Medical
research has shown that Crohn’s disease sufferers can greatly improve their
overall health by including more omega-3 fatty acids in their diet. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients
the body requires but cannot produce itself.
They are found in fish and certain plant oils. Studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids,
particularly those found in fish oil, have anti-inflammatory properties that
can have a therapeutic effect on Crohn’s disease.
There
are three major types of omega-3 fatty acids:
1.
Eicosapentaenoic
(EPA)
2.
Docosahexaenoic
acid (DHA)
3.
Alpha-linolenic
acid (ALA)
When
eaten, ALA is converted into EPA and DHA, the two fatty acids that are
primarily used by the body for different process such as improving
cardiovascular function, lowering blood pressure and brain function. Moreover, as was previously mentioned, the
EPA and DHA have anti-inflammatory properties.
When
it comes to treating Crohn’s disease with omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil
supplements have been used as an alternative or complimentary treatment in a
number of medical studies over the course of several years. The results of
these studies have varied.
For
instance, some researchers have discovered that while fish oil may help reduce
preexisting inflammation, it does not actually help prevent inflammation from
occurring. Furthermore, omega-3 fatty
acids only appear to be a beneficial treatment for those who suffer from mild
to moderate cases of Crohn’s disease.
In
addition, studies have found that due to the positive influence fish oil has on
intestinal cell growth, fish oil supplements may eventually increase the
intestinal mucosal surface area. This
would result in the increase of nutrient absorption, and improve a person’s
overall nutrition.
The
studies that have been conducted on the anti-inflammatory effect of fish oil
show a promising future. More research
must be done before it can be determined just how effective fish oil is in
treating chronic inflammatory conditions such as Crohn’s disease.
Before you talk to
your doctor about taking fish oil supplements, you should first try the natural
method of ingesting food rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Good sources included the following:
·
EPA
and DHA - Cold water fish (IE halibut, herring, mackerel, salmon and sardines)
·
ALA
– canola oil, flaxseeds and oil, pumpkin seeds and oil, perilla seed oil,
purslane, walnuts and oil.
·
Enriched
foods – It’s also not a bad idea to eat foods that have had omega-3 included in
their ingredients such as omega-3 margarine and omega-3 eggs.
In
order to ensure you are receiving the recommended amount of omega-3 in your
diet to help treat your Crohn’s condition, you should eat two-three servings of
fish each week (approximately 1,250 mg of EPA and DHA a day). If you find it difficult to eat this amount
of fish in a week, talk to your doctor about taking fish oil supplements.
Finally,
although omega-3 fatty acids can help improve many of the symptoms in Crohn’s
disease sufferers, remember that medical research is still being conducted to
find out how beneficial fish oil supplements are for inflammatory bowel
disease. While it has shown many
positive side effects, some patients in studies concerning the
anti-inflammatory affects of fish oils encountered symptoms of halitosis (bad
breath), belching, diarrhea and constipation.
There are also many more resources and lots of information
about controlling and treating Crohn’s Disease symptoms here Breakthrough Crohn's Disease Guide.
