Effects of fish oil Omega 3 fatty acids

Fish oil omega 3 fatty acids have a lot of benefits, they have several effects on the human body. The fish oil omega 3 benefits are the following:

- Fish oil omega 3 fatty acids has effect on alteration of lipoprotein metabolism. Fish oils reduce both fasting and post-prandial plasma triacylglycerols and VLDL cholesterol. With moderate intakes of fish oils, both HDL and LDL cholesterol tend to increase. High intakes reduce HDL cholesterol and may increase LDL in some patients. A meta-analysis of published human trials (that each provided 7 g daily of fish oils for at least 2 weeks) showed that serum cholesterol is unaffected by long-chain n-3 fatty acid consumption. However, triacylglycerols fell by 25–30%, LDL increased by 5–10% and HDL fell by 1–3%.
- Further fish oil omega 3 benefits are the prevention of thrombosis. Thrombosis is a major complication of coronary atherosclerosis, which can lead to myocardial infarction. The n-3 fatty acids have anti-thrombotic actions through inhibiting the synthesis of thromboxane A2 from arachidonic acids in platelets. Thromboxane A2 causes platelet aggregation and vasoconstriction and as a result fish oil increases bleeding time and reduces the ‘stickiness’ of the platelets. Fish oil also enhances the production of prostacyclin, which leads to vasodilatation and less ‘sticky’ platelets. These effects help to reduce the risk of thrombosis.
- The next benefits of fish oil omega 3 are inhibition of atherosclerosis. Fish oils reduce the plasma concentrations of several atherogenic lipoproteins (see above), but other mechanisms may be important. Thus, these effects may be associated with reduced synthesis of cytokines and interleukin 1α and through stimulation of the endothelial production of nitric oxide.
- Omega 3 fish oils can reduction in heart rate. A meta-analysis of 30 RCTs found that fish oil decreased heart rate by 1.6 beats per minute compared with placebo. In trials where initial heart beat was high and/or the study period was long, reduction in heart rate averaged 2.5 beats per minute. Heart rate reduction did not significantly vary with dosage of fish oil.
- Inhibition of inflammation. Diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids appear to reduce the inflammatory response.
- Inhibition of the immune response. Immune reactivity is generally reduced by omega-3
fatty acids.
- Fish oil omega 3 fatty acids have influence on arrhythmias. Fish oil may reduce the incidence of lethal myocardial infarction and sudden death. This may be due to the prevention of fatal cardiac arrhythmias. Evidence from some studies indicates an anti-arrhythmic action of fish oil, while evidence from other studies does not. In patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG), omega-3 fatty acids (2 g daily) substantially reduced the incidence of post-operative atrial fibrillation. In a further study in patients with a recent episode of sustained ventricular arrhythmia and an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), fish oil did not reduce the risk of ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation and there was evidence of a pro-arrhythmic effect in some patients.