Omega 3 may help with inflammation, but supplementation is not a universal health solution, research warns

16 Dec 2019 --- The health-boosting potential of fish oil supplementation has come to the fore again with a new study revealing fish oil containing a specific formula of omega 3 fatty acids can help reduce inflammation. While omega 3 and fish oil supplementation may seem like an ideal solution for treating cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), experts stress the varying effects that omega 3 can have on different consumers. Therefore, they advocate for more product transparency and greater consumer education.

“When given at an effective dose, omega 3 supplements are likely to help keep us healthy and potentially treat certain types of inflammatory conditions. However, anything in excess can have a negative impact on our health. Omega 3 and fish oil supplements are all very different and therefore the beneficial effects observed with one supplement cannot be directly extended to all,” Dr. Jesmond Dalli, one of the study’s authors from William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, UK, tells NutritionInsight.

Published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation Research, the study gave 22 healthy volunteers between the ages of 19 and 37 three different doses of an enriched fish oil supplement containing a mix of omega 3 fatty acids. They tested participants’ blood at varying time intervals for levels of specific anti-inflammatory molecules that those fatty acids have been found to produce. 

Omega 3 supplementation is known to help people with CVDs. “Surprisingly, the biological actions of the supplement on white blood cells were still present 24 hours after the intake of a single dose of the supplement. The long lasting effects stem from the fact that the omega 3 fatty acids are converted by the body to potent protective mediators termed specialized pro-resolving mediators. These molecules are known to reprogram white blood cells as well as platelets to make them less inflammatory as well as to promote the uptake and killing of bacteria,” Dr. Dalli says. 

While it's still unclear from the study if the molecules reduce CVD, they do supercharge macrophages – specialized cells that destroy bacteria and eliminate dead cells. They also make platelets less sticky, potentially decreasing the formation of blood clots. The molecules also have been shown to play a role in tissue regeneration.

A pinch of scrutiny
Indeed, omega 3 fatty acids do hold protective actions in maintaining heart health and potentially in reducing inflammation. However, Dr. Dallli affirms that future research must apply greater care to both identifying effective formulations and effective doses. The latter, he says, will likely vary from individual to individual and will be influenced by age, health and diet. The personalized nutrition trend indeed continues to transform the nutrition industry, spurring new scientific approaches and novel technology to address individual health concerns. 

“In identifying optimal doses for individuals, measuring blood levels of specialized pro-resolving mediators can provide helpful insights in whether the type of supplement given and the dose used are likely to achieve the desired effect,” Dr. Dalli explains. 

Currently, the guidelines for supplement manufacturing do not require manufacturers to show that their product can have a beneficial effect and at what dose this is likely to occur, he notes. “Therefore, it is important that the standards are raised in the future and some degree of scientific evidence is demanded from the manufacturers to ensure that consumers obtain the benefit they anticipate to obtain from purchasing these supplements.”

The scientific literature surrounding omega 3 is abundant. Indeed, researchers highlight the pivotal role omega 3 can play in the first 1,000 days of life. Besides taking omega 3 supplementation, however, Dr. Dalli also advocates for leading a healthy lifestyle and maintaining a balanced diet to prevent attacks on heart health. 

By Anni Schleicher