Fish Oil And Asthma?

So does fish oil help treat asthma?

There has been many studies done, some of which show a benefit and some show no benefit.

More studies in this area will help clarify the benefits fish oil has on asthma symptoms.

A randomized, double-blind, crossover study published in 2006 looked at whether a fish oil diet helps exercise induced asthma.

The study used fish oil capsules containing 3.2 g of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 2.0 g of docohexaenoic acid (DHA).

The study found that:

1. The lung function test results improved to the level below where exercise induced asthma is diagnosed

2. The amount of bronchodilator medication use was decreased

3. The levels of inflammatory markers in the patients sputum was also reduced.

Though it was a small study, the study concluded that fish oil may be a potentially helpful non drug treatment for exercise induced asthma.

Certainly more research on fish oils and omega 3 fats and asthma woudl be interesting.

Omega 3's have been studied in inflammatory conditions apart from asthma and have shown benefits.

This is why there's continued interest in fish oils and asthma.

And yes, asthma is a common condition affecting children as well as adults, and can affect patient's lifestyle and ability to exercise in a major way.

References:

Mickleborough TD, Lindley MR, et al. Protective effect of fish oil supplementation on exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in asthma. Chest. 2006 Jan;129(1):39-49.