Excess omega intake may have negative health effects Excess omega intake may have negative health effects Previous studies have shown omega-3 fatty acids are associated with lower risk of sudden cardiac death and other cardiovascular disease outcomes, however a new paper published in the journal Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes & Essential Fatty Acids suggests consuming excessive amounts of omega-3s from either supplementation, foods or a combination of both may increase the risk of negative health outcomes. Previous research led by Jenifer Fenton and her collaborators found that feeding mice large amounts of dietary omega-3 fatty acids led to increased risk of colitis and immune alteration. As a follow-up, Fenton and her co-authors reviewed the literature and discussed the potential adverse health outcomes that could result from excess consumption of omega-3 fatty acids. Studies have shown that omega-3s, also known as long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs), are associated with lower risk of sudden cardiac death and other cardiovascular disease outcomes. Omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties, which is one of the reasons they can be beneficial to heart health and inflammatory issues. However, the researchers said excess amounts of omega-3 fatty acids can alter immune function sometimes in ways that may lead to a dysfunctional immune response to a viral or bacterial infection. The researchers noted that the amounts of fish oil used in most studies are typically above what one could consume from foods or usual dosage of a dietary supplement. However, an increasing amount of products, such as eggs, bread, butters, oils and orange juice, are being fortified with omega-3s. They said that fortified food coupled with fish oil supplement use increase the potential for consuming these high levels. The researchers concluded that until they establish valid biomarkers of omega-3 exposure, making good evidence-based dietary recommendations across potential dietary exposure ranges would not be possible.
Posted on: Wed, 06 Nov 2013 21:43:36 +0000
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