Omega-3 Rich Diet Fights Inflammation-Associated Diseases
More Omega 3, less inflammation!
Increasing the intake of Omega 3 can help fight disorders related to increased inflammation associated with the modern diet, characterized by an excessive intake of Omega-6 fatty acids. The latter increase the production of molecules linked to inflammatory processes underlying various chronic diseases:
- cardiovascular diseases
- diabetes
- obesity
- non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- Alzheimer’s disease
- rheumatoid arthritis
- inflammatory bowel diseases
A detailed description of the role played by these two types of fats in the development of these diseases is contained in an analysis published in the Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism1 by a group of researchers from the Biosciences Institute of County Cork (Ireland).
Omega-3 and Omega-6: fats you can’t do without
Omega-3 and Omega-6 are considered essential fatty acids: this means that the human body cannot synthesize them on its own, so it is essential to obtain them through diet. Cells can produce some of these fats, but they are unable to synthesize the starting material to obtain them:
linoleic acid (LA, an Omega-6)
alpha-linolenic acid (ALA, an Omega-3).
Without an adequate supply of these nutrients, the body experiences the effects of Omega-3 and Omega-6 deficiency, molecules that regulate a variety of biological processes ranging from blood pressure control to nervous system function.
The role of fats in inflammation
Eicosanoids are molecules derived from LA and ALA that regulate inflammatory processes. In particular:
eicosanoids derived from Omega-6 promote inflammation;
eicosanoids derived from Omega-3 have an anti-inflammatory effect.
Dietary changes in recent decades have led to an enrichment of the Western diet with Omega-6, mainly due to the increasingly frequent consumption of vegetable oils rich in LA. The balance between Omega-6 and Omega-3, whose ideal ratio is between 1:1 and 4:1, has consequently shifted to values around 15:1. Likewise, the incidence of chronic inflammatory diseases has also increased.
Counteracting inflammation through diet
Several studies have focused on the possibility of reducing the risk of developing these disorders by increasing the dietary intake of Omega-3. This approach has shown potential effectiveness in cases of:
- non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- cardiovascular diseases
- inflammatory bowel diseases
