Omega-3 fatty acids appear promising for maintaining lung health

Newswise — New evidence from a comprehensive study in healthy adults, supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), highlights the potential benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids in maintaining lung health. The study, funded primarily by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), represents the most robust evidence to date on this relationship, emphasizing the importance of including Omega-3 fatty acids in the diet, especially considering that many Americans fail to meet current dietary recommendations.

Published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the study's findings underscore the promising role of Omega-3 fatty acids, abundantly found in fish and fish oil supplements, in supporting lung health. This aspect of diet-related health has been somewhat overlooked compared to cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

The corresponding author of the study, Patricia A. Cassano, Ph.D., who serves as the director of the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, expressed that Omega-3 fatty acids could play a crucial role in promoting lung health, adding to the growing body of evidence highlighting their significance in a healthy diet.

There is a growing interest in exploring how nutritional interventions could contribute to preventing lung diseases. Previous studies have indicated that Omega-3 fatty acids may offer benefits due to their established anti-inflammatory properties. However, until this recent study, there has been a lack of robust research confirming this association. The new findings help bridge this knowledge gap, shedding light on the potential of Omega-3 fatty acids for lung health.

To gain deeper insights, researchers conducted a two-part study to investigate the relationship between omega-3 fatty acid levels in the bloodstream and lung function changes over time. In the initial phase, they carried out a longitudinal, observational study involving 15,063 participants from the NHLBI Pooled Cohorts Study. This extensive collection of NIH-funded studies allowed researchers to examine factors contributing to personalized risk for chronic lung disease.

The participants enrolled in the study were generally in good health at the start, with most showing no signs of chronic lung conditions. The group consisted of racially diverse adults, with an average age of 56 years, and around 55% were female. The researchers followed the participants for an average of seven years, with some being monitored for up to 20 years.

The results of the longitudinal study revealed a notable correlation between higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the bloodstream and a reduced rate of decline in lung function. Among the various omega-3 fatty acids studied, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), found abundantly in fatty fish like salmon, tuna, and sardines, exhibited the strongest associations. DHA is also available as a dietary supplement.

In the second part of the study, the researchers analyzed genetic data from a vast cohort of over 500,000 European patients sourced from the UK Biobank. They investigated specific genetic markers in the blood, serving as indirect indicators, or proxies, for dietary omega-3 fatty acid levels. The aim was to understand how these markers correlated with lung health. The findings from this analysis further supported the connection between higher omega-3 fatty acid levels, including DHA, and improved lung function.

One limitation of the current study is its focus on healthy adults exclusively. However, researchers are actively expanding their investigation through collaboration with the COPDGene study. This ongoing project aims to explore the relationship between blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids and the rate of decline in lung function in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including heavy smokers. The researchers aim to determine whether the same beneficial associations observed in healthy adults extend to this population.

"We are witnessing a shift in nutritional research, moving towards precision nutrition for managing lung diseases," stated Bonnie K. Patchen, Ph.D., a nutritionist and member of Cassano's research team at Cornell, who served as the first author of the study. She believes that in the future, this research could lead to personalized dietary recommendations for individuals at high risk of chronic lung diseases.

While awaiting further developments, the researchers stress the importance of following the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which recommend consuming at least two servings of fish per week. Unfortunately, most Americans do not meet this recommendation. Apart from fish and fish oil, other sources of omega-3 fatty acids include nuts and seeds, plant oils, and fortified foods.

James P. Kiley, Ph.D., director of the NHLBI's Division of Lung Diseases, emphasized the significance of this large population-based study, suggesting that nutrients with anti-inflammatory properties may play a role in maintaining lung health. He also highlighted the need for more research to delve deeper into the link between omega-3 fatty acids and lung function, raising intriguing questions for future prospective studies.

 This study was supported by NHLBI award R01HL149352 and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases award T32DK007158. The NHLBI Pooled Cohorts Study was supported by NIH/NHLBI awards R21HL121457, R21HL129924, and K23HL130627. For full details on funding information, please see the published journal article. 
 
Study: Investigating associations of omega-3 fatty acids, lung function decline, and airway obstruction. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2023; doi: 10.1164/rccm.202301-0074OC 
 

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