Fish oil given within 5 hrs after stroke limits brain damage
November 9th, 2010 - 3:02 pm ICT by ANIWashington, Nov 9 (ANI): A new study has pointed out that fish oil contains a substance that may help to limit or prevent brain damage following a stroke, if given within 5 hours after the stroke.
Dr Nicolas Bazan at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center said docosahexaenoic acid — a component of fish oil — is a powerful therapeutic agent that can protect brain tissue and promote stroke recovery, even when treatment is delayed by up to five hours.
“We are just now beginning to understand the significant impact of omega-3 essential fatty acids on stroke. There is no simple solution just yet, but each new discovery brings us closer to defeating stroke and other debilitating neurodegenerative diseases,” said Bazan.
These findings not only target a new stroke treatment approach, but also provide vital information about the length of the therapeutic window.
To determine how DHA might be effective in stroke treatment and recovery, Bazan and his colleagues compared DHA and saline administered intravenously at 3, 4, 5, and 6 hours after the onset of stroke.
MRIs showed that neurological deficits were reduced by the administration of DHA. It also reduced swelling and facilitated neurobehavioral recovery.
The area of destroyed tissue was reduced by an average of 59 percent at 5 hours.
The research is published in the Translational Stroke Research. (ANI)
- Omega-3 fatty acids could help prevent traumatic brain injury - Jan 09, 2011
- Low levels of Omega fatty acids weaken memory - Feb 28, 2012
- Fish diet in pregnancy bolsters progeny's intelligence - Feb 01, 2012
- Fish livers contain beneficial fatty acids - Apr 30, 2011
- Eating fish powers brain - Oct 25, 2011
- Bingeing on soda, sweets makes you a dim wit - May 16, 2012
- Omega-3 fatty acids good for heart, bad for prostate - Apr 26, 2011
- Fish oil could help prevent Parkinson's disease - Apr 20, 2009
- Fish oil may protect against stroke - Oct 02, 2009
- Fish livers 'are good source of beneficial fatty acids' - Apr 29, 2011
- Unique genetic adaptation helped our brain grow - Apr 13, 2012
- Eating fish oil while pregnant may cut risk of postpartum depression - Apr 13, 2011
- DHA 'fish oil' supplements 'not useful for those with mild Alzheimer's' - Nov 03, 2010
- Fish oil may also lower incidence of gum disease - Oct 26, 2010
- How lithium helps treat bipolar disorders - May 22, 2010
Tags: brain damage, brain tissue, essential fatty acids, fish oil, health sciences center, louisiana state university, louisiana state university health, louisiana state university health sciences center, mris, neurodegenerative diseases, neurological deficits, new discovery, nicolas bazan, omega 3 essential fatty acids, stroke recovery, stroke research, stroke treatment, therapeutic window, university health sciences, university health sciences center