(Feb-22-2011) Recent review, published in The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, found that omega-3 fatty acids may promote metabolic changes in visceral (adipose) tissue, leading to significant improvement in metabolic syndrome cases. (Source, NutraIngredients)
Syndrome X has been defined in the literature as a cluster of anthropometric, metabolic and hemodynamic abnormalities that has been linked to progressively increased risk for type 2 diabetes, diabetes, stroke, cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality. Without doubt, obesity pandemic levels have led to “alarming increases in the incidence of many chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease,” stated the authors.
Michael Puglisi, MD (Virginia Intermont College President) expressed opinion that despite well researched, the area of fish oil research must expand towards its less known effects, that should be also explored. In his own words:
“Evidence points to the role of adipose tissue (AT) in fish oil-mediated improvements on features of metabolic syndrome, such as insulin resistance.”
Main purpose of this review was directed towards the role fish oil may have in modulating metabolic syndrome effects, thus manipulating dietary nutrient content what “is a logical means of alleviating this problem," as per authors' opinion. Abstract review
Fish oil has been shown to improve dyslipidemia, insulin resistance and liver steatosis. As known from several studies, fish oil has been known to reduce lipolysis and plasma triglycerides, decrease hypertension, reduce inflammation, thrombosis and arrhythmia- all parts of the metabolic syndrome puzzle. Thus, future risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), stroke, gout, diabetes and kidney failure is significantly reduced
Recently, adipocytes have been defined as endocrine cells that secrete a variety of bioactive substances known as adipocytokines, among which, adiponectin– a protein with important antiatherogenic and antidiabetic protein. Adipose tissue has an important role in regulating body lipid homeostasis by storing excess energy in form of triglycerides. The amount of visceral fat accumulation causes dysfunction of adipocytes, provoking them to release cellular, hormone-like substances—cytokines and other.
“It has been well established that adipose tissue is not only an inert storage organ but also secretes many bioactive substances.”
Above all, fat cells were found to play an active “mediator” role in fish oil promoted metabolic “anti-obesity” effects.
“Thus, the lipid storage function of AT is critical in buffering the daily influx of dietary fatty acids entering the circulation,” stated the authors
Special attention was directed to the role adiponectin and leptin (known as key adipocytokines) may have in fish oil mediated metabolic syndrome final improvements.
“Fish oil has been associated with remarkable changes in the plasma levels of two key adipokines, adiponectin and leptin.”
Fish oil beneficial effects were performed by directly modulating fat warehouse storage and/or by secretory function adipose tissue changes. It is in authors' believe that there is some, at least partial evidence, that fish oil metabolic effects may be result of signaling receptors pathway modulation such as the so called "peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-gamma)" or the inhibition of the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). In addition the role of so called “n–3 fatty” acids found in fish oil, was found able to reduce inflammation in adipose tissue.
“Various reports indicate that improved adipose (AT) tissue storage and secretory functions and a reduction in AT-specific inflammation have a central role in mediating the beneficial effects of fish oil against risk factors of metabolic syndrome.”
Finally, researchers concluded that there is strong evidence that omega-3 fatty acids are able to show beneficial changes in adipose tissue metabolism, including various cellular and metabolic effects, leading to consequent improvement in glucose intolerance and insulin sensitivity.
“In addition to improving the storage and secretory functions of adipose tissue, fish oil, and the omega–3 fatty acids found in fish oil, have been shown to reduce inflammation in adipose tissue,”concluded the researchers."
Reference:
Puglisi, M. J., Hasty, A. H., and Saraswathi, Y. “The role of adipose tissue in mediating the beneficial effects of dietary fish oil” Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, Volume 22, Issue 2, Pages 101-108, doi: 10. 1016/ j.jnutbio.2010.07.003
Nathan Gray. "Fat tissue may mediate omega-3 response to metabolic syndrome: Review." Nutraingredients. USA
