Fish Oil May Stall Effects of Junk Food On Brain

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Research over the past 10 years has indicated that high-fat diets could disrupt neurogenesis, a process that generates new nerve cells.

But a review of more than 180 research papers by scientists at the University of Liverpool has shown diets rich in omega-3s could prevent these negative effects by stimulating the area of the brain that control feeding, learning and memory.

On high-fat diets, hormones that are secreted from body tissues into the circulation after eating, and which normally protect neurons and stimulate their growth, are prevented from passing into the brain by increased circulation of inflammatory molecules and a type of fat called triglycerides.

But it appears, in studies with animal models, that omega-3s restore normal function by interfering with the production of these inflammatory molecules, suppressing triglycerides, and returning these nerve growth factors to normal.

Dr Lucy Pickavance, from the University's Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, said: "Fish oils don't appear to have a direct impact on weight loss, but they may take the brakes off the detrimental effects of some of the processes triggered in the brain by high-fat diets. They seem to mimic the effects of calorie restrictive diets."

Dr Pickavance added, "Including more oily fish or fish oil supplements in our diets could certainly be a positive step forward for those wanting to improve their general health."

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The above story is based on the May 14, 2013 news release  by University of Liverpool.

The research is published in the British Journal of Nutrition:

Yon MA, Mauger SL, Pickavance LC. Relationships between dietary macronutrients and adult neurogenesis in the regulation of energy metabolism. Brit J Nutr, 2013; 109 (09): 1573

Click HERE for the Full Text of this research paper.