EPA may reduce the risk of intracerebral hemorrhage
Intracerebral hemorrhage: Omega-3 EPA may reduce the risks
The Omega-3 EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) appears to protect against the risk of intracerebral hemorrhage. Its deficiency, as well as a low ratio between EPA and arachidonic acid, is a risk factor for this type of stroke, along with already known factors such as high blood pressure.
This is reported by researchers from the University School of Medicine of Tokai (Japan), who published their findings in the journal Nutrition Research.
Brain hemorrhage and Omega-3
There are two main types of stroke: ischemic, which accounts for about 87% of all strokes, and hemorrhagic, caused by the rupture of blood vessels in the brain and responsible for over 30% of all stroke deaths. Intracerebral hemorrhage is the most common form of hemorrhagic stroke. It occurs when a blood vessel inside the brain ruptures, causing bleeding into the surrounding tissue. High blood pressure is the main cause of this phenomenon. Most brain hemorrhages are accompanied by symptoms such as loss of consciousness, nausea, vomiting, facial numbness, and headache. Omega-3 fatty acids, including EPA, seem to prevent ischemic stroke, as some studies attribute the preventive effect to the antithrombotic action induced by EPA and to reduced levels of the Omega-6 arachidonic acid (AA). However, the relationship between intracranial hemorrhage and Omega-3 had not been fully clarified until now.
Low EPA concentrations promote stroke
The study included 70 men and women whose first intracerebral hemorrhage had occurred 30-60 days prior, and 66 subjects who had never had a stroke. Blood levels of EPA, DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), and AA were analyzed for each participant. Additionally, all completed a questionnaire providing information on fish and vegetable consumption and lifestyle. Results showed that subjects diagnosed with intracerebral hemorrhage had significantly higher blood pressure than others, and lower EPA levels and EPA-to-AA ratio. Further data analysis revealed that EPA deficiency was a risk factor for patients over 65 years of age. The protective effect of EPA may be due to its antihypertensive effect on blood vessels and the fact that atherosclerotic plaques incorporating EPA reduce inflammation, becoming more stable. Therefore, low EPA levels would make blood vessels more fragile and prone to rupture.
Low EPA: a risk factor alongside known ones
According to the researchers who led the study, these results highlight that low EPA concentrations and a low EPA-to-AA ratio can be risk factors for intracerebral hemorrhage, in addition to known factors such as blood pressure, alcohol consumption, and unhealthy lifestyle.
Source: Yoshimori Ikeya, Naoto Fukuyama, Hidezo Mori “Low plasma eicosapentaenoic acid concentration as a possible risk factor for intracerebral hemorrhage” Nutrition Research, March 2015 Volume 35, Issue 3, Pages 214–220
