Crohn’s and Omega-3 Fatty Acids
The importance of omega-3 fatty acids in the effective treatment of Crohn’s disease symptoms
Essential Fatty Acids found in fish, fish oil and flax seed oil are ‘essential’. They are anti-inflammatory in nature, and they are absolutely essential element of preventing and controlling Crohn’s disease.
Essential fatty acids help rebuild the health of intestinal cells and the mucosal lining.
In addition, they affect the function of virtually every system of the body, including the digestive system.
Fish oil is a natural anti-inflammatory. Doctors treat Crohn’s disease with anti-inflammatory drugs.
Omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in oily fish and flax oil, have been associated with protection against inflammation, including in the intestinal tract. Some studies have even reported lowered use of anti-inflammatory medications in people who consume fish oil. Such fatty acids are also available in supplements as docosahexaenoic (DHA) and eicosapentaneoic (EPA) acids.
A two-year trial compared the effects of having people with Crohn’s eat fish high in omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) or a diet low in fish. The fish-eating group had a 20% relapse rate compared with 58% in those not eating fish.
There have been a few research studies that have proven the positive impact that Omega 3s (found in fish oils) have had on reducing inflammation/flare ups in those with Crohn’s disease.
According to a study recently published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, fish oil was shown to be effective in reducing inflammation in Crohn’s Disease patients.
The British study tested fish oil’s anti-inflammatory effects on white blood cells from patients with Crohn’s disease.
The researchers, who included Timothy Trebble of the Institute of Human Nutrition at England’s University of Southampton, wanted to see if fish oil could affect markers of inflammation in these white blood cells.
They were especially interested in two key components of fish oil: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Both are omega-3 fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids that have been shown to have a number of health benefits.
A second study done by researchers at the University of Bologna also reported that fish oils prevent relapses. Their experiment involved 78 patients with Crohn’s disease who had been classified as having a high risk of relapse. Half the patients were randomized to receive nine fish oil capsules daily, the other half received nine placebo capsules daily. The fish oil capsules contained 500 mg of a marine lipid concentrate each (40 per cent eicosapentaenoic acid and 20 per cent docosahexaenoic acid) and provided a total of 2.7 grams of omega-3 fatty acids per day.
The capsules were enteric-coated so as to ensure that they dissolved in the small intestine instead of in the stomach and to minimize unpleasant side effects such as flatulence, heartburn, belching, and diarrhea.
The results of the fish oil therapy were spectacular. While 69 per cent of the patients in the control group had a relapse during the one-year study period, only 28 per cent in the therapy group did. At the end of the one-year period 59 per cent of the patients in the fish oil group were still in remission as compared to only 26 per cent in the placebo group. The researchers conclude that fish oil therapy (with enteric-coated capsules) is effective in preventing relapses in patients with Crohn’s disease in remission.
Conclusion: evidence suggests that omega-3 rich fatty fish and Omega 3 fatty acid supplements may be a good source of nutrition, and may lower inflammation for patients with Crohn’s disease.
Click on http://www.oilofpisces.com/inflammatoryboweldisease.html to learn more about the benefits of fish oil for crohn’s Disease.
Important: Use only Pharmaceutical grade fish oils.
Pharmaceutical grade fish oils are highly purified fish oils that are more concentrated, free of dangerous toxins, and have been clinically tested. Because of its higher potency and purity, results are achieved that are not possible with typical cod liver and typical health food fish oils. Compared to lower grade oils pharmaceutical grade fish oil is 2-3 times as potent, and 100’s of times more pure.
In my opinion, the most potent and purest Pharmaceutical grade fish oils products available are:
1. Dr Barry Sears OmegaRX Pharmaceutical Grade Fish Oil. This product is so pure and refined that it contains hundreds of times less PCB’s than ordinary health food grade fish oils.
OmegaRx is manufactured using a true molecular distillation process to assure removal of all man made pollutants such as PCB’s, dioxins, and mercury. Click here to learn more about this product.
2. Eskimo-3 Pharmaceutical Grade Fish Oil. Eskimo-3 is a unique, stable fish oil supplement that has not been chemically modified or processed like other fish oil products and EPA-DHA supplements.
Eskimo-3 is one of the most extensively researched and documented fish oil supplements in existence. Eskimo-3 is naturally derived, and is manufactured under strict quality control with guaranteed potency, purity, and quality. Natural antioxidants in Eskimo-3 provide exceptional stability.
Suggested use: Take 1 – 2 teaspoons of “Pharmaceutical Grade” Fish Oil every day.
