DHA keeps the heart healthy thanks to its action on the mitochondria
Omega 3 DHA: a healthier heart thanks to action on mitochondria
The benefits of Omega 3 for the heart have been confirmed: the fatty acid DHA introduced through diet protects the mitochondria, the cell’s “powerhouses.” Consuming these nutrients modifies the composition of the membranes of these cellular components and therefore reduces the likelihood of cell death. This confirmation comes from an analysis published in the journal Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care1 by researchers from the University of Maryland, Baltimore (USA), who detailed the latest findings on this topic.
Omega-3: fats that are good for health
Fats are fundamental molecules for our body: however, excessive consumption of these nutrients can be harmful to health. Nevertheless, there are fatty acids that exert positive effects at various levels and can only be obtained through diet: Omega-3. Omega-3s are nutrients found abundantly in various foods:
- fatty fish such as tuna, salmon, mackerel;
- some plant-based foods, especially walnuts.
The benefits of these molecules were discovered by studying the Inuit populations of Greenland, characterized by a very low incidence of cardiovascular diseases. Scientists demonstrated that this fortunate trait was associated with the high consumption of Omega-3 rich fish typical of these populations. Years of research have confirmed the protective role of these fatty acids for the heart and arteries, and also shown that Omega-3s are important for the nervous system as well as overall body health. The authors focused on the effects of intake at the level of mitochondria present in heart cells due to the close association between these fatty acids and the cardiovascular system.
DHA to energize the heart
A review of the scientific literature shows that dietary intake of Omega-3 profoundly influences the composition of mitochondrial membranes and consequently their function. DHA plays a predominant role in this phenomenon. It is one of the Omega-3s abundant in fatty fish. Consuming DHA increases its concentration in mitochondrial membranes and reduces levels of arachidonic acid, a molecule involved in inflammatory processes. DHA also raises levels of cardiolipin, a molecule essential for the function of these cellular components. Finally, this Omega-3 decreases the likelihood that mitochondria undergo a process known as “permeability transition,” which often leads to cell death. The effect of DHA is greater than that of other Omega-3s, which more modestly alter mitochondrial membrane composition.
The confirmations
For the authors, this review confirms that enriching the diet with Omega-3, especially DHA, helps protect the heart through mechanisms that directly involve the “powerhouses” of cardiac cells.
Source:
1. Stanley WC, Khairallah RJ, Dabkowski ER, “Update on lipids and mitochondrial function: impact of dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids”, Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2012 Mar;15(2):122-6
