Fish Oil: Source of Omega-3 Against Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome: fish oil, a great ally to combat it
The Omega-3 fatty acids contained in fish oil help to fight metabolic syndrome, a worrying combination of health risk factors associated with diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disorders.
They act directly on the function of fat cells that make up adipose tissue, exerting a true anti-obesity effect. This is shown by research by Michael Puglisi and colleagues from Vanderbilt University (Nashville, USA), published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry. According to Puglisi’s research group, it is the adipose tissue itself that mediates the beneficial effect of fish oil against the risk factors of metabolic syndrome. Indeed, Omega-3 fatty acids promote changes in adipose tissue metabolism that, in turn, contribute to the improvement of glucose and lipid levels.
Adipose tissue, friend and foe of the body
Fat cells, real energy storage units, are fundamental elements for regulating lipid balance in the body. For this function to be performed as correctly as possible, the daily intake of fats must itself be balanced. Otherwise, health problems are just around the corner. Among these, the most obvious is weight gain. Experts agree that obesity has led to an alarming increase in many chronic disorders, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Since poor diet leads to overweight, scientists themselves recommend solving the problem by introducing specific nutrients into the diet. From this perspective, fish oil and, more generally, Omega-3 fatty acids represent an excellent remedy.
Omega-3 and metabolic syndrome: a comprehensive counteraction
In fact, Omega-3s act on the body at several levels, and their effect results both from action at the liver level and from direct modulation of blood lipid levels. Fish oil also regulates plasma levels of two molecules produced by adipose tissue, adiponectin and leptin. These two molecules belong to the group of adipokines, substances important for regulating the immune response. In particular, adiponectin is involved in improving the biological parameters of metabolic syndrome due to Omega-3 intake. Furthermore, new data are emerging that assign a similar role to leptin. Thanks to these effects, fish oil not only ensures the reduction of plasma triglycerides, but also increases insulin sensitivity essential to combat type 2 diabetes, reduces blood pressure, thrombotic events, and arrhythmias, contributing to lowering the risk of cardiovascular diseases. And the positive actions of fish oil do not stop here: inflammation associated with adipose tissue is also reduced by Omega-3s. The results are so encouraging that experts hypothesize that in the near future it may be possible to identify pharmaceutical agents acting on the mechanisms regulated by Omega-3s.
