Long chain Omega-3 fatty acids are essential to human health but cannot be manufactured by the body. Omega-3 acids are found in fatty fish, with 25% to 40% of their acids as eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA, and docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA. EPA and DHA are also found in fish oil supplements.

A healthy diet includes a proper balance of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. The two act in combination as anti-inflammatory and inflammatory agents, respectively. Omega-3 has other functions as well that support good health. However, the typical American diet tends to contain much more of the Omega-6 fatty acids than required for a proper balance with Omega-3 fatty acids. One approach to balancing the ratio is to consume more Omega-3. (1)

High levels of Omega-3 can be found in certain species of fish such as lake trout, albacore tuna and salmon. However, there are public concerns about levels of mercury contamination in our cold-water fish supply. Mercury exposure is known to damage the nerves in various parts of the body, including, including conduction tissue in the heart. Mercury can also impair the function of the liver and kidneys. In 2004, the Food and Drug Administration advised women who were pregnant, considering becoming pregnant or nursing to avoid some types of fish because of the health dangers of mercury to them and young children. (2)

A fish oil supplement contains a non-toxic source of Omega-3 fatty acids, providing an alternative to those seeking the healthful benefits of EPA and DHA. Those forms of Omega-3 influence numerous biological functions including cardiovascular system, central nervous system, cognitive performance and mood.

Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to contribute to cardiovascular health. Supportive but not conclusive research shows that consumption of EPA and DHA Omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. (3)

In three separate controlled trials, the subjects were who were taking Omega-3 fatty acid supplements were have to found to have an incidence of cardiovascular events that was 19% to 45% less than those who were in the control group. In one of those studies, researchers found that blood levels of Omega-3 fatty acids were inversely associated with the incidence of death among men who had no evidence of prior cardiovascular disease. (4) In another study, researchers found that among patients who had suffered a myocardial infarction, the incidence of sudden deaths was much lower among those who consumed 1 gram of Omega-3 fatty acids per day than those who did not. (5)

Omega-3 fatty acid DHA is a major structural component of the brain and retina, contributing to the proper development of the fetus and newborn child. In the last trimester of fetal life and the early years of life, the brain undergoes major growth. That growth continues in the first two years of life.

Nutrient deficiency can compromise brain function. DHA supports proper growth of healthy nerve cells, including nerve cell membranes and synapses. DHA also supports the development of the cells in the retina of the eye, which have a large number of nerve endings. (6)

Some infants get their nutrition from mother’s milk. Others get it from infant formula. The FDA has approved the addition of Omega-3 fatty acid to infant formula.

Omega-3 fatty acids support good health in other ways:

• Adequate levels of EPA and DHA support proper brain function. And DHA is required to produce a compound that contributes to the body’s response to inflammation in the brain. (7) DHA also plays an important role in neural processes. For example, the synapses in nerve cells contain DHA. Healthy synapses support good communication among nerve cells, which helps maintain good mental health.
• Individuals with diabetes tend to have high triglyceride levels. Research suggests that Omega-3 fatty acids such as EPA and DHA can help decrease those levels. (8) And because some people with diabetes cannot efficiently convert a form of Omega-3 known as ALA to EPA and DHA forms, a fish oil with those ingredients may be more beneficial. (1)
• Omega-3 supports proper joint function through its anti-inflammatory properties. A number of clinical trials showed that fish oil supports range of motion, strength, endurance, and ease of movement in joints. (9)

SOURCES

(1) Univ. of Maryland Med Center. Omega 3 fatty acids. http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/omega-3-000316.htm

(2) FDA. What You Need to Know About Mercury in Fish and Shellfish – March 2004 http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/Product-SpecificInformation/Seafood/FoodbornePathogensContaminants/Methylmercury/ucm115662.htm

(3) FDA. Qualified health claims. http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/GuidanceDocuments/FoodLabelingNutrition/FoodLabelingGuide/ucm064923.htm

(4) Albert C, et al. Blood levels of long-chain n–3 fatty acids and the risk of sudden death. N Engl J Med 2002;346:1113-8.

(5) GISSI. Results. http://www.gissi.org/Egissip/T_Risultati.php.

(6) Kidd, Parris. Omega-3 DHA and EPA for Cognition, Behavior, and Mood: Clinical Findings and Structural-Functional Synergies with Cell Membrane Phospholipids. Altern Med Rev 2007;12(3):207-227.

(7) National Institutes of Health. Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Health. http://ods.od.nih.gov/FactSheets/Omega3FattyAcidsandHealth.asp

(8) Friedberg, C. et al. Fish Oil and Glycemic Control in Diabetes. Diabetes Care, Volume 21, Number 4, April 1998.

(9) Calder, Philip. n-3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids, inflammation, and inflammatory
diseases. Am J Clin Nutr 2006;83(suppl): 1505S–19S.