ArcticPure Omega-3 Fish Oil

Fish oils with EPA and DHA support the healthy functions of the brain, joints, and circulatory system. Omega-3 fatty acids also help support a healthy cardiovascular system by thinning the blood, dilating blood vessels, and supporting healthy blood pressure. It also has components that inhibit inflammatory mediators.

Those with fibromyalgia can benefit from taking Omega 3 fatty acids, which can help reduce pain, fatigue, and depression that is often associated with this condition. Omega 3s are also helpful for inflammation, mobility, brain function, and dry eyes among a variety of other symptoms.

Read our Article:
Omega 3 and Omega 6 Fatty Acids: Balancing the Good Fats

Essential Fatty Acids

Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are considered “essential” fatty acids because they are not produced naturally by the body; you must obtain them from food sources. Most Americans get more omega-6 than they can handle, because omega-6 is from corn oil, sunflower oil, and safflower oil—more than abundant in typical American diets. However, we have severe deficiencies of omega-3, which is from fatty fish and to a limited extent, flax seed oil.

Most medical experts consider an optimal omega-6/omega-3 ratio to be 2:1 or even 1:1. Americans commonly range from the 10:1 to the 50:1 ratio. This unbalanced ratio has important consequences. Omega-6s and omega-3s compete for the same metabolic enzymes, enzymes that break down fats. Additionally, if there is too much omega-6 in the diet, too many omega-6 byproducts are produced, including compounds called eicosanoids that are involved in the inflammatory response.

The fatty acids are critically essential in the following key areas:

• Supports brain cell function and development
• Provides cardiovascular support
• Supports eye and retina health
• Promotes healthy mental function
• Supports the immune system

According to the PDR for Nutritional Supplements, “daily ingestion of at least 3 grams of EPA and DHA mixtures for a period of 12 weeks or longer has been found to reduce the number of tender joints and amount of morning stiffness in subjects with rheumatoid arthritis.” Therefore, it may provide the same relief for those with fibromyalgia.

Omega-3’s and Depression

Depression is very common amongst those who suffer from fibromyalgia. The good news is that studies have suggested that omega 3 fatty acids can be helpful. Scientists first became interested when they noticed that countries with the highest fish consumption had the lowest rates of depression. They also observed that mothers in England who ate very little fish during pregnancy doubled their risk of developing postpartum depression compared to women who ate fish regularly. So scientists began a series of studies to see why. For example:

• Researchers noted in a 1998 report in the Journal of Affective Disorders that lower levels of omega 3’s in the red blood cell membranes of patients with depression.
• At Sheffield University in England, Dr. Malcolm Peet gave omega-3 fatty acids to 70 depressed patients who had not been helped by drugs such as Prozac. After 12 weeks, 69 percent of the patients showed marked improvement compared with 25 percent given placebos.

One reason why increased consumption of fish oils would improve depression is because it helps reduce AA (arachidonic acid) levels. In addition, researchers have found that the higher the intake of fish oil, the greater the improvement in the AA/EPA ratio. This ratio has also been found to correlate strongly with the severity of the disease. And, while researchers agree that more studies need to be done to better understand the exact mechanisms involved in taking omega 3’s for depression, they also feel it is possible that increased levels of omega 3’s may make it easier for serotonin (a chemical responsible for positive moods) to pass through cell membranes.

Furthermore, using an imaging test known as SPECT, researchers have found that blood flow within a normal brain is uniform, whereas blood flow in depressed patients is scattered with "holes" in which little or no blood flow is observed. Since high-dose fish oil can improve blood flow, we now have another potential clue to explain the molecular basis of depression.

Omega-3’s may Reduce Pain and Fatigue

It is commonly known that Omega-3 fatty acid supplements have been shown to be helpful for your joints and cardiovascular system, but how helpful is it at reducing the pain associated with fibromyalgia? A small, one-month study involving 12 fibromyalgia patients showed improvements in tender point pain counts, chest expansion (e.g., less muscle tightness), and perceived fatigue levels. [ 1 ]

High Blood Pressure: What It Is and What the Numbers Indicate     Protect Your Heart and Joints with Omega 3's     Omega-3 Fatty Acids are Essential to Your Health

Omega 3’s from fish oils that have been processed and encapsulated can help increase the concentration of the two essential omega-3 fatty acids known as EPA and DHA. While the manner in which omega-3’s work to relieve fibromyalgia or neuropathic-type pain is not clear, a recent case series report on the use of omega-3 fatty acids to substantially reduce the neuropathic pain and restore function in five patients (one with fibromyalgia), is quite impressive. [ 2 ]

Omega-3s are known to exert anti-inflammatory effects, leading to pain relief. However, inflammation is not generally present in patients with neuropathic or fibromyalgia pain. A Canadian research team that published a case series is suggesting that EPA and DHA could possibly work by reducing the release of pain-promoting substances from the white blood cells that are suspected to play a major role in the production of neuropathic and fibromyalgia pain.

Case Studies

Two of the patients in the case series had cervical neck pain due to injuries sustained from a motor vehicle accident (a common occurrence in fibro). A third patient was an auto mechanic with carpal tunnel syndrome due to repetitive strain of his job, another was a nurse with an arm injury from lifting patients that developed into fibromyalgia, and the fifth subject was a burn patient. All five patients had tried lots of therapies before being placed on EPA/DHA in amounts from 2,400 mg to 7,200 mg per day.

Prior to supplementing with the omega-3 fatty acids, the fibromyalgia patient could barely do household chores, such as vacuuming the carpet, and her pain was 8 on a scale of 0 to 10 (where 0 is no pain and 10 is worst possible pain). After taking the EPA/DHA for seven months, her function and grip strength were much improved and she rated her pain 3 on the scale.

Both cervical neck pain patients took 4,800 mg per day of EPA/DHA, and after eight months muscle strength, grip strength, and function were restored. One returned to ice hockey and the other resumed actively working out in the gym. In fact, the latter patient boosted his daily dose to 7,200 mg and noticed "sharper brain function and feeling clear-headed." The mechanic took 3,000 mg of EPA/DHA per day and after eight months was back to full-time work. The burn patient initially took 2,400 mg of EPA/DHA and slowly increased to high-dose omega-3 fatty acids. After several months his pain was reduced in half.

All of these patients had serious pain, but after many months of omega-3 fatty acid therapy, their pain levels slowly came down and their function returned. This is only a small sampling of patients, and the study lacks a control group for comparison so the results are strongly biased in favor of the patient feeling better. However, some of the parameters for patient improvement represented objective measures, and the increased physical functioning of these patients after many months of omega-3 supplementation was quite dramatic.

Other suggestions provided by the research team to help ensure greater success with treating your pain:

• Patients should not expect quick results, but rather anticipate giving the omega-3 fatty acids a six-month trial.
• If you experience stomach difficulties or nausea from taking omega-3s, you can search for a brand that is enteric-coated.
• Digestion is improved when omega-3 fatty acids are taken with food. It is also best to split the dosage up to take with several meals instead of ingesting the supplements all at once.
• Do not take omega-6 or omega-9 fatty acid supplements. The typical North American diet is already loaded with plenty of omega-6, and they tend to promote, instead of relieving inflammation.
• Reduce intake of foods high in the pain-promoting substance arachidonic acid, which includes red meat and fried foods.
• Be sure your diet contains plenty amounts of vitamin B6, magnesium and zinc. Also avoid excessive intake of trans-fatty acids and caffeine.
• Long-lasting lifestyle changes need to be adopted to ensure long-term pain relief. This includes physical activity, stress reduction, keeping a regular sleep schedule, and eating a healthy diet.
• People who take high-dose omega-3 (7,000 mg and up) require special routine laboratory testing, and all patients should consult their physician before initiating a new supplement.
  

References

1. Ozgocmen S, et al. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther 38:362-3, 2000.
2. Ko GD, et al. Clin J Pain 26:168-72, 2010.

Supplement Facts - Capsules

Capsules per Container: 60 Softgels, 850 mg
Serving Size: One (1) Softgel
Servings per Container: 60
Suggested Use: 1 Softgel twice daily with meals

* Percent Daily Values (%DV) are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
† Daily Value not established.

Other Ingredients: gelatin, glycerin, purified water, natural tocopherols. Contains fish and soy.

Warning: If you are pregnant, may become pregnant, or breastfeeding, have any blood coagulation disorder or are taking any prescription medication such as warfarin (Coumadin), consult your health care professional before using this product. Discontinue use before any surgical procedure. STORE IN A COOL, DRY PLACE. Do not use if either tamper-evident seal is broken or missing. Keep out of the reach of children.

Manufactured by Source Naturals