Omega-3 fatty acids are critical to the human body and are, therefore, sometimes called essential fatty acids. Each cell of the body requires them to function efficiently. The body must have these fatty acids to produce the proper amount of hormones and to keep blood pressure, temperature, and cholesterol in check. Unfortunately, the body is unable to generate these within, so people must get them through nutritional supplements or their food intake.
Omega-3 fatty acids are so important that they work in sustaining almost every system, including the central nervous system and the circulatory system. They keep the blood thin enough to move freely through the system and stop the formation of the blood clots. Omega-3’s are also needed for the brain to develop properly and for healthy eyesight. Because of their ability to thin the blood, these fatty acids can also alleviate the pain of arthritis and give the body greater resistance to autoimmune disorders. They play a role in the health of the skin, and people who do not have sufficient quantities are more prone to eczema and psoriasis. Low amounts can also contribute to problems with the hair and nails.
The three different types of omega-3 fatty acids are as follows: alpha-linolenic acid, or ALA; docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA; and, eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA. The body is able to use EPA and DHA in the form in which they enter the system, and these two are imperative to proper functioning, but ALA is not so easily used by the body. After it is consumed, it must be changed into EPA or DHA before it can be used by the cells.
Even as a human embryo is developing, it depends on DHA for proper brain growth and for the eyes to form correctly. EPA causes the blood vessels to expand and regulates the thickness of the blood so that blockages do not occur. EPA and DHA, in combination, increase the production of nitric oxide within the blood vessels which strengthens the heart. These two acids also work to reduce the liver’s production of cholesterol, which can build up and lead to circulatory problems.
Inflammation, which has been associated with diseases like myocarditis, asthma, and colitis, also responds positively to additional omega-3 fatty acids. This effect can also be beneficial to those who suffer from autoimmune disorders, serious skin problems, depression, macular degeneration, and even some cancers.
Research presented in the British Journal of Ophthalmology indicates that eating foods high in omega-3’s can lessen the chance developing an age-related optical problem called macular degeneration (AMD). This disease causes damage to the central portion of the retina and results in loss of vision in this area. People with AMD often have only peripheral vision, which makes everyday tasks difficult. Increasing the amount of fatty acids in the diet could decrease the odds of developing this eye condition by at least a thirty percent. The objective in the most recent studies concerning the effect of omega-3’s on AMD is to discover their effect on people who already have this disease. Participants who increased their intake of fatty acids had about a twenty-five percent reduction in the progression of their eye disease.
The Age-Related Eye Disease Study2, in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, showed that increasing consumption of these acids could decrease, by more than thirty percent, the chance of getting either the wet or dry variety of macular degeneration. In addition, a study chronicled in the Archives of Ophthalmology shows that DHA is instrumental in protecting retinal nerves and is most effective when used to treat the later stages of AMD.
Babies’ eyes also seem to be affected by the amount of fatty acids consumed, according to the European Food Safety Committee, or EFSC. EFSC’s Dr. Julian Kliener has reported that DHA plays a role in the structure and functioning of the brain and the development of the retina of the eye. He urges expectant mothers to get the proper amount of fatty acids for fetal development in these areas. A study reported by the Journal of Clinical Nutrition confirms these conclusions, finding that infants who were given the proper amount of DHA had healthier eyes than those who were not.
