Making omega-3s work better

Sunday, November 04, 2012 by: Dr. Phil Domenico
Tags: omega-3s, inflammation, heart health

(NaturalNews) Omega-3 fats make for better bodies in many ways. They help protect heart, brain, joint, skin, immune, and vision health. However, omega-3s are highly fragile and need protection in their own right. Once oxidized, they're more harmful than helpful. Several nutrients protect omega-3s to help them work better.

Oxidation and inflammation

The aging process is largely about oxidation, which makes substances stick to blood vessels in atherosclerosis, promotes macular degeneration in the eye, weathers skin, and leads to dementia and depression. Oxidation also fuels inflammation, which essentially makes the body attack itself. Intact (non-oxidized) omega-3s are anti-inflammatory, and help reduce blood triglycerides, enable blood fat to flow more freely, improve LDL-cholesterol quality, stabilize plaque to prevent heart attack and stroke, help relax arteries, and reduce blood pressure. The eyes, skin, brain and most other body organs and tissues rely on intact omega-3s to function properly.

A number of antioxidants can protect omega-3 fats and LDL-cholesterol from oxidation, including carotenoids, vitamin E, curcumin, capsaicin, quercetin, olive leaf extract, green tea, chitin-glucan fiber, and polyphenolic compounds from fruits and vegetables. Krill oil is an omega-3 that's naturally protected by the carotenoid astaxanthin.

Lutein and Zeaxanthin (LZ)

These carotenoids are particularly protective of omega-3s in the eyes, blood, brain, and skin. In mice fed high-fat diets, LZ lowered fat oxidation and arterial lesions dramatically. In humans, artery stiffness was 80 percent greater in people at the lowest versus highest blood LZ levels.

The brain is composed largely of omega-3s. LZ comprises roughly 75 percent of all brain carotenoids, and is concentrated in regions involved in memory and learning. Higher LZ in the brain means better cognitive function, and cognitive impairment is linked to low blood zeaxanthin in the elderly. In a recent clinical trial, learning and memory were improved by omega-3 or LZ, but especially in combination.

LZ are also the only carotenoids found in the retina and lens of the eye. They form the macular pigment, which acts like a pair of internal sunglasses to protect omega-3s in the retina from oxidation to help prevent macular degeneration.

Skin is also subject to sun damage. Solar radiation and environmental pollutants oxidize fats, proteins and DNA, which leads to photoaging and cancer. Antioxidant treatment (i.e., ascorbic acid, tocopherol, alpha-lipoic acid, melatonin) is a promising approach to counteract photoaging skin. Carotenoids are also deposited in skin, where they protect against excessive sun exposure. Carotenoids like LZ, beta-carotene and lycopene work like internal sunscreen to help defend against sunburn. People with high vitamin D, lutein and total carotenoid intake show significantly reduced risk for melanoma. In one human clinical study, subjects receiving LZ showed enhanced elasticity, skin hydration, and sunburn protection. Carotenoids also show anti-cancer potential, in part because they support omega-3 anti-inflammatory activity. Total carotenoid intake is strongly associated with anti-aging, likely by protecting omega-3s.

Thus, the best way to promote omega-3 benefits is to increase antioxidant intake, particularly carotenoids like LZ. Vitamin B6 also increases omega-3 content in membranes.

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About the author:
Dr. Phil Domenico is a nutritional scientist and educator with a research background in biochemistry and microbiology. Formerly an infectious disease research scientist, he now works as a consultant for supplement companies and the food industry. Visit Dr. Phil's blog at: http://thescienceofnutritiondotnet.wordpress...