Are you overweight and sedentary? Omega-3s protect you from inflammation
Overweight and sedentary? Fish oil supplements could be among the solutions
Omega-3 fatty acids help reduce inflammation in overweight individuals, whether middle-aged or older. This was demonstrated by researchers at the College of Medicine, Ohio State University (Columbus, USA) in a study published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity1. The authors believe this finding could improve understanding of how these nutrients influence the onset, progression, and recovery from diseases.
Why does inflammation depend on fats?
Fatty acids play a fundamental role in inflammatory processes: they are the starting material from which molecules controlling inflammation are formed. Specifically:
- Omega-6 fatty acids promote inflammatory phenomena;
- Omega-3 fatty acids counteract them.
For this reason, the ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 consumed through diet is an important factor in the production of molecules involved in inflammation. Unfortunately, the Western diet is much richer in the former than the latter. Experts hypothesize this imbalance may be associated with increased inflammatory phenomena.
The benefits of Omega-3 against inflammation
Omega-3s perform an important anti-inflammatory function within the body, confirmed by years of research. For example, the anti-inflammatory effect on the cardiovascular system of dietary Omega-3 EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is linked to concentrations of C-reactive protein, a known marker of inflammatory processes. The anti-inflammatory activity of these molecules protects not only the heart but also nerve tissues and the intestines. The authors also demonstrated that in college-age individuals, Omega-3 intake reduces production of Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), two additional markers of inflammation2. In their new study, the researchers focused on the anti-inflammatory effect of these nutrients in older adults, confirming the protective role played by Omega-3s.
Overweight, but not inflamed
The research involved 138 adults for 4 months, characterized by:
- good health
- middle or older age
- overweight
- sedentary lifestyle
- IL-6 levels increased by 36% in those taking the placebo;
- IL-6 concentrations decreased by 10% and 12% with 1.25/2.5 grams of Omega-3;
- TNF-alpha amounts increased by 12% with the placebo;
- TNF-alpha levels increased only 0.2% with the lowest Omega-3 dose;
- TNF-alpha levels decreased by 2.3% with the highest dose.
The authors conclude that reducing inflammation in conditions of overweight and sedentary behavior can have broad positive effects on overall health.
Source:
1. Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Belury MA, Andridge R, Malarkey WB, Hwang BS, Glaser R, “Omega-3 Supplementation Lowers Inflammation in Healthy Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial”, Brain Behav Immun. 2012 May 25. [Epub ahead of print]
2. Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Belury MA, Andridge R, Malarkey WB, Glaser R, “Omega-3 supplementation lowers inflammation and anxiety in medical students: A randomized controlled trial”, Brain Behav Immun. 2011 Jul 19. [Epub ahead of print]
