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Pharmacist who reads papers
Omega-3 From Healthy Blood Circulation to Improving Inflammation
1. Reduction of triglycerides in the blood2. Improvement
of dry eye symptoms
of dry eye symptoms
3. Improves inflammation
Hello. I'm a pharmacist Jinny.
Omega-3, I don't think anyone knows about it now. Omega-3 is a type of unsaturated fatty acid, which is essential for the human body, but cannot be synthesized by the body. Therefore, many people are aware of the importance of omega-3s, especially their benefits related to blood circulation health, and are actively consuming them in the form of food or supplements.
Omega-3s offer a wide range of health benefits. It has been recognized by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for its ability to improve not only blood circulation but also brain health and eye health, and recently it has been attracting attention as a "natural anti-inflammatory drug," and related research is actively being conducted in academia.
In fact, a 2019 study in the international journal Nutrients reported that omega-3 intake increased the level of SPM, an anti-inflammatory substance in the body. SPM is a substance in which DHA from an omega-3 meets white blood cells, and it plays a role in regulating the gluttony of white blood cells and lowering the level of inflammation in the body [1].
Let's take a look at the benefits of taking omega-3s through research.
1. Reduces blood triglycerides
You've probably heard a lot about the need to take care of triglycerides for vascular health. Triglycerides are a form of fat that is synthesized by the body and can be broken down and used as an energy source when calorie intake is insufficient.
These triglycerides are essential for the human body, but when they accumulate in excess of the body, they cause health problems. In particular, when triglycerides in the blood increase, LDL cholesterol, also known as bad cholesterol, accumulates, causing blood vessels to narrow and lose elasticity, leading to vascular aging. These degenerative changes in blood vessels eventually lead to arteriosclerosis, which is the main cause of hypertension, myocardial infarction, and ischemic cerebrovascular disease.
A 2008 study published in the Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, an SCI-level international journal, evaluated whether omega-3 supplementation could improve blood triglyceride levels in 50 patients with type 2 diabetes, a high-risk group for hyperlipidemia. The results showed that subjects who consumed 2,000 mg of omega-3s daily had a significant reduction in blood triglyceride levels [2].
"In the omega-3 fatty acid group, fasting TG (triglycerides) decreased significantly by 31.2% compared to the placebo group.”
2. Improves dry eye symptoms
There are many people who have dry eyes and often put in artificial tears. Dry eye syndrome is a disease caused by a lack of tears or excessive evaporation of tears, and the eyes often become sore, easily red, and dry, causing a lot of discomfort in life.
Among the omega-3s, EPA removes inflammation from the meibomian glands, lacrimal glands, and mucus glands of the eye, while DHA increases the stability of the retina and prevents the evaporation of the aqueous layer that keeps the eye moisturized, preventing the eye from drying out.
A 2017 study in the international journal Ophthalmology showed that 60 patients with dry eye syndrome who were given omega-3s containing 1,000 mg of EPA and 500 mg of DHA daily for about 90 days improved their dry eye symptoms [3].
"Daily moderate intake of both forms of long-chain omega-3 essential fatty acids for three months reduced tear osmolality and increased tear stability in people with dry eye syndrome (DED)."
3. Improves inflammation
When a tissue is injured or an infection occurs, the body has an inflammatory response to prevent damage to the tissue as much as possible and to eliminate the infection. Inflammation is a normal immune response that protects the body, but when it occurs repeatedly and becomes chronic, it attacks the body and damages the body's tissues, causing inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, chronic otitis media, and ulcerative colitis.
People with inflammatory diseases use medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce the pain caused by the inflammation and relieve symptoms. However, long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can erode the gastric mucus layer that protects the stomach lining, causing side effects such as gastritis, gastric ulcers, and gastric bleeding. Omega-3s are natural anti-inflammatories that have been highlighted by the scientific community and can effectively reduce the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
In fact, a review paper published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology in 2012 showed that long-term consumption of fish oil containing omega-3s improved rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and significantly reduced the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [4].
"Rheumatic patients who took fish oil had reduced use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs compared to those who did not take fish oil....Randomized controlled trials reported that fish oil improved a variety of symptoms, including reduced joint pain and reduced use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs."
Today, we've looked at the many benefits of taking omega-3s. As mentioned in this article, omega-3 reduces blood triglyceride levels and helps improve dry eyes. In addition, it has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help relieve symptoms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and effectively reduce the frequency of anti-inflammatory drug use.
How much omega-3 should you take with such a wide range of benefits? Experts have different opinions on this. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends no more than 5,000 mg per day of EPA + DHA [5]. In addition, if you are prescribed anticoagulants, antiplatelet drugs, or blood pressure-lowering medications due to an underlying medical condition, it is recommended that you consult with a specialist to determine whether to take omega-3s, as omega-3s can increase the action of each and cause side effects.
I hope you have a healthy day in body and mind. It was Jinny.
[1] Simonetto, M., Infante, M., Sacco, R. L., Rundek, T., & Della-Morte, D. (2019). A Novel Anti-Inflammatory Role of Omega-3 PUFAs in Prevention and Treatment of Atherosclerosis and Vascular Cognitive Impairment and Dementia. Nutrients, 11(10), 2279.
[2] Shidfar, F., Keshavarz, A., Hosseyni, S., Ameri, A., & Yarahmadi, S. (2008). Effects of omega-3 fatty acid supplements on serum lipids, apolipoproteins and malondialdehyde in type 2 diabetes patients. Eastern Mediterranean health journal = La revue de sante de la Mediterranee orientale = al-Majallah al-sihhiyah li-sharq al-mutawassit, 14(2), 305–313.
[3] Deinema, L. A., Vingrys, A. J., Wong, C. Y., Jackson, D. C., Chinnery, H. R., & Downie, L. E. (2017). A Randomized, Double-Masked, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial of Two Forms of Omega-3 Supplements for Treating Dry Eye Disease. Ophthalmology, 124(1), 43–52.
[4] Calder P. C. (2013). Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and inflammatory processes: nutrition or pharmacology?. British journal of clinical pharmacology, 75(3), 645–662.
[5] NIH, Dietary Supplement Fact Sheets
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