| Awareness of the health benefits of fish oil | | | | called resolvins, maresins and omega-3-oxylipins. |
| started since 1930's but during the past few | | | | The research in 2005 has suggested that the |
| years, with the results of different clinical studies, | | | | in-vitro anti-inflammatory activity of EPA and DHA |
| there is a dramatic increase in the consumption of | | | | translates into clinical benefits. Cohort studies of |
| fish oil as a health supplement. Researchers | | | | neck pain patients and of rheumatoid arthritis |
| studied the Greenland Eskimo population and were | | | | sufferers have demonstrated benefits comparable |
| amazed to see decreased cases of heart attack, | | | | to those receiving standard pain relievers such as |
| hypertension, dyslipedemia and atherosclerosis. | | | | NSAIDs. |
| Deep sea fishes contain the essential fatty acids | | | | 3. Anti-Cancer Properties |
| eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic | | | | There are several studies reporting the possible |
| acid (DHA). These essential fatty acids from fish | | | | anti-cancer effects of EPA and DHA particularly |
| are one step higher among food supplements | | | | colon, breast prostate cancer. The essential fatty |
| because the FDA had given them the "qualified | | | | acids from fish oil slowed the progression of |
| health claim" status compared to the usual "no | | | | prostate tumors. One study reported that DHA is |
| approved therapeutic claim" status of other | | | | consistently associated with reduced risk of break |
| supplements. | | | | cancer. In a a 2009 trial found that a supplement |
| Here now are the Top Five Reasons why we | | | | of EPA helped cancer patients retain muscle mass. |
| should supplement our Diet with Healthy Fish Oil. | | | | 4. Improves the Immune System |
| 1. For Cardiovascular Diseases | | | | Here's another proof that fish oil is really one-step |
| Cardiovascular diseases based on the statistics | | | | in advance compared to other supplements. A |
| are still the number one cause of mortality and | | | | study regarding fish oil was published in the Journal |
| morbidity worldwide. Numerous studies support | | | | of Nutrition in April 2007. Sixty four healthy Danish |
| that deep-sea fish oils really help manage | | | | infants from nine to twelve months of age |
| cardiovascular diseases. | | | | received either cow's milk or infant formula alone |
| A study on the benefits of EPA was published in | | | | or with fish oil. It was found that those infants |
| The Lancet in 2007. The study involved a large | | | | supplemented with fish oil had improvement in |
| group of over 18,000 patients with unhealthy | | | | immune function maturation with no apparent |
| cholesterol levels. The patients were randomly | | | | reduction in immune activation. |
| assigned to receive either 1,800 mg a day of EPA | | | | 5. For Psychiatric Disorders |
| with a statin drug or a statin drug alone. The trial | | | | The essential fatty acids are thought. The |
| went on for a total of five years. It was found at | | | | explanation is that the essential fatty acids EPA |
| the end of the study those patients in the EPA | | | | and DHA play a role in the fortification of the |
| group had superior cardiovascular function. | | | | myelin sheaths. In a six-month study involving |
| Non-fatal coronary events were also significantly | | | | people with schizophrenia and Huntington's disease |
| reduced in the E-EPA group. The authors | | | | who were treated with.EPA or a placebo, the |
| concluded that EPA is a promising treatment for | | | | placebo group had clearly lost cerebral tissue, while |
| prevention of major coronary events, especially | | | | the patients given the supplements had a |
| non-fatal coronary events. | | | | significant increase of grey and white matter. |
| Another study published in the American Journal | | | | In 2006 the Omega-3 Fatty Acids Subcommittee, |
| of Health System Pharmacy March 2007, patients | | | | assembled by the Committee on Research on |
| with high triglycerides and poor coronary artery | | | | Psychiatric Treatments of the American |
| health were given 4 grams a day of a | | | | Psychiatric Association (APA) stated the following: |
| combination of EPA and DHA along with some | | | | "The preponderance of epidemiologic and tissue |
| monounsaturated fatty acids. Those patients with | | | | compositional studies supports a protective effect |
| very unhealthy triglyceride levels (above 500 mg | | | | of essential fatty acid intake, particularly |
| dl) reduced their triglycerides on average 45% | | | | eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic |
| and their VLDL cholesterol by more than 50%. | | | | acid (DHA), in mood disorders. |
| VLDL is a bad type of cholesterol and elevated | | | | Another meta-analysis published in the Journal of |
| triglycerides can also be deleterious for | | | | Clinical Psychiatry in 2007, based on 10 clinical |
| cardiovascular health. | | | | trials, found that Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty |
| In 2006, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition | | | | acids significantly improved depression in patients |
| and JAMA concluded that there was a decrease in | | | | with both unipolar and bipolar disorder. However, |
| total mortality and cardiovascular incidents in | | | | based upon the heterogeneity of the trials, the |
| patients who regularly consume fish oil | | | | authors concluded that "more large-scale, |
| supplements. | | | | well-controlled trials are needed to find out the |
| There are a lot more studies supporting the | | | | favorable target subjects, therapeutic dose of |
| advantage of taking fish oil supplements in | | | | EPA in treating depression". |
| cardiovascular patients. | | | | These are the Top Five reasons why we should |
| 2. Anti-inflammatory Properties | | | | take fish oil supplements. There are a lot more |
| In the early 1980's, there was a study in Harvard | | | | promising studies and evidences relating to the |
| that discovered the anti-inflammatory properties | | | | health benefits of taking fish oil supplements. We |
| of the essential fatty acids EPA and DHA. They | | | | should invest on our health and taking fish oil |
| discovered the potent anti-inflammatory molecules | | | | supplements could really help. |