MICROgenics^® 2000mg Odourless Fish Oil

Omega-3 fatty acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are important for keeping your body healthy and functioning well. The best sources of omega-3 fatty acids are from seafood and fish, particularly deep sea fish including herring, salmon, mackerel and tuna. Omega-3 fatty acids contain 2 primary fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These fatty acids are referred to as ‘essential’ because they cannot be synthesised by humans so must be consumed through the diet or via supplementation.

The health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil are well established. They are required for normal growth and cell function and appear to have heart-protective effects and anti-inflammatory properties.

Supporting membrane structure and function

Omega-3 fatty acids are important structural components of the cell membrane phospholipids throughout the body where they perform various functions. When incorporated into phospholipids, omega-3 fatty acids affect cell membrane properties such as fluidity, flexibility, permeability and the activity of membrane bound enzymes. The omega-3 fatty acid DHA is especially abundant in nerve and retinal tissue suggesting it plays an important role in vision and nervous system function.

Cardiovascular Health

An intake of omega-3 fatty acids supports healthy triglyceride levels. A 25 – 30% reduction in the triglyceride concentrations has been reported with 4g of omega-3 fatty acids per day. The hypotriglyceridemic action of omega-3 fatty acids is thought to be primarily due to a reduction in liver triglyceride synthesis and hence a diminished secretion of triglyceride rich lipoproteins from the liver into circulation.

Inflammation

The omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA have anti-inflammatory properties and may be of benefit for inflammatory conditions such as arthritis. Omega-3 fatty acids help maintain joint health and mobility and may provide temporary relief of joint pain. Ingestion of omega-3 fatty acids has consistently been shown to reduce both the number of tender joints and amount of morning stiffness in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. These clinical benefits appear to be apparent after at least 12 weeks of use. Supplementation of a minimum daily dose of 3g EPA and DHA daily is associated with reductions in the release of leukotriene B4 (from neutrophils) and interleukin 1 (from monocytes), both of which mediate inflammation.4

1. Higdon J. Essential Fatty Acids. Linus Pauling Institute. http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/othernuts/omega3fa/ (accessed 11/05/11)
2. Hutchins, H. Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Recommendations for Therapeutics and Prevention. MedGenMed. 2005; 7(4):18
3. Harris W. n-3 fatty acids and serum lipoproteins:human studies. Am J Clin Nutr. 1997;65:1645-54
4. Kremer, J. M. N-3 Fatty Acid Supplements in Rheumatoid Arthritis. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000;71: 349S-51S