The myth of the universal benefits of fish oil has been debunked by science

A large-scale study by American neuroscientists has shown that eicosapentaenoic acid (a component of omega-3) can impair the restoration of brain blood vessels and worsen cognitive functions after traumatic brain injuries. Scientists are calling for a revision of the concept of the universal benefits of fish oil.

A large-scale study by American neuroscientists, reported by ScienceAlert, challenges the established belief in the universal benefits of fish oil. Experiments on mice with mild traumatic brain injuries showed that eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), one of the key components of omega-3, does not stimulate healing but instead disrupts the restoration of blood vessels in damaged brain tissue. Animals that received EPA showed significantly worse spatial memory and learning ability. Researchers called this phenomenon 'context-dependent metabolic vulnerability.' Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), another omega-3 component, did not produce this effect. The problem is specifically caused by EPA, which accumulates in injured areas and triggers the buildup of toxic tau proteins associated with neurodegeneration. Similar impairments were recorded in the analysis of tissues from people with chronic traumatic encephalopathy. The authors emphasize that the findings are based on laboratory tests and that clinical trials are needed, but the concept of the universal benefits of fish oil requires revision.