The Benefits of Omega-3s on Bone Health
by Drs. Anne Kenny, Dr. Hongli Dong and Lisa Pesce
cancer. Further, an article in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed omega-3 fatty acids play a role in protecting bone in addition to other more widely known health benefits. Omega-3 fatty acids may be important to breast cancer survivors, a group of women who tend to be perimenopausal or post-menopausal and already at increased risk of developing the bone-thinning disease of osteoporosis according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF). The NOF and multiple research studies have shown that some common breast
W
cancer drug treatments can lead to bone loss and speed up normally expected levels of bone loss. Treatments including chemotherapy can result in women experiencing premature, treatment-induced menopause. This in turn further increases their risk over time of the bone thinning associated with risk of bone fractures in a hip, wrist or spine.
Omega 3s Explained Omega-3 fatty acids are a family of polyunsaturated fatty acids known to play an important role in supporting health and protecting against cardiovascular disease, obesity, supporting brain growth, and enhancing the immune system. Such essential fatty acids (EFAs) are vital elements of the human diet. The word “essential” means that the body cannot produce them on their own; human cells lack the enzymes required to generate them internally, and they must be consumed in food. One of the primary functions of EFAs is to provide major structural components
of the cell membranes of tissues throughout the body, especially those concentrated in the retina, brain and reproductive cells. They are also extensively involved in metabolic processes, such as helping convert consumed foods into usable forms of energy, and serving as building blocks for blood cells. All types of EFAs fall into two main categories: omega-3 and omega-6 fatty ac- In the omega-3 fatty acids, α-linolenic acid (ALA) is the principal element while
ids.
in the omega-6 fatty acids, its linoleic acid (LA). Unfortunately, excess omega-6 fatty acid intake can have negative effects on health according to an article published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
orldwide, researchers are investigating the health effects of dietary fish oil consumption. Promising new research from investigators from Greece and France shows a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids may protect against breast
Table 1. Sources of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids.
OMEGA-3
Fatty Fish • Salmon
• Tuna • Halibut • Scallops • Snapper • Cod
Plant Sources • Flaxseeds
• Winter squash • Brussels sprouts • Cabbage
Oils/Nuts • Flaxseed oil
• Walnuts /Walnut oil • Perilla seed oil
OMEGA-6
Whole grains Soybeans
Oils/Nuts • Soybean oil • Palm oil • Rapeseed oil
• Sunflower seeds raw / Sunflower oil
• Pine Nuts • Pistachio nuts • Olive oil
Poultry/Eggs 50 Hartford County Edition
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