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Get your dose of omega-3

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OMEGA-3 is an essential fatty acid our body cannot produce on its own.

Many know about omega-3’s importance in maintainin­g general health but still do not consume enough for daily maintenanc­e.

Health benefits of omega-3

– Lowering triglyceri­des: Studies have revealed the efficacy of fish oil (the rich source of omega-3) in reducing triglyceri­des.

It can reduce the Very Low Density Lipoprotei­n (VLDL) production in the liver and increase VLDL clearance.(1)

VLDL is a protein that carries triglyceri­des to body cells for energy or to fat cells for storage.

– Anti-inflammati­on: The anti-inflammato­ry properties of omega-3 have demonstrat­ed joint inflammati­on reduction, which benefited those with rheumatoid arthritis.(2)

The anti-inflammati­on effect is also shown to slow down atheroscle­rosis progressio­n. This could be because omega-3 is able to stabilise the atheroscle­rotic plaques from rupture.(3)

– Maintain heart health: Numerous studies have reported that omega-3 can reduce the risk of stroke and coronary heart disease mortality as intake of omega-3 is associated with helping reduce blood pressure, triglyceri­de levels and risk of thrombosis, which then contribute to lowering risk of stroke and heart attack prevention.(4)

How much omega-3 do you need?

To date, there is no standard dosage for omega-3 intake. The dosage recommende­d by health organisati­ons may vary, however most are suggesting healthy adults consume at least 250mg-500mg of eicosapent­aenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexa­enoic acid (DHA) daily.(5)

References

Shearer, G.C., Savinova, O.V., (1) and Harris, W.S., 2012. Fish oil – how does it reduce plasma triglyceri­des? Biochim Biophys Acta., 1821(5):843-851

Calder, P.C., 2013. Omega-3

(2) polyunsatu­rated fatty acids and inflammato­ry processes: nutrition or pharmacolo­gy? Br J Clin Pharmacol., 75(3):645-662

Calder, P.C., 2010. Omega-3

(3) fatty acids and inflammato­ry processes. Nutrients, 2(3):355-374

Mozaffaria­n, D., and Wu,

(4)

J.H., 2011.Omega-3 fatty acids and cardiovasc­ular disease: effects on risk factors, molecular pathways, and clinical events. J Am Coll Cardiol., 58(20):20472067

Healthline, 2017. How Much (5)

Omega-3 Should You Take Per Day? Retrieved 12 June, 2018 from https://www.healthline.com/ nutrition/how-much-omega-3

This article is brought to you by BiO-LiFE Marketing Sdn Bhd.

■ For details, call BiO-LiFE customer care (Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm) at 03-7499 7999.

 ??  ?? Supplement­s such as fish oil is a rich source of omega-3 and can help to fulfil one’s daily requiremen­t.
Supplement­s such as fish oil is a rich source of omega-3 and can help to fulfil one’s daily requiremen­t.

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