Image via WikipediaA study of Yup'ik Eskimo of Alaska, which, on average, consume more than 20 times Fat Omega-3 fish from people in 48 States, suggests that consumption of these fat helps to prevent chronic diseases associated with obesity such as diabetes and heart disease.
The study, conducted by researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and in collaboration with the University of Alaska Fairbanks Alaska Native health research Centre, was published online on March 23 in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
"Because only yupik Eskimos have a diet that includes lots of fish fat and have a prevalence of overweight or obesity similar to the whole of the American population, it offers a unique opportunity to investigate whether Omega-3 fatty acids change the association between obesity and the risk of chronic diseases," lead author Zeina Makhoul Ph.d. postdoctoral fellow in the program for the prevention of cancer of the Science Division of public health at the Hutchinson Center.
Fat researchers were interested in the measure were salmon, sardines and other fatty fish: Docosahexaenoic acid or DHA and Eicosapentaenoic Acid EPA.
The researchers analyzed data from a study based on the community of 330 people live in the area of the Delta of the Yukon Kuskokwim in southwestern Alaska, 70 per cent of them were obese or overweight. As expected, the researchers found that patients with low levels of DHA and EPA, obesity increases strongly two triglycerides in blood (abnormality of lipids in the blood) and c - reactive protein, or CRP (a measure of overall body inflammation). High CRP and triglycerides levels increase the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
"These results mimic that occur in populations living in the lower 48 states who also have low levels of EPA and DHA,", said lead author Alan Kristal, Dr. P.H., Member of the Science Division of public health of the Hutchinson Center. "However, the new discovery said that obesity is not increased these risk factors among the participants of the study with high levels of Omega-3 fatty acids" said.
"Surprisingly, they found that obese people with high levels of Omega-3 fatty acids, triglycerides and CRP concentrations do not differ from the people of normal weight," Makhoul, said. "It seems that the high consumption of Omega-3 protected -rich seafood Yupik Eskimos of some of the harmful effects of obesity".
While the yupik Eskimos have overweight and obesity levels similar overall to the United States, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes is significantly smaller: 3.3% to 7.7%.
"All in genetics, diet and lifestyle factors may explain this difference," said Makhoul, "it is reasonable to ask, based on our results, if it could be attributed the low prevalence of diabetes in this population, at least in part.", to its high consumption of Omega-3 fish-rich "."
The study, participants provided health information by bias in blood samples and questionnaires and interviews with people. We evaluated the diet asking participants what they eat in the past 24 hours and asking them to keep track of food for three consecutive days. Height, weight, body fat percent, blood pressure and physical activity have also been measured.
The average age of participants was 45 and a little more than half are women. Women were more likely than men to be heavy and body mass index (ratio height / weight) for all increases with age.
"The inhabitants of the villages of Yup'ik to agreed this research because they were interested in the health of their communities and have been particularly concerned about the effects on health away from its traditional forms and the adoption of lifestyle patterns similar to residents in the 48 States" MakhoulIl said.
Based on these results, if people concerned about the risk of onset of chronic illness appearing oil fish supplements or eating more fish fat overweight and obesity?
"There are good reasons to increase consumption of fatty fish, such as the well established of intake of fish with the reduction of the risk of heart disease," said Makhoul. "But we have learned many other studies that nutritional supplements at very high doses is often detrimental than helpful."
Before making a recommendation for public health, researchers have said that a randomized clinical trial is needed to verify if the increase in the consumption of Omega-3 reduces the effects of obesity on the inflammation and blood triglycerides.
"If the results of the tests have been positive, we would strongly suggest that Omega-3 fatty acids may help prevent obesity as heart disease and diabetes-related diseases", he said.
The National Centre of resources in research and disease National Institute of Diabetes and digestive and kidney of the national institutes of health funded the study, which also included researchers from the University of Davis.
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