Acute pancreatitis: omega-3 supplements help fight it

The Omega 3 found in fatty fish influence the mechanisms involved in the development of acute pancreatitis. This is the conclusion of a group of researchers from the physiology department at the University of Granada (Spain), who suggest that these fatty acids could prevent or alleviate this disease. Part of the results leading to this discovery were published in the journal Proceedings of the Nutrition Society.

Mediterranean diet and cellular damage

Acute pancreatitis is an inflammatory and oxidative disease. The Spanish researchers aimed to understand whether variations in the type of fats introduced with the diet could modify the cells' ability to respond to oxidative and inflammatory damage associated with this disease. María Belén López Millán, the study’s author, emphasized that inflammatory and oxidative processes are increasingly recognized as underlying chronic diseases. The scientists focused especially on some components of the Mediterranean diet: virgin olive oil and fish. In the case of olive oil, the active compounds of interest were oleic acid and hydroxytyrosol, molecules with strong antioxidant action. The fish components that drew the authors’ attention were the Omega-3, fatty acids known for their anti-inflammatory functions.

From mice to humans

To test their hypotheses, the researchers developed an experimental model to evaluate how changes in the composition of cell membranes associated with ingested fats influence the response to damage caused by inflammation and oxidative stress. Experiments on mice involved treating the animals with the nutrients of interest and, following this pretreatment, inducing cellular damage. It emerged that antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds introduced via diet can prevent or reduce diseases associated with inflammatory and oxidative processes. Oleic acid, hydroxytyrosol, and Omega-3 could therefore be considered “functional ingredients” able to help control the disease.

Confirmations for the Mediterranean diet

According to the authors, this is the first study to analyze how Omega-3 and antioxidants influence cellular mechanisms responding to local pancreatic inflammation. Besides reinforcing the importance of Omega-3s for maintaining good health, the results confirm the benefits of the Mediterranean diet, which has been included by UNESCO on the list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

Source:

1. C. Santana, M. B. López-Millán, M. A. Martínez-Burgos, M. Mañas, E. Martínez-Victoria and M. D. Yago (2010). Influence of membrane fatty acid composition on cell viability and lipid peroxidation in a cell model (AR42J) of cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 69 , E313