Fish breath for good health? Study sheds light on omega 3s’ ability to improve lung function

21 Jul 2023 --- The National Institute of Health, US, has funded a study on omega 3s and lung function, finding that high levels of fatty acids in the blood were associated with a reduced lung function decline. 

The authors argue that nutrition for lung health is a field lacking scientific evidence, although interest increases, building on prior studies evidencing omega 3 fatty acids’ anti-inflammatory effect.

“This large population-based study suggests that nutrients with anti-inflammatory properties may help to maintain lung health,” says Dr. James P. Kiley, director of the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute’s Division of Lung Diseases. 

“We know a lot about the role of diet in cancer and cardiovascular diseases, but the role of diet in chronic lung disease is somewhat understudied,” says Patricia A. Cassano, co-author and director of the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, US.

“This study adds to growing evidence that omega 3 fatty acids, which are part of a healthy diet, may also be important for lung health.”

Fatty acids
The docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) found in fatty fish such as salmon, tuna and sardines had the strongest association with reduced rate of lung function decline.

Fatty fish such as salmon, tuna and sardines had the strongest association with reduced rate of lung function decline.DHA has also been found beneficial for heart health and blood pressure. A recent study found it to increase attention levels in teenagers and performance in detecting and resolving conflict.

“We’re starting to turn a corner in nutritional research and moving toward precision nutrition for treating lung diseases,” says Bonnie K. Patchen, lead author and a nutritionist and member of Cassano’s research team at Cornell. 

“In the future, this could translate into individualized dietary recommendations for people at high risk for chronic lung disease.” 

The Dietary Guidelines Committee for Americans recommends people to eat fish a minimum of twice a week, although it notes that “most Americans fail to do so.” Other foods rich in omega 3 are plant oils, seeds, nuts and fortified foods.

Two decades of research
The study period was between seven to 20 years long, and most participants had no evidence of chronic lung disease at the start of the trial. The average age was 56 and 55% of the 15,063 American participants were women.

In the second part of the study, the researchers used data from the UK Biobank, including over 500,000 Europeans and studied genetic markers – DNA sequences – in the blood as an indirect measure, or proxy, to see how dietary omega 3 fatty acid levels correlated with lung health.

A limitation of the study is that it only included healthy individuals. Therefore more research is needed to see how fatty acids for lung health can be applied to those with diseases.

“More research is needed since these findings raise interesting questions for future prospective studies about the link between omega 3 fatty acids and lung function,” details Kiley. 

Edited by Beatrice Wihlander