Better than drugs? Omega 3 fatty acid EPA pegged as natural remedy for chronic pain, study reveals

09 Aug 2022 --- Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), found in omega 3, may hold therapeutic effects for chronic pain, according to a study carried out at Okayama University, Japan.

“We found that low concentrations of EPA completely and reversibly inhibited the release of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) from neurons, without inhibiting the release of other neurotransmitters. Compared with other drugs, EPA demonstrated a higher analgesic effect and fewer side effects,” explains research professor Takaaki Miyaji.

The findings may pave the way for nutrition-based treatment and prevention strategies by targeting purinergic chemical transmission for inflammatory, neurological and metabolic diseases while bypassing the side effects of conventional pain-relieving medications.

Blocking out the pain
EPA is an essential nutrient belonging to the omega 3 group of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Found abundantly in natural sources like fish, hemp oil, and linseed oil, EPA is known to exhibit anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and cardiovascular protective activities.

For the purposes of the study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA, scientists sought to understand EPA’s action mechanism in alleviating both inflammatory and neuropathic pain.

During neurological, metabolic, and immunological disruptions, “purinergic” chemical transmission (a form of extracellular signaling mediated by purine derivatives), leads to the binding of energy carriers like ATP to “purinoreceptors,” which induces and exacerbates neuropathic and inflammatory pain perception.

This binding is mediated by a vesicular nucleotide transporter (VNUT), which thus becomes the key molecule in the initiation of purinergic signaling. The researchers hypothesized that EPA targets VNUT, thereby blocking purinergic chemical transmission and reducing pain perception.

It was tested both in-vitro using human-derived VNUT and in-vivo, using a VNUT-deficient mouse model.

Drugs can leave long-term effects which natural ingredients such as EPA can bypass. Nutrition-based treatment
The findings reveal EPA competes with chlorine ions that normally activate VNUT and inhibit VNUT-mediated release of ATP. They observed this effect with EPA and its metabolites only, rather than another omega 3 fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). This suggests the structure of omega 3 fatty acids with side chains is necessary for VNUT inhibition.

According to the researchers, apart from neuropathic pain and associated insulin resistance, the analgesic effects of EPA can be further extended to chronic pain associated with several other conditions like chemotherapy, diabetes, rheumatism, gout and sciatic nerve ligation and inflammation.

Highlighting the importance of the findings, the scientists note opioids and other pain-relief medications can have long-term side effects and result in addictions. In the absence of optimal drug treatments with fewer side effects, chronic pain leads to a decreased quality of life and increases the economic burden of treatment.

“With this discovery, ‘nutrient-based EPA’ and its metabolites can be utilized in managing chronic pain while also keeping potential side effects at bay.”

Therapeutic effects
Researchers and industry alike are increasingly eyeing the positive effect of omega 3 on immunity and cell membrane structure.

Studies have demonstrated EPA’s therapeutic effects in reducing mortality risk after myocardial infarction, improving insulin resistance, reducing blood lipid levels, and inhibiting platelet aggregation. Omega 3 PUFAs have also been shown tpufo decrease inflammatory responses following COVID-19 infection.

Earlier this year, the Global Organization for EPA and DHA omega 3s launched a new database aimed to aid science and industry by providing articles about the ingredients.

By Andria Kades

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