2024-03-06 16:08:15
Omega-3 fatty acids are of great interest to patients and clinicians due to their potential protective effects on health, including lung health. In a recently published study, my colleagues and I found that higher dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids is linked to better lung function and longer survival in patients with pulmonary fibrosis, a respiratory disease. chronic.
Found in foods such as fish and nuts, as well as some dietary supplements, omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats that are essential nutrients for humans. They perform several important functions in the body, such as patterning cells and regulating inflammation.
Researchers believe that two omega-3 fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, or DHA and EPA, are most beneficial for overall health. When the body breaks them down, their byproducts exhibit anti-inflammatory effects.
EPA (for English eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (for English docosahexaenoic acid) are two omega-3 fatty acids that are particularly beneficial for health. Minutemen/Wikimedia via LibreTexts
I am a pulmonologist at the University of Virginia School of Medicine (USA), and my research team and I are working to identify risk factors that may contribute to the development of pulmonary fibrosis. In this disease, scarred lung tissue can lead to respiratory failure and death.
We examined whether higher levels of DHA and EPA in the blood of patients with pulmonary fibrosis in different groups of people participating in research in the United States were linked to disease progression. We found that patients with higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their blood had a slower decline in lung function and longer survival. It is noteworthy that these results persisted even following taking into account other factors such as age and concomitant diseases.
Why it matters
There are currently very few treatments for pulmonary fibrosis. And those that exist have significant side effects. Our results suggest that increasing omega-3 fatty acids in a patient’s diet can slow the progression of this devastating disease.
Researchers are studying the role of nutrition in many other diseases. But this role remains little studied in chronic lung diseases, including pulmonary fibrosis. Our study and other research suggest that dietary modifications can influence the trajectory of this disease and improve the patient’s ability to tolerate treatment.
Meeting on pulmonary fibrosis organized on February 8, 2024 by the Reference Center for Rare Pulmonary Diseases (Adults) – OrphaLung, under the coordination of Professor Vincent Cottin (Louis Pradel Hospital, HCL).
Additionally, other studies in mice have shed light on how omega-3 fatty acids may protect once morest pulmonary fibrosis by regulating the activity of inflammatory cells and slowing the formation of scar tissue in the lungs.
What we don’t know yet
As we were only able to measure the levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the blood at a single time, we were not able to determine whether the evolution of these levels over time is correlated with the progression of pulmonary fibrosis.
It is therefore essential to know whether increasing the levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the blood will have a significant effect on the lives of patients with pulmonary fibrosis. These levels of omega-3 fatty acids may not have a direct effect on pulmonary fibrosis and may simply be a reflection of healthier lifestyles and diets.
Clinical trials are therefore needed to determine whether omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial for patients with respiratory diseases.
The next steps
We plan to continue our research to determine whether omega-3 fatty acids have a protective effect once morest pulmonary fibrosis.
Specifically, we hope to determine the mechanism by which omega-3-enriched intakes affect the lungs of patients with pulmonary fibrosis.
These are important steps in identifying patients who may be particularly receptive to omega-3 therapies and in advancing these treatments into clinical trials.
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