How Fish Oil Fights Inflammation

What is the connection between omega-3 fish oil and inflammation?  Does the supplement have anti-inflammatory activity or not?  There has been some debate on that subject over the years.  Let’s take a look at both sides.

Omega3 and Omega6

First off, we know that omega-6s, the other essential fatty acids in our diets, are converted into inflammatory hormones within the body.  They are called cytokines and leukotrienes, but the names don’t really matter.  All that we need to know is that they contribute to excessive inflammatory responses.
 
Omega-3s compete with omega-6s for conversion.  If there are too many omega-6s in the bloodstream, the omega-3s lose the battle.  If balanced amounts of each are present, the omega-3s will be converted into hormones that are less inflammatory than those produced from omega-6s.

Because of this, one side of the debate says that we should not say that omega-3s have anti-inflammatory activity.  We should say that they are less inflammatory than omega-6s.  Here’s the other side.

Some studies have shown that omega-3s stimulate the immune system to produce compounds that “turn off” the inflammatory response.  This is important in autoimmune diseases which include asthma, allergies, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.  These findings indicate that supplementation may help prevent those diseases.

In the most recent laboratory studies concerning fish oil and inflammation, researchers showed that some supplements do have anti-inflammatory activity.  In some cases, the activity is very low.

EPA & DHA
 
For example, supplements containing 180mg of EPA and 120mg of DHA, which is what you will find in the average brands, have about 10% of the anti-inflammatory activity of aspirin.  The anti-inflammatory activity of different brands varies greatly according to researchers.
 
Some brands have three times the anti-inflammatory activity of others.  Yet the scientists are unable to explain why that is true.

The Bottom Line on Fish Oil Benefits

It really doesn’t matter who wins the fish oil and inflammation debate.  We are the ultimate winners.  Whether the supplement has anti-inflammatory activity, contributes to the production of less inflammatory hormones or turns off the inflammatory process entirely, we still have less painful, more mobile joints.
 
We also have a reduced risk of the diseases associated with the chronic-inflammation. Those include cancer and heart disease. 

The chronic type is one of the causes of cellular aging.  It degrades collagen fibers, the ones beneath the skin and the ones in our tendons, as well as the others located throughout the body.

A recent investigation concerning fish oil & inflammation was conducted by Italian researchers.  Their findings could either settle the debate or contribute to the argument.  They believe that the omega-3 fatty acids affect the way that the genes in our body “express” themselves.

It may sound funny, but our genes do a lot more than determine the color of our hair.  The genetic DNA inside of each of the cells of our body has the potential to become mutated.  The mutation can lead to cancer formation or the death of an important heart cell.
 
New studies concerning fish oil and inflammation are conducted every month or two.  We will undoubtedly learn more as time goes by. Premium Fish Oil Source