Frequent Alcohol Consumers May Potentially Benefit from Omega-3 Fish Oil Supplementation

(Newswire.net — March 22, 2019) Orlando, FL — For thousands of years, alcohol has been consumed in many areas around the globe. This popular beverage is often consumed during parties and celebrations, however, there are many who consume it on a daily basis. Unfortunately, excessive alcohol is extremely detrimental to overall health.

Frequent consumers of alcohol may potentially benefit from omega-3 fish oil supplementation. Omega-3 fats are healthy fats widely believed to be essential for the functioning of the brain and body. They can be found in fish such as tuna, salmon, sardines, and trout or consumed through supplementation.

According to a study published in the PLOS ONE journal, omega-3 fish oil may potentially offer protection against alcohol-related neurodamage as well as the risk of dementia. Many human studies even reveal that cases of long-term alcohol abuse may result in brain damage and increased risk of dementia.

Omega-3s are believed to help fight inflammation and offer protection from neuronal cell death when brain cells are exposed to substantial amount of alcohol.

Michael A. Collins, PhD, Edward J. Neafsey, PhD, and colleagues at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, and collaborators at the University of Kentucky and the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), conducted the study.

The researchers studied adult brain cells of rats exposed to concentrations of alcohol over several days. The alcohol dose was equivalent to around four times the legal driving limit, which mayconsumed by chronic alcoholics.

There were also brain cultures exposed to similar amounts of alcohol and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which is a form of omega-3 fatty acids. It was found that in the brain cultures exposed to omega-3s, there was less neuroinflammation and neuronal death in brain cells by up to 90%.

According to an earlier meta-analysis, moderate social drinking may reduce the risk of dementia as well as cognitive impairment caused by aging. Moderate alcohol consumption is defined as a maximum of one drink for women and two drinks for men per day.

The meta-analysis indicates that limited consumption of alcohol may have the potential to keep brain cells more fit. This is due to the fact that moderate alcohol intake can cause stress that allows cells to “toughen up” and cope more efficiently.

Collins also added that fish oil may potentially aid in the preservation of brain integrity among chronic alcohol abusers.

There are fish oil supplements available, and they are believed to contain higher concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids.

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