Fish Oil May Prevent Brain Damage in Alcoholics

The American Medical Association considers alcoholism as a disease that can lead to various physical ailments and mental damage. Besides liver disorders, most alcoholics may also suffer with long-term mental problems. Alcohol is known to alter the delicate balance of chemicals and various processes of the brain which can lead to irreversible damage.A new study suggests that fish oil can help in preventing brain damage in alcoholics. The research was conducted at Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University Chicago in United States. It concluded that omega-3 fish oil can save the brain from numerous alcohol-related damage and reduce the risk of dementia by up to 90 percent. (More: Oily fish provides the best brain nutrition)During the study, it was found that brain cells exposed to high levels of alcohol were protected against inflammation and neuronal cell death by a compound found in fish oil. Researcher Michael Collins quoted that "fish oil has the potential of helping preserve brain integrity in chronic alcohol abusers".Collins and the team exposed rat brain cells to concentrations of alcohol about four times the legal limit for driving - a concentration seen in chronic alcoholics. These brain cultures were then compared with cultures exposed to the same high levels of alcohol and omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) from fish oil. (More: Should I take fish oil supplements)Over time, excessive alcohol use, both in the form of heavy drinking or binge drinking, can lead to numerous health problems, chronic diseases, neurological impairments and social problems. But with this breakthrough in alcoholism, researchers have found that there was up to 90 percent less neuro-inflammation and neuronal death in the brain cells exposed to alcohol plus DHA than in the cells exposed to alcohol alone.Researcher Michael Collins added "Alcohol in moderate amount stresses cells and thus toughens them up to cope with major stresses and insults down the road that could cause dementia. But too much alcohol overwhelms the cells, leading to neuro-inflammation and cell death". The results were published in the journal PLOS ONE.

With inputs from IANS