April 3, 2007 – The list of health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids may grow. These fats could help strengthen bones, according to a Swedish study. And British researchers conclude that it should consume less than we think to lower our blood pressure.
Bone density
Swedish researchers followed a cohort of 78 young men aged 16 at the start of the study1. For six years, they measured the concentrations of fatty acids in their body. They then assessed the density of their bones. By the time the subjects reached 22 years of age, the bones of those with higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids were denser than those of other subjects.
Researchers have noted a correlation between omega-3 concentration and bone density, especially in the case of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 found primarily in seafood. Further studies could perhaps explain how this fatty acid acts on bone building and what protection it could possibly offer against the onset of osteoporosis in later age.
Blood pressure
The results of a clinical trial, conducted in England with 38 healthy subjects aged 40 to 652, indicate that moderate DHA intake had the effect of lowering blood pressure. Omega-3s (700 mg per day of DHA extracted from seaweed) were administered for three months and their effects were compared to those of an identical supplement based on olive oil.
Researchers report that ADH caused an average 3.3 mmHg decrease in blood pressure. We already knew that a daily intake of around 2 g to 3 g per day of omega-3 could lower blood pressure. The results of the present study indicate that 700 mg of ADH would be sufficient to produce this protective effect against cardiovascular disorders.
Pierre Lefrançois – PasseportSanté.net
According to iVillage Total Health and Nutraingredients.com.
1. Hogstrom M, Nordstrom P, Nordstrom A. n-3 Fatty acids are positively associated with peak bone mineral density and bone accrual in healthy men: the NO2 Study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 Mar; 85 (3): 803-7.
2. Theobald HE, Goodall AH et al. Low-Dose Docosahexaenoic Acid Lowers Diastolic Blood Pressure in Middle-Aged Men and Women. J Nutr. 2007 Apr; 137 (4): 973-978.