Omega-3 for protection from head trauma
Traumatic Brain Injury: Help from Omega 3 in Fish Oil
Omega 3 protect against brain damage. The potential of these fatty acids to prevent the harmful effects that traumatic brain injuries can have on the brain is demonstrated by a study published in the journal Neurosurgery, conducted by researchers from West Virginia University in Morgantown (USA).
Specifically, it is the use of Omega-3 DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) that shows protective effects against brain trauma. According to the authors, the intake of DHA increases its levels in serum and, if prior to a traumatic brain injury, reduces the damage response. From rats to athletes, here are the benefits of DHA Researchers administered different doses of DHA—0, 3, 12, or 40 mg per kg of body weight per day—to distinct groups of rats for 30 days prior to inducing a traumatic brain injury. The results were surprising: animals that received the highest DHA dose showed significantly reduced brain tissue damage compared to other rats. Damage was measured in terms of the level of amyloid precursor protein (APP), an anatomical marker of brain injury.
Rats that received 40 mg/kg of DHA daily had APP levels nearly six times lower than animals that did not receive the Omega-3 fatty acid. Additionally, the study found lower expression of some biological markers associated with brain cell death—particularly caspase-3 protein and macrophages, immune response cells—and a reduction in the negative effects of brain injury on behavior. The authors highlight that these findings have important public health implications. Preventive DHA intake could protect individuals at high risk of traumatic brain injuries from the acute effects of strong blows to the brain. Therefore, DHA use could be recommended for those, such as military personnel or athletes engaged in contact sports, who have a higher probability of experiencing traumatic brain injuries.
Source
Mills JD, Hadley K, Bailes JE, “Dietary Supplementation With the Omega-3 Fatty Acid Docosahexaenoic Acid in Traumatic Brain Injury?”, Neurosurgery 2011 Feb;68(2):474-81; discussion 481
