The importances of omega -3 fatty acids have been known since 1930 for better health and growth. But the importance of awareness of their benefits increased later as two Danish scientist Dyer berg and bang came out with results of their extensive research in 1970s Green land Eskimos which showed that a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids significantly reduced plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and improved fat tolerance, prolonged bleeding time. They said diet reduce platelet counts because the Greenland Eskimos used to have large quantity of fat absorbed from consumption of marine animals such as seals and whales. The heart health benefits of the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids such as DHA and EPA are now the best known. In 1972 only, A.M nelson with result of a 19 year long research study on 82 patients has been divided in to two groups out of which one group was fed with a normal diet and another group on diet containing fatty fishes. At the end of 19 years, the survival of control group was 8% and the survival in the group which was fed with fatty fishes was 36%.In 1982, Dr. Charles Serhan’s group at Harvard discovered that the omega-3 fatty acid EPA formed in the body potent anti-inflammatory nonomolecules, called resolvins, later, his team found that omega-3’s also turn into other anti-inflammatory molecules called mare sins and omega-3 oxylipins, which partly explain the versatile health effects of fish oil among consumer of fish.
A study was conducted in an Italian institute i.e, GISSIP- prevenzione (1999)on 11, 324 patients with a myocardial infarction. It was reported that administration of a daily capsule of about 850 mg omega-3 fatty acid had a significant reduction in occurrence of death by 30% and sudden cardiac death by 45%.these benefits were apparent with in just four month onward of commencement of the treatment. Due to curative effect of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) w-3 fatty acids on coronary heart diseases, the U.S food and Drug administration gave a “qualified health claim” status of both of them. The Canadian government has reported that DHA having a biological role supports the normal development of brain, eyes and nerves. Another study on the benefits of EPA was published in the Lancet (2007) where in over 18000 patient with unhealthy cholesterol levels, were randomly assigned to receive either 1,800 mg day of E-EPA with a statin drug or a statin drug alone. The trial went on for a total of five years. It was found at the end of the study that those patients in the E-EPA group had superior cardiovascular function. Non-fatal coronary events were also significant reduce in the E-EPA group. The authors concluded that EPA is a promising treatment for prevention of major coronary events, especially non-fatal coronary events.
A modest increase in intake of PUFAs can reduce cardiovascular risk; relatively large doses of EPA and DHA are required for anti-inflammatory effects. These doses can be taken efficiently and economically as liquid fish oil in diet or\in juice. Recipients should be informed that there are multiple strategies for increasing n-3 intake, and therefore, no matter what their usual dietary preference, there should be an acceptable approach for most individuals. It (fish oil) has been found to be a cheapest source to cure the above mentioned diseases which are believed to be fatal for mankind. Feeding children with the PUFAs has shown to have significant development in the learning power and intellectual quotient. It also helps in grey matter development in brain during fetus formation. Scientific studies conducted on this area have proven that the intake of fish oil helps to keep the human beings health.
Barber et al (1999) evaluated the effect of an oral nutritional supplements enriched with fish oil on weight loss in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. After administration of the fish oil enriched supplement, patients had a significant weight gain at the end of both 3 and 7 weeks experimental periods. Performance status and appetite were significantly improved in 3 weeks of study with promising results. Studies have also been conducted on the relevance of EPA with cancer cachexia (syndrome) with satisfactory results. Several studies have reported possible anti-cancer effects of n-3 fatty acids particularly on breast. Colon and prostate cancer in human beings.Omega-3 fatty acids reduced prostate tumor growth, slowed histopathological progression and increased survival. High levels of docosahexaenoic acid, the most abundant n-3 PUFA in erythrocyte membranes, are associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer. A 2009 trial concluded that a supplement of eicosapentaenoic acid helped cancer patients retain muscle mass.
There is a study published regarding n-3 supplementation in children with learning and behavioral problems. 132 children, between the ages of seven to twelve years, with poor learning, participated in randomized, placebo controlled, double-blinded intervention trails, and where in, a total of 104 children completed the trail. For the first fifteen weeks of the study, the children were given polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 and n-6 3000 mg a day), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) plus vitamins and mineral supplement. Parents were asked to rate their children’s condition after fifteen and thirty weeks and they found a significant effect of the supplementation on the learning behavior of the children.
A study, examining whether omega-3 exerts neuroprotective action in Parkinson’s disease, found that it did exert a protective effects; using an experimental model (much like it did for Alzheimer’s diseases as well).The scientist exposed mice to either a control or a high omega-3 diet from two twelve months of age and then treated them with a neurotoxin, commonly used as an experimental model for Parkinson’s. The scientist found that high doses of omega-3 given to the experimental group completely prevented the neurotoxin induced decrease of dopamine that ordinarily occurs. Since Parkinson’s is a disease caused by disruption of the dopamine system, this protective effect exhibited could show promise for future research in the prevention of Parkinson’s disease.
Research carried out in recent years has suggested that the in-vitro anti-inflammatory activity of n-3 acids translates into clinical benefits. Cohorts of neck pain patients and of rheumatoid arthritis sufferers have demonstrated benefits comparable to those receiving standard NSAIDs. Those who follow a Mediterranean style diet tend to have less of heart diseases, an increase in higher high density lipoproteins (HDL) good cholesterol levels and higher proportions of n-3 tissue with highly unsaturated fatty acids.