The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of fish oil emulsion, and its potential benefits to diabetic patients by: Janine Acero for Natural News
GNN Note – Fish oil, turmeric and ginger are all part of my daily routine. Joints, aches and pains are greatly reduced through natural herbs – at least in my system.
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Researchers from Slovakia investigate the capability of omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil emulsion to reduce hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in diabetic patients that result in diabetes-related complications. Their findings were published in the journal Nutrition Research.
- People suffering from diabetes often develop equally debilitating complications such as cardiovascular disease, retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy, which are significant causes of increased morbidity and mortality among diabetes patients.
- Previous studies confirm that hyperglycemia has pro-oxidative and pro-inflammatory properties which cause diabetes-related complications.
- The researchers hypothesized that supplementing diabetic patients with fish oil emulsion (FOE), which is rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, might reduce hyperglycemia-induced pathological changes due to specific properties of FOE.
- They tested their hypothesis by examining the potential protective effect of FOE on hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress and cytokine generation in monocytes/macrophages U937 system in vitro.
- They cultivated monocytes/macrophages U937 under normal or hyperglycemic (35 mmol/L glucose) conditions with/without FOE for 72 hours.
- They focused on specific markers for oxidative stress (antioxidant capacity; superoxide dismutase activity; oxidative damage to DNA, proteins, and lipids) and inflammation (tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, monocytic chemotactic protein-1). Hyperglycemia caused reduction of antioxidant capacity, induction of DNA damage, and pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion.
- The researchers observed that FOE significantly increased the antioxidant capacity of cells as well as superoxide dismutase activity, while significantly reducing tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and monocytic chemotactic protein-1 release.
- FOE exhibited no effect on oxidative damage to DNA, proteins, and lipids.
The results indicated that FOE can reduce hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress and inflammation by its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
