Fish oil helps with exercise-induced asthma

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

A diet supplemented with fish oils reduces the symptoms of exercise-induced asthma.
Exercise can act as a trigger for asthma attacks, which is distressing for those who want to keep fit. However, a team at Indiana University now reveals that there may be a new way around this - by supplementing the diet with fish oil.

The special diet reduces the characteristic narrowing of the airways and enables the use of less asthma medication. In this study, the diet of participants was supplemented by fish oil rich in omega-3-polyunsatured fatty acids for three weeks. Their post-exercise lung function improved by about 64 per cent and their used of emergency inhalers went down by 31 per cent.

Omega-3 fatty acids are typically found in canola and flaxseed oils. The typical diet in Western societies is richer in omega-6 fatty acids, which are found in sunflower, safflower and corn oils. The study also found that the fish oil diet reduced the inflammation of the airways - a clear benefit for those with asthma.

Source
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine January 2006

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