New research published in the journal Neurology suggests that consuming omega-3 fatty acids, such as flaxseed oil and walnuts, could help to slow the decline in physical function related to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing people to lose the ability to initiate and control muscle movement over time. The average life span after diagnosis is two to five years. The new study followed 449 people with ALS for 18 months, testing them on 12 aspects of physical function. Participants' average age was 58, and approximately 28% died by the end of the study period. The researchers analysed omega-3 fatty acids in participants’ blood and grouped them into four categories from lowest to highest. An omega-3 fatty acid called alpha-linolenic acid was found to be the most beneficial, and participants who had the highest amount of it had a 50% lower risk of death during the study period compared to those with the lowest amount. Higher levels of an omega-3 fatty acid called eicosapentaenoic acid, found in fatty fish and fish oil supplements, was also associated with a lower risk of death during the study period. Consuming more omega-6 fatty acid could also be beneficial, the investigators found. An omega-6 fatty acid called linoleic acid, found in vegetable oils, nuts, meats, seeds, and eggs, was associated with improved survival, according to the report. The researchers did not have access to participants' overall diet or consumption of supplements, so that is considered a limitation of the study.
Omega-3-rich diet may slow ALS progression
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