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There’s no doubt about the health benefits of fish oil, but how about Asthma?
The health benefits of fish oil, or more specifically the Omega 3 essential fatty acids DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) and EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid), found in fish oil, may also extend to people with asthma.
But is there any link between omega-3 fatty acids and asthma?
In other words, does an increase in intake of Omega 3 essential fatty acids help improve your asthma?
The first thing to say is that there is no definitive answer.
However, the basic principles suggest that there may be a link between more Omega 3 and asthma reduction.
Deficiency of Omega-3 in Asthma patients
Decades of research have proven that a maximum population has inadequate Omega 3 essential fatty acids intake.
Moreover, fish consumption in the average American diet has also declined over the last few decades.
A research study has shown that deficiency of Omega-3 fatty acids in Asthma patients can make Asthma more severe. It happens because of the large consumption of Omega-6 fatty acids from processed foods.
The imbalance between Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids has a negative effect on Asthma patients.
However, further study is needed to obtain the role of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids and the negative consequence of omega-6 fatty acids.
The Omega 3 essential fatty acids are found more in fish than any other food. Therefore, the decline in our fish intake has also decreased our Omega 3 essential fatty acids intake.
Health benefits of Omega-3 for Asthma
The benefits of fish oil supplementation or eating more fish extend to many areas of your health, including asthma.
And research is showing that there are significant health downsides to eating less of the Omega 3 fatty acids, primarily DHA and EPA.
Health downsides include an increase in our risk of dying from a heart attack.
Let’s look into some of the factors that Omega-3 fatty acids can contribute to Asthma.
Omega-3 has Anti-Inflammatory properties.
Many research has shown that Omega 3 essential fatty acids are excellent anti-inflammatories, meaning that they help reduce inflammation.
Asthma is an inflammatory condition, and therefore it would make sense that an effective anti-inflammatory may help reduce asthma symptoms.
Reduce Childhood Asthma risk
A study has found an association between the intake of fish oil and childhood asthma.
Further, it was found that regular consumption of oily fish for the first two years has shown a decrease in respiratory infection and parental history of asthma.
Effective in Bronchial Asthma
A study revealed that omega-3 EPA has a positive impact on bronchial asthma. It has been shown that it can reduce the sign and symptoms of asthma.
Additionally, it can also reduce the levels of serum lipids and have anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects.
Another study has also supported that consuming a diet containing omega-3 fatty acids can reduce the impact of bronchial asthma.
Omega-3 prevents asthma in the offspring.
A study published in the American Journal of clinical nutrition in 2008 has shown a comparison of fish oil intake with olive oil in late pregnancy and asthma in the offspring.
In the study, 533 women, all pregnant, were recruited for a study. Some of the women were given supplements.
However, some of these supplements contained fish oil; some contained olive oil. Some women got no supplements at all.
And the children that resulted from these pregnancies were studied in the succeeding period.
In particular, 16 years later, they were assessed for asthma. And it was found that the “hazard rate for allergic asthma was reduced by 87 percent in the fish oil group compared with the olive oil group”.
And the conclusion was that increasing n–3 PUFAs (Omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids) in late pregnancy may carry a significant prophylactic potential concerning offspring asthma.
In other words, it seems from the study that women taking fish oil supplements during pregnancy reduced the risk of asthma in the child born from that pregnancy.
Other studies have also confirmed the possibility of a fish oil asthma link, not just from taking Omega 3 supplements during pregnancy but also after birth.
Effects of Omega-3 supplements on Asthma
There is no doubt that there is a wide range of health benefits from taking high-quality Omega-3 supplements.
Also, various research studies have shown a strong link between omega-3 fatty acids’ health benefits and asthma.
Even well-recognized organizations such as the American Heart Association confirm a reduction in the likelihood of heart disease and heart attack by increasing the intake of Omega-3 fats.
However, studies have shown an effect of Omega-3 fatty acids on reducing asthma symptoms or reducing the risk of asthma.
Also, there is a need for more studies on omega-3 fatty acids and their effect on asthma.
If the diet’s adequate intake of omega-3 fatty acids is not sufficient, then high-quality fish oil supplements can help fulfill the demand.
