3’s
Omega 3’s are fat soluble. They will absorb when taken with other food, but if they cause fish burps, one can free them and take them frozen. By the time they melt, they are further down the intestines.
Potential Side Effects of Omega 3 usage:
- Allergic reactions: As with nearly any therapy, anyone can develop allergies to any chemical we give them. Severe reactions are uncommon with Omega 3’s, unless a person is allergic to fish. In that case, vegan forms of omega 3’s are available which are derived from algae oil if one is aiming for EPA and DHA. Alpha linolenic acid is an omega 3 from plant sources like flax seed, walnut oil, and more.
- Blood Pressure drop: Some patients who run a low blood pressure (systolic 100-110) may find that higher doses of omega 3’s with EPA and DHA can drop the blood pressure sufficient to cause fatigue or dizziness. Alpha linolenic from plant sources like flax seed typically do not do this.
Bibliography:
Review of Omega 3’s:
Kiefer, David and Traci Pantuso. “Omega-3 fatty acids: An update emphasizing clinical use” Agro food industry hi-tech vol. 23,4 (2012): 10-13.
Anti-inflammatory:
Nutritional Perspectives, Vol. 28, no. 1,1-16
Darshan S. Kelley, David Siegel, Dawn M. Fedor, Yuriko Adkins, Bruce E. Mackey; DHA Supplementation Decreases Serum C-Reactive Protein and Other Markers of Inflammation in Hypertriglyceridemic Men, The Journal of Nutrition, Volume 139, Issue 3, 1 March 2009, Pages 495–501, https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.108.100354
Leaky gut:
Gastroenterol Res Pract. 2016; 2016: 4694726. Published online 2016 Apr 10. doi: [10.1155/2016/4694726] Fish Oil Reduces Hepatic Injury by Maintaining Normal Intestinal Permeability and Microbiota in Chronic Ethanol-Fed Rats
Jiun-Rong Chen, 1 Ya-Ling Chen, 2 Hsiang-Chi Peng, 1 Yu-An Lu, 1 Hsiao-Li Chuang, 3 Hsiao-Yun Chang, 1 Hsiao-Yun Wang, 1 Yu-Ju Su, 1 and Suh-Ching Yang 1 , *
Arthritis:
Semin Arthritis Rheum. 1998 Jun;27(6):366-70.
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Ariza-Ariza R1, Mestanza-Peralta M, Cardiel MH.
Rajaei, Elham et al. “The Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Patients With Active Rheumatoid Arthritis Receiving DMARDs Therapy: Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial” Global journal of health science vol. 8,7 18-25. 3 Nov. 2015, doi:10.5539/gjhs.v8n7p18
Cardiovascular:
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Maki KC, Dicklin MR, Davidson MH, et al. Baseline lipoprotein lipids and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol response to prescription omega-3 acid ethyl ester added to simvastatin therapy. Am J Cardiol 2010; 105:1409–1412.
Darshan S. Kelley, David Siegel, Madhuri Vemuri, Gloria H. Chung, Bruce E. Mackey, Docosahexaenoic Acid Supplementation Decreases Remnant-Like Particle-Cholesterol and Increases the (n-3) Index in Hypertriglyceridemic Men, The Journal of Nutrition, Volume 138, Issue 1, January 2008, Pages 30–35, https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/138.1.30
Ryan, Alan S PhD*; Keske, Michelle A PhD†; Hoffman, James P MD; Nelson, Edward B MD, PhD Clinical Overview of Algal-Docosahexaenoic Acid: Effects on Triglyceride Levels and Other Cardiovascular Risk Factors, American Journal of Therapeutics: March 2009 – Volume 16 – Issue 2 – p 183-192 doi: 10.1097/MJT.0b013e31817fe2be
Jacobson TA, Glickstein SB, Rowe JD, Soni PN. Effects of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and other lipids: a review. J Clin Lipidol. 2012 Jan-Feb;6(1):5-18. doi: 10.1016/j.jacl.2011.10.018. Epub 2011 Nov 3. PMID: 22264569.
Annuzzi G, Rivellese AA, Wang H, Patti L, Vaccaro O, Riccardi G, Ebbesson SO, Comuzzie AG, Umans JG, Howard BV. Lipoprotein subfractions and dietary intake of n-3 fatty acid: the Genetics of Coronary Artery Disease in Alaska Natives study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2012 Jun;95(6):1315-22. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.111.023887. Epub 2012 May 9. PMID: 22572646; PMCID: PMC3349453.
Hu M, Mak VW, Tomlinson B. Polymorphisms in apolipoprotein E and apolipoprotein A-V do not influence the lipid response to rosuvastatin but are associated with baseline lipid levels in Chinese patients with hyperlipidemia. J Clin Lipidol. 2012 Nov-Dec;6(6):585-92. doi: 10.1016/j.jacl.2012.02.005. Epub 2012 Feb 18. PMID: 23312054.
Allergies:
Allergology International
Volume 64, Issue 1, January 2015, Pages 27-34
Role of omega-3 fatty acids and their metabolites in asthma and allergic diseases
Jun Miyataa, Makoto Aritaab
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1323893014000100#abs0010
Gunaratne AW, Makrides M, Collins CT. Maternal prenatal and/or postnatal n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) supplementation for preventing allergies in early childhood. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2015;7:CD010085. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD010085.pub2
Bisgaard H, Stokholm J, Chawes BL et al. Fish oil-derived fatty acids in pregnancy and wheeze and asthma in offspring. N Engl J Med 2016;375:2530–2539. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1503734
See VHL, Mas E, Prescott SL et al. Effects of prenatal n-3 fatty acid supplementation on offspring resolvins at birth and 12 years of age: a double-blind, randomised controlled clinical trial. Br J Nutr 2017;118(11):971–980. PMID: 29173199
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PLOS Published: February 28, 2018 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002507
Diet during pregnancy and infancy and risk of allergic or autoimmune disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Vanessa Garcia-Larsen , Despo Ierodiakonou, Katharine Jarrold, Sergio Cunha, Jennifer Chivinge, Zoe Robinson, Natalie Geoghegan, Alisha Ruparelia, Pooja Devani, Marialena Trivella, Jo Leonardi-Bee, Robert J. Boyle
Brain Health:
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DHA supplementation improved both memory and reaction time in healthy young adults: a randomized controlled trial.
Sanctuary Functional Medicine, under the direction of Dr Eric Potter, IFMCP MD, provides functional medicine services to Nashville, Middle Tennessee and beyond. We frequently treat patients from Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, and more... offering the hope of healthier more abundant lives to those with chronic illness.
