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Omega-3 fatty acids appear to be good for maintaining lung health

Omega-3 fatty acids appear to be good for maintaining lung health

A recent study, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has unveiled promising findings regarding the role of omega-3 fatty acids in preserving lung health. Omega-3 fatty acids, abundant in both fish and fish oil supplements, have demonstrated potential benefits for maintaining lung function. This extensive study, backed predominantly by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), represents a substantial leap in our understanding of this connection and highlights the importance of incorporating omega-3 fatty acids into one's diet, particularly considering that many Americans fail to meet recommended dietary guidelines. The study's results have been published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Patricia A. Cassano, Ph.D., the corresponding author of the study and the Director of the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University, expressed, "We know a lot about the role of diet in cancer and cardiovascular diseases, but the role of diet in chronic lung disease is somewhat understudied. This study adds to growing evidence that omega-3 fatty acids, which are part of a healthy diet, may be important for lung health too."

There has been an increasing interest in exploring whether dietary interventions can contribute to preventing lung diseases. Prior research has suggested that omega-3 fatty acids may have a beneficial impact, largely due to their established anti-inflammatory properties. However, robust studies supporting this association have been lacking until now.

To delve deeper into this matter, researchers conducted



a two-part study to investigate the relationship between omega-3 fatty acid levels in the bloodstream and lung function over time. In the first part, they carried out a longitudinal observational study involving 15,063 individuals from the NHLBI Pooled Cohorts Study, which comprises a substantial collection of NIH-funded studies aimed at understanding personalized risk factors for chronic lung diseases. The participants were generally in good health at the study's commencement, with most showing no signs of chronic lung disease. This diverse group of adults had an average age of 56, with 55% being female. Researchers monitored these individuals for an average of seven years, with some followed for up to two decades.

The longitudinal study revealed a correlation between higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids in a person's blood and a reduced rate of decline in lung function. The most significant associations were observed for docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid abundant in fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, and sardines. DHA is also available as a dietary supplement.

In the second part of the study, researchers examined genetic data from over 500,000 European participants in the UK Biobank. They analyzed specific genetic markers in the blood, serving as indirect indicators of dietary omega-3 fatty acid levels, to assess their correlation with lung health. The results demonstrated that higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, including DHA, were linked to improved lung function.

It's important to note that this study exclusively included healthy adults. As part of an ongoing project, researchers are collaborating with the COPDGene study to investigate blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids in relation to the rate of lung function decline in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including heavy smokers. This will help determine if similar beneficial associations exist in this population.

Bonnie K. Patchen, Ph.D., the first author of the study and a member of Cassano's research team at Cornell, emphasized, "We're starting to turn a corner in nutritional research and really moving toward precision nutrition for treating lung diseases. In the future, this could translate into individualized dietary recommendations for people at high risk for chronic lung disease."

For now, the researchers recommend adhering to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which advocate consuming at least two servings of fish per week—a recommendation that many Americans currently fall short of meeting. In addition to fish and fish oil, other sources of omega-3 fatty acids include nuts, seeds, plant oils, and fortified foods.

James P. Kiley, Ph.D., the director of the NHLBI's Division of Lung Diseases, noted, "This large population-based study suggests that nutrients with anti-inflammatory properties may help to maintain lung health. More research is needed, since these findings raise interesting questions for future prospective studies about the link between omega-3 fatty acids and lung function."

The study received support from NHLBI award R01HL149352 and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases award T32DK007158. The NHLBI Pooled Cohorts Study was backed by NIH/NHLBI awards R21HL121457, R21HL129924, and K23HL130627.