(29-05-12) Researchers vindicate omega-3 fatty acids in the prevention of inflammatory chronic diseases

by John Phillip

(NaturalNews) Systemic inflammation is a primary factor in the development and
progression of many chronic conditions ranging from heart disease and stroke to
diabetes, dementia, and cancer. Most people have no idea that their risk of
these conditions is dramatically increased, as disease-causing chemical
messengers are continually released throughout the body as a result of low
level inflammation. These messengers or cytokines can be life-saving in the
case of a cut or burn, but when released as a result of poor diet and lifestyle
activities, cause increased body temperature, hormone disruption, and disease.

Scientists have been aware of the health-promoting benefits of omega-3 fatty
acids since the 1950's, as they were well known to help clear skin eruptions
such as psoriasis and eczema. For the past three decades, the long chain omega-
3 fats EPA and DHA were believed to be effective in lowering the risk of
cardiovascular disease and heart attack. For the first time, researchers from
the University of California in San Diego have published conclusive evidence in
the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences to explain the precise
mechanism exerted by omega-3 fats to lower inflammation and disease risk at the
cellular level.

Omega-3 fats lower systemic inflammation to help prevent most chronic diseases
The lead study author, Dr. Edward Dennis noted "There have been tons of
epidemiological studies linking health benefits to omega-3 oils, but not a lot
of deep science... this is the first comprehensive study of what fish oils
actually do inside a cell." His team set out to determine if they could
manipulate the precise mechanism exerted by fish oil to limit inflammation at
the cellular level, and disrupt the detrimental process before it begins,
leading to a multitude of deadly chronic illnesses.

Researchers fed white blood cell macrophages (immune cells) with three types
of fatty acids, long-chain omega-3 fats, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA),
docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and the omega-6 fat, arachidonic acid (AA). At high
levels of circulation, fatty acids are toxic, and cells sequester them into
their membranes where they are used to provide structure and provide a
permeable barrier for the flow of oxygen and nutrients. When we experience
regular and constant stress, the fatty acids are released, producing the
damaging effects of systemic inflammation.

Short term inflammation is essential for survival as it protects from
bacterial and viral invasions, but threatens our health and life when it
persists at a low level for months and years. The scientists found that omega-3
fats inhibit an enzyme called cyclooxygenase (COX), which produces the
prostaglandin hormones that spark inflammation. Researchers also noted that the
long-chain fats stimulate the production of lipoxygenases (LOX) that have an
anti-inflammatory effect on cellular function to help prevent disease.

Dr. Dennis concluded "We've been able to look inside a cell, see what fish
oils do and determine that the process of inflammation at this level may be
manipulatable." Nutrition experts recommend eating fatty fish at least twice
per week or supplementing with a distilled fish oil supplement (1200 to 2400 mg
EPA/DHA per day) or from regular consumption of flax/chia seeds, walnuts and
almonds to combat the deadly diseases of inflammation and extend natural
lifespan.

Sources for this article include:

http://health.ucsd.edu
http://medicalxpress.com
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-05/uoc--woo051512.php
http://www.nutraingredients.com

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