Some kind of inflammation is believed to lie behind most diseases of the 21st Century. For example, heart disease, cancer, autoimmune diseases, psoriasis, Alzheimer's and many other conditions are characterised by increased levels of pro-inflammatory markers produced from Omega 6 essential fatty acids found in meat, dairy products, vegetable oils and processed foods.

Although it is now well known that Omega 3 fatty acids from oily fish or fish oil supplements can offer significant health benefits, what is perhaps less well known are the reasons why? Possibly the most important health giving property of Omega 3 is its apparent ability to reduce inflammation by inhibiting production of pro-inflammatory eicosanoids.

Eicosanoids - good and bad

No one yet fully understands the mechanisms involved, but according to a number of experts, including Artemis Simopoulos a world-renowned authority on fish oil and director of the Centre for Genetics, Nutrition and Health, fish oil influences the type of eicosanoids that are produced by the body.

Eicosanoids are hormone like messengers that are derived from essential fatty acids. To put it very simply, depending on the type of essential fatty acid incorporated into the cells, either Omega 6 or Omega 3, the eicosanoids produced will either be (bad) pro-inflammatory or (good) anti-inflammatory. It is necessary to have a balance between the different types of eicosanoids or between Omega 6 and Omega 3, for good health and this is where diet plays a crucial part. Most of us simply do not get enough of Omega 3 in our diet to offset the inflammation produced by Omega 6.

In particular, it is the Omega 3 fatty acid Eicosapentaenoic acid or EPA that can be considered as the most beneficial for ongoing physical health and mental wellbeing. Although Docosahexaenoic acid or DHA, another Omega 3 fatty acid, is important for the structure of the brain and healthy vision, many professionals now believe it is EPA that is needed for the body and the brain to function well on a day to day basis.

For example, when the Omega 6 fatty acid, arachidonic acid or AA is incorporated into the cells, the result is increased production of pro-inflammatory eicosanoids (prostaglandins, thromboxanes and leukotrienes). EPA, in a way, competes with AA for incorporation into the cells, reducing the number of pro-inflammatory compounds produced.

Unfortunately, Omega 3 is not as abundant as Omega 6 and a direct source of EPA, for example, can only be found in oily fish and fish oil supplements. Over the past 70 years or so our consumption of fish has also dwindled to a fraction of what it used to be, whereas our consumption of Omega 6 has increased.

Many experts believe it is no coincidence that this change in our diet has coincided with a rise in the number of cases of heart disease, cancers and inflammatory conditions. Fish oil certainly offers hope not only therapeutically, but also by reducing inflammation, we can reduce the risk of developing a significant number of health problems in the first place. Some research suggests that fish oil could even offer a safer alternative to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs.

Fish oil versus NSAIDs

One recent study published in Surgical Neurology suggested that Omega 3 fatty acids could possibly help treat neck and back pain. Joseph Maroon and Jeffrey Bost from Pittsburgh University, investigated over 200 people who had been treated for non-surgical back and neck pain and all of who were taking NSAIDs. The participants were given 2.4 gr of Omega 3 for 2 weeks before halving the dose and reducing their NSAIDs over the following couple of weeks. The results of surveys that were sent out (125 questionnaires were returned) showed that more than 50% had stopped taking any NSAIDs and had less pain and 88% said they would continue taking fish oil supplements.

So what kind of fish oil is best?

Opinions on this vary but in general, fish oil with a high EPA content can be considered the best for most people. Most fish oils contain a combination of EPA and DHA and many reports mention just Omega 3 and do not differentiate between the fatty acids involved. Some studies have indicated that too much DHA might actually inhibit the effectiveness of EPA so the ratio of EPA to DHA is crucial.

Conclusion

As most people have a diet that is rich in Omega 6 but deficient in Omega 3, nearly everyone can benefit from supplementing with Omega 3 fish oil in order to reduce or limit the negative effect of too much inflammation in the body. Eating more oily fish is one way of increasing intake of Omega 3, but as our fish are now polluted with toxins, the best option has got to be a quality fish oil supplement where the toxins have been removed and one that is particularly high in EPA.