Fish Oil: It’s not just for a healthy heart anymore; it may benefit your bones!

The beneficial health effects of omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 fatty acids) commonly found in fish and fish oils were originally described in the study of Greenland Eskimos. What fascinated researchers was the Eskimos’ low incidence of coronary heart disease, asthma, type 1 diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis, cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis. After investigating, the researchers concluded the Eskimos’ remarkable quality of life was attributed to their high intake of seafood. And now, fish oil may even reduce our risk for osteoporosis.

Medical researchers now know that dietary supplementation with n-3 fatty acids modulates production of various inflammatory agents in the body that play a deleterious role in heart disease, cancer, and autoimmune diseases. And just recently, research indicates that n-3s benefit bone health. The study showed a positive correlation between n-3 fatty acid intake and bone mineral density.

In addition to this human study, animal models have suggested that n-3 fatty acids may reduce postmenopausal bone loss. Sixty-five postmenopausal women receiving n-3 supplements had statistically significant increases in lumbar spine and femoral neck BMD compared with placebo.

However, a study of 42 postmenopausal women receiving a similar mixture of PUFA supplements showed no significant increases in BMD compared with women receiving placebo. Both studies used high amounts of n–6 fatty acids (another form of fatty acids, which are not as beneficial and, in fact, may be harmful if the ratio between n-3 and n-6 is too high), which may have interfered with the outcomes.

The bottom line? Achieving pean bone mass in adolescence and the prevention of age-related osteoporosis are potential positive effects of n-3 fatty acid intake. Further clinical trials are needed to confirm the effect of n-3 fatty acids on the risk for osteoporosis, but the so far,  study results look promising.1

References:
1. AJCN, Vol. 85(3),647-648, March 2007