Omega-3 in the therapy of lupus erythematosus: prevention of neuropsychiatric symptoms
Lupus erythematosus: here’s everything Omega 3 can do against the disease
Omega 3 fatty acids counteract inflammation of nervous tissues and brain disorders associated with lupus erythematosus. This is the conclusion reached by a group of researchers from the Medical School of the City University of New York (USA) in a study published in the journal Preventive Medicine. According to the scientists, this discovery shows that increasing the intake of these fatty acids could be a valid therapeutic option to prevent neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with autoimmune diseases.
Omega-3 in the treatment of lupus erythematosus
Lupus erythematosus is caused by an abnormal immune system reaction that attacks the body’s own cells. The symptoms of lupus erythematosus are varied:
- fever
- fatigue
- appearance of skin rashes
- joint pain or swelling
- kidney and cardiovascular problems
Many of these disorders are counteracted by the intake of Omega-3, nutrients capable of significantly improving the health and quality of life of those suffering from this disease. Fish oil, a dietary supplement rich in these fatty acids, reduces oxidative stress associated with cardiac disorders and improves the function of blood vessels and blood flow in patients with lupus. Additionally, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), one of the Omega-3s found in fish oil, can reduce the fatigue typical of this pathology.
New data supporting the use of Omega-3
The US research deepened the study of the effectiveness of Omega-3 in treating lupus erythematosus, extending the analysis to another autoimmune disease, Sjögren’s syndrome. The scientists used transgenic mice that develop the typical symptoms of these diseases as an experimental model: neuroinflammation, anxiety, defects in neuron production, and some nerve impulse transmission mechanisms in the hippocampus. The animals were fed for 12 weeks with either a standard diet or food enriched with Omega-3. At the end of the treatment, the researchers evaluated inflammation levels in the hippocampus, progenitor neuron cell proliferation, and nerve impulse transmission mechanisms. It emerged that Omega-3 administration significantly reduces inflammation-related phenomena. Furthermore, in mice that received these nutrients, an increase in the concentration of newly formed nerve cells in the hippocampus was also detected. Finally, researchers showed that in these animals, nerve impulse transmission mechanisms are normally activated.
Confirmations for Omega-3 and hopes for lupus sufferers
Based on these results, the authors concluded that Omega-3 fatty acids prevent nervous system inflammation and hippocampal dysfunction in mice presenting symptoms similar to patients with lupus erythematosus or Sjögren’s syndrome. These data, confirming the importance of these fatty acids in regulating hippocampal activity and inflammatory response, indicate a possible new avenue in the prevention of neuropsychiatric symptoms of autoimmune diseases.
