Your liver is very important to your overal health. It is responsible for detoxifying your body, protein synthesis, storage of energy, production of digestive tools, regulating your metabolism, producing some of your hormones, and the list goes on...
The study below shows how Omega 3 fatty acids can help your liver. Just one more way that EPA and DHA can benefit your overall health.
A review of four human studies found that omega-3 can improve liver health and function, and increase insulin sensitivity in people suffering from fatty liver, a condition that is usually symptomless but said to increase the risk for liver inflammation, and that may ultimately result in liver failure.
Fatty liver is reportedly on the rise in the US, affecting between one quarter and one half of all Americans. The prevalence if non-alcoholic fatty liver disease has increased in line with the ever increasing obesity epidemic.
Led by Dr Gail Masterton from the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh in Scotland, the reviewers report their findings in the journal Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics.
Previous studies have demonstrated that omega-3 offers protective benefits against obesity-related conditions. A considerable number of studies already support the benefits of the omega-3 fatty acids for cardiovascular health, and cognitive health. Other areas of potential for the fatty acids include mood and behaviour, eye health, cancer risk reduction, and improved infant development.
It is biologically plausible that omega-3 fatty acids may improve liver health, said the reviewers because "they have several potential mechanisms of action, the most important being the ability to alter hepatic gene expression, thereby switching intracellular metabolism from lipogenesis and storage to fatty acid oxidation and catabolism". The later physiological state would prevent fat deposits in the liver and potentially burn up existing fat stores.
"There is also evidence that omega-3 improves insulin sensitivity, are anti-inflammatory and reduce TNF levels so offering several potential therapeutic mechanisms," they added.
"To date the trials have all been open label and none have employed a prospective, randomised, blinded, placebo controlled, adequately powered trial methodology to submit these promising preliminary findings to proper scientific rigour," wrote Masterton and her co-workers. "Such studies are now urgently required," the researchers added.
Source: Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics
Published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2009.04230.x
"Review article: omega-3 fatty acids - a promising novel therapy for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease"
Authors: G. S. Masterton, J.N. Plevris, P.C. Hayes
Fatty liver is reportedly on the rise in the US, affecting between one quarter and one half of all Americans. The prevalence if non-alcoholic fatty liver disease has increased in line with the ever increasing obesity epidemic.
Led by Dr Gail Masterton from the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh in Scotland, the reviewers report their findings in the journal Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics.
Previous studies have demonstrated that omega-3 offers protective benefits against obesity-related conditions. A considerable number of studies already support the benefits of the omega-3 fatty acids for cardiovascular health, and cognitive health. Other areas of potential for the fatty acids include mood and behaviour, eye health, cancer risk reduction, and improved infant development.
It is biologically plausible that omega-3 fatty acids may improve liver health, said the reviewers because "they have several potential mechanisms of action, the most important being the ability to alter hepatic gene expression, thereby switching intracellular metabolism from lipogenesis and storage to fatty acid oxidation and catabolism". The later physiological state would prevent fat deposits in the liver and potentially burn up existing fat stores.
"There is also evidence that omega-3 improves insulin sensitivity, are anti-inflammatory and reduce TNF levels so offering several potential therapeutic mechanisms," they added.
"To date the trials have all been open label and none have employed a prospective, randomised, blinded, placebo controlled, adequately powered trial methodology to submit these promising preliminary findings to proper scientific rigour," wrote Masterton and her co-workers. "Such studies are now urgently required," the researchers added.
Source: Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics
Published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2009.04230.x
"Review article: omega-3 fatty acids - a promising novel therapy for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease"
Authors: G. S. Masterton, J.N. Plevris, P.C. Hayes
No comments:
Post a Comment