Fat, Fatty Acids, Omegas, Fish Oil, EPA/DHA in a Nutshell
The body requires fat for energy, structure, and other purposes.
Fat is composed of fatty acids. Only two fatty acids which come from plants are essential for the body, one in the omega-6 family (linoleic acid) and one in the omega-3 family (alpha-linolenic acid, ALA).
Omega fatty acids are unsaturated fatty acids that have special, beneficial properties, versus saturated fatty acids/fat from milk and meat.
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic) are the biologically important omega-3 fatty acids from fish. While these are not essential as the body could build them from ALA, the production is not efficient and thus it's better to obtain EPA and DHA in preformed form.
A typical Western diet is often filled with foods containing high amounts of omega-6 fats (red meat, poultry, eggs, and most processed foods) and usually lacking omega-3 fatty acids, which promotes inflammation. But, omega-6 is not all bad as some amount is required, and one omega-6 fatty acid (GLA) is especially beneficial as it helps counteract inflammation.
In essence, most people don't obtain enough health-promoting omega-3 (EPA and DHA) from their diet and can greatly benefit from fish oil supplementation.
Enjoy the many benefits of EPA and DHA
The fish-oil-derived omega-3 fatty acids DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) are vital nutrients that impact many aspects of health, their range of benefits is known to be protective against diverse types of diseases:*
Heart Health:
- Published data support higher intake of omega-3 for both the prevention and management of cardiovascular conditions.
- Higher levels of the omega-3 index and regular intake of omega-3s have both been found to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events like heart attack and stroke and to reduce mortality from heart disease.
Brain Function:
- Omega-3 fatty acids play a critical role in the brain and protect against cognitive decline. One reason is that they are a key component of brain cell membranes that generate and conduct the electrical signals playing a role in movement, language, reasoning, and memory.
- High intake in midlife is found to maintain brain white matter integrity (important to overall brain health and cognitive ability) in old age.
- Intake is also demonstrated to impact levels of brain growth factors that support the survival, development, and adaptability of neurons.
- Particularly the DHA part of fish oil provides brain and eye health benefits.
Mental Health:
- The benefits of omega-3s in the brain extend to mental health, and studies show that lower fish oil or omega-3 intake is associated with a greater prevalence of depression.
- A study showed that omega-3 fatty acids significantly improved depression symptoms in pregnant and postpartum women.
Metabolic Health:
Elevated triglycerides are linked to metabolic disturbances that increase heart attack and stroke risk. The omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA are shown to lower triglycerides and other lipoproteins by:
- Increasing the clearance of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins from the bloodstream
- Decreasing the liver’s production and secretion of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins
- Increasing the activity of lipoprotein lipase, which breaks down triglycerides so the body’s tissues can use the fatty acids
Anti-inflammation:
- Chronic inflammation drives nearly all forms of chronic disease, including cancer, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, and dementia.
- EPA and DHA work in different ways to limit and resolve inflammation, providing greater benefits together than either one alone. This can help lower the risk for most age-related chronic illnesses.
- Along with the diseases mentioned, the anti-inflammation benefits also include arthritis and joint pain relief. Moreover, a study indicated that omega-3 intake promoted muscle mass and strength in older adults.
Insulin Resistance:
Recent studies offer strong indications that:
- Omega-3 supplementation can decrease fasting blood glucose as well as insulin resistance, compared to placebo.
- Fish oil or oily fish intake is associated with a lower risk of type II diabetes.
Longevity & Lifespan:
The Framingham Heart Study is one of the longest-running and most influential medical studies in history. Compared to individuals with the lowest omega-3 index score, those with the highest had:
- An increased life expectancy of 4,7 years
- A 34% lower risk of death from any cause
- A 39% lower rate of developing cardiovascular disease
*Find references