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Taking omega-3 fatty acids may reduce long-term brain trauma

Consuming omega-3 fatty acids on a regular basis, either by eating fish and certain nuts or taking a nutritional supplement, is a great way to boost your cognitive abilities. However, researchers are still eagerly experimenting with these essential compounds to determine what other health benefits they may have. Now, a new report shows that, when administered in response to a traumatic event, omega-3 fatty acids may actually be able to fortify your brain against sustained damage after an injury.

The report was published in the August edition of The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, and focuses on how omega-3 fatty acids may be used to tend to patients who have suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI).

According to the case report abstract, while the treatment of brain injuries has improved significantly in recent years, resulting in fewer deaths overall, there is another element of these incidences that hasn't been explored as thoroughly.

"The secondary injury phase of TBI is a prolonged pathogenic process characterized by neuroinflammation, excitatory amino acids, free radicals and ion imbalance," the abstract states. "There are no approved therapies to directly address these underlying processes."

Because omega-3 fatty acids are known to boost brain health, the researchers hypothesized that they may be beneficial to patients after a TBI because they would provide the necessary nutritional grounds to give their brains "the best opportunity to repair [themselves] to the best possible extent."

Based on the analysis of animal-based testing and the documented treatment of indidivuals that had been severely injured, the scientists concluded that omega-3 fatty acids could help lessen the overall impact of a TBI. In addition, they determined that the compounds were most effective when administered as early as possible. The report concludes that patients may benefit from receiving omega-3 fatty acids immediately after sustaining an injury, or upon arrival at the emergency room.

Though this report is preliminary, it may encourage hospitals to incorporate these brain health supplements into their treatment of such conditions. To see information about the omega-3 fatty acid products we carry, click here and here.

This entry was posted on Monday, August 27th, 2012 at 2:53 pm. Both comments and pings are currently closed.