Omega-3s may affect brain repair: Should you avoid them?

For many years, we’ve heard about the potential health benefits of fish oil due in part to their high concentration of omega-3 fatty acids . Past studies have linked the consumption of omega-3 fatty acids or fish oil — either through oily fish or fish oil supplements — to possible protection against several health concerns, including cardiovascular disease , type 2 diabetes , rheumatoid arthritis , depression , and neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s disease , Alzheimer’s disease , and other forms of dementia .

Now, a new study published in the journal Cell Reports has found that fish oil supplements may not be beneficial for people who have experienced repeated mild traumatic brain injuries (TBI) . Instead, the build-up of a specific omega-3 fatty acid in fish oil could potentially disrupt brain healing and assist with the accumulation of the protein tau in the brain, which is considered to be a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease, via both human cell and mouse trials.