New research shows that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid in fish oil, fights excess body weight by averting the development of fat cells.
Working with immature fat cells (cultured pre-adipocytes), researchers at the University of Georgia, Athens showed that levels of DHA obtainable through diet and supplements may help thwart obesity by preventing new fat cells from forming and encouraging existing fat cells to undergo programmed cell death (apoptosis). DHA also encouraged adipose cells to release their stores of fatty acids, a process popularly referred to as “burning fat.” This fat reduction occurred in a dose-dependent manner - greater amounts of EPA had a greater benefit.
Previous research has shown that dietary omega-3 fatty acids decrease body fat and fat accumulation in rodents, but the present study helps explain precisely how DHA works to reduce obesity. This novel research indicates the potential for fish oil supplementation to enhance the efficacy of diet and exercise programs in overweight subjects. There are a number of good fish oils on the market, but one of the best new ways to get omega-3 polyunsaturated fats - EPA and DHA - is from krill oil.
Source: Kim HK, Della-Ferra M, Lin J, Baile CA. Docosahexaenoic acid inhibits adipocyte differentiation and induces apoptosis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. J Nutr. 2006 Dec (12);136:2965-9.
By: Howard Simon