Along with its innumerable advantages, researchers from Ohio State University have found that the consumption of a good amount of Omega 3 fish oil supplements could help slow down the process of ageing and its effects it has on the body.
During the study, researchers observed overweight, but healthy, middle-aged and older adults who took omega-3 supplements for four months saw a drastic change in their fatty acid consumption such that it helped preserve tiny segments of DNA called telomeres in their white blood cells.
Telomeres are responsible for signs of ageing in a person. With time, the length of these telomeres decreases in certain cells leading to ageing. Omega 3 fish oil supplements help lengthen these telomeres which delays the process of ageing.
"The telomere finding is provocative in that it suggests the possibility that a nutritional supplement might actually make a difference in aging," Jan Kiecolt-Glaser, lead author of the study from Ohio State said.
Omega 3 Fatty acids also have a very positive effective on adults as its lowers inflammation in this same group of adults.
"Inflammation in particular is at the heart of so many health problems. Anything that reduces inflammation has a lot of potentially good spinoffs among older adults," Kiecolt-Glaser said.
DHA and EPA are two essential forms of Omega 3 fatty acids. They are said to carry the sole responsibility of most, if not all of the health benefits that these supplements offer. Apart from these two, ALA is another form or Omega 3 fatty acids. However, it is not very essential because the ALA, when consumed, is broken up into DHA and EPA in the end.
"The idea we were looking at with the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids was an increase in the denominator to make the ratio smaller. In the United States, we need to focus on the omega-3 part because we don't get enough of those," said colleague Martha Belury.
"This finding strongly suggests that inflammation is what's driving the changes in the telomeres," Kiecolt-Glaser added.
