Improving blood parameters and cholesterol levels with omega-3 supplementation

An animal study conducted by Saudi researchers analyzed the risk of cardiac disease in rats supplemented with omega-3 fatty acid in the form of fish oil. It concluded that omega-3 supplements could reduce the amounts of total cholesterol and proteins in the blood of the animals, thereby improving their cardiac health.

The study was supported by the University of Ha’il. Its results were published in the Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences.

• Rats were divided into two groups. The control group received ordinary animal food and water, while the animals in the supplemental group also received five grams of fish oil for every 100 grams of food.
• At the end of the seven-week trial, the animals were sacrificed. Samples of their blood were taken for analysis of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol, and triglycerides that made up the animals’ lipid profiles.
• The lipid profiles of the supplemented rats were much better than the ones in the control group. The former showed considerably lower levels of LDL, total cholesterol, total protein, and triglycerides. In comparison, the level of HDL in supplemented animals went up by a significant margin.
• Finally, the omega-3 in the fish oil displayed antioxidant activity that reduced or prevented inflammations.

Based on their findings, the researchers proposed that omega-3 fatty acid-rich fish oil supplements might be able to serve as an adjuvant treatment for patients with diabetes mellitus and related conditions.

You can browse the complete study at this link.

For more stories about the ways that supplements can support your health, visit SupplementsReport.com.

Journal Reference:

Aloufi BH. EVALUATION OF OMEGA-3 ON LIPID PROFILE AND BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS ON WISTER RATS. Australian Journal of Basic And Applied Sciences. 5 February 2018. DOI: 10.22587/ajbas.2018.12.1.1.