Healthy living & lifestyle
tissue and travels to the muscles and liver. Here, it exerts a beneficial metabolic effect, as well as suppressing inflammation.
“Since then, awareness of the possible health benefits of omega-7 palmitoleic acid has dramatically increased,” says Dr Zhihong “Chiffon” Yang, a research fellow at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). “More research groups, including ours, have conducted studies to evaluate whether exogenous [dietary] omega-7 palmitoleic acid has beneficial effects on metabolism.” In 2019, Yang’s team conducted an animal study with a striking finding – dietary omega-7 had cardiovascular benefits in mice. Rodents given palmitoleate concentrate saw a significant reduction in atherosclerosis (the furring of the arteries) compared with a control group, and another group that was given olive oil. They also saw improvements in their fat and glucose metabolism. “Atherosclerosis is the underlying cause of about half of all deaths in westernised society, and our animal data suggest that dietary omega-7 palmitoleic acid may help improve atherosclerosis and overall cardiometabolic health,” says Yang. “In addition, it is known that not all polyunsaturated fatty acids are the same. Our results showed that not all monounsaturated fatty acids are the same, and palmitoleic acid showed unique metabolic benefits.” Since their study was published, the team has gone on to initiate a clinical trial on omega-7 in humans. This trial – which is randomised and double-blinded – will investigate how healthy adults respond to concentrated oil enriched with palmitoleic acid. In particular, it will be looking to find out whether there is any impact on lipoprotein metabolism and satiety.
A growing buzz
Other studies (not associated with Yang’s team) have found possible benefits to the skin and mucous membranes. A recent Korean study found that 7-Mega (an omega-7 supplement derived from fish oil) enhances skin function and appearance in women over 40. There is also evidence to suggest these supplements may improve dry eyes and vaginal dryness during menopause. However, Yang points out that more research is needed before we can make health claims with any confidence. “Compared to other monounsaturated fatty acids, palmitoleic acid stands out for its possible cardiometabolic benefits,” she says. “Nevertheless, more clinical studies are needed to verify its impact.” Currently, little is known about the appropriate dosage of palmitoleic acid, which varies significantly from one study to the next. Meanwhile, the mechanism underlying its metabolic benefits remains poorly understood. In a more general sense,
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Yang thinks the research community needs to broaden its focus beyond just omega-3 and consider the ways that other fatty acids might boost our health. Her own team have also been looking at omega-11 fatty acids, which appear to have a similar benefit on cardiovascular disease risk factors. “Increasing evidence has hinted at the importance of various dietary fatty acids with different double bound position and carbon chain length,” she says. “Most dietary fatty acid supplements contain various fatty acids, and careful studies are necessary to test the efficacy of these supplements with various fatty acid profiles.”
Hoem agrees, explaining that Aker BioMarine is pursuing a range of different research avenues. While pointing out that omega-3 is a nutrient, not a drug, he is nonetheless interested in what happens pharmacologically when subjects take a larger dose. “It clearly has an effect when it comes to alleviating osteoarthritis pain,” he says. “We are also looking into sports medicine, and we are looking into a fatty acid called lysophosphatidylcholine for alleviating neuronal damage. We are looking briefly at omega-7s and omega-11s, and of course, we also support standard omega-3 research.” Although it’s early days for this field of research, the buzz around the subject is growing. “My prediction is that over the next 10 years or so, there will be a host of new information about the biological effects of fats,” says Hoem. This is sure to be reflected in the fatty acid supplements market, which could move in some interesting directions over the years ahead. ●
41
Omega-3 dominates the supplement market, but growing interest in lesser-known fatty acids may transform future health trends.
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