Eating Fish May Reduce Multiple Sclerosis Risk

Summary: A new study reveals eating fish regularly and taking daily fish oil supplements may reduce the risk of developing multiple sclerosis. Researchers report high fish intake is associated with a 45% reduced risk of developing MS.

Source: AAN.

Eating fish at least once a week or eating fish one to three times per month in addition to taking daily fish oil supplements may be associated with a reduced risk of multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a preliminary study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 70th Annual Meeting in Los Angeles, April 21 to 27, 2018. These findings suggest that the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish may be associated with lowering the risk of developing MS.

Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the central nervous system that affects communication between the brain and other parts of the body. With MS, the body’s immune system attacks myelin, the fatty white substance that insulates and protects the nerves. This disrupts the signals between the brain and the rest of the body. Symptoms of MS may include fatigue, numbness, tingling or difficulty walking. The first episode of MS symptoms, lasting at least 24 hours, is known as clinically isolated syndrome. There is no cure for MS.

“Consuming fish that contain omega-3 fatty acids has been shown to have a variety of health benefits, so we wanted to see if this simple lifestyle modification, regularly eating fish and taking fish oil supplements, could reduce the risk of MS,” said study author Annette Langer-Gould, MD, PhD, of Kaiser Permanente Southern California in Pasadena, Calif., and a member of the American Academy of Neurology.

For this study, researchers examined the diets of 1,153 people with an average age of 36 from a variety of backgrounds, about half of whom had been diagnosed with MS or clinically isolated syndrome.

Participants were asked about how much fish they regularly ate. High fish intake was defined as either eating one serving of fish per week or eating one to three servings per month in addition to taking daily fish oil supplements. Low intake was defined as less than one serving of fish per month and no fish oil supplements. Examples of fish consumed by study participants include shrimp, salmon and tuna.

salmon
The study found that high fish intake was associated with a 45 percent reduced risk of MS or clinically isolated syndrome when compared with those who ate fish less than once a month and did not take fish oil supplements. A total of 180 of those with MS had high fish intake compared to 251 of the healthy controls. NeuroscienceNews.com image is in the public domain.

The study found that high fish intake was associated with a 45 percent reduced risk of MS or clinically isolated syndrome when compared with those who ate fish less than once a month and did not take fish oil supplements. A total of 180 of those with MS had high fish intake compared to 251 of the healthy controls.

The study also looked at 13 genetic variations in a human gene cluster that regulates fatty acid levels. Researchers found two of the 13 genetic variations examined were associated with a lower risk of MS, even after accounting for the higher fish intake. This may mean that some people may have a genetic advantage when it comes to regulating fatty acid levels.

While the study suggests that omega-3 fatty acids, and how they are processed by the body, may play an important role in reducing MS risk, Langer-Gould emphasizes that it simply shows an association and not cause and effect. More research is needed to confirm the findings and to examine how omega-3 fatty acids may affect inflammation, metabolism and nerve function.

Fish such as salmon, sardines, lake trout and albacore tuna are generally recommended as good sources of omega-3 fatty acids.

About this neuroscience research article

Funding: The study was supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Source: Renee Tessman – AAN
Publisher: Organized by NeuroscienceNews.com.
Image Source: NeuroscienceNews.com image is in the public domain.
Original Research: The study will be presented at American Academy of Neurology’s 70th Annual Meeting.

Cite This NeuroscienceNews.com Article

[cbtabs][cbtab title=”MLA”]AAN “Eating Fish May Reduce Multiple Sclerosis Risk.” NeuroscienceNews. NeuroscienceNews, 2 March 2018.
< https://neurosciencenews.com/multiple-sclerosis-fish-8565/>.[/cbtab][cbtab title=”APA”]AAN (2018, March 2). Eating Fish May Reduce Multiple Sclerosis Risk. NeuroscienceNews. Retrieved March 2, 2018 from https://neurosciencenews.com/multiple-sclerosis-fish-8565/[/cbtab][cbtab title=”Chicago”]AAN “Eating Fish May Reduce Multiple Sclerosis Risk.” https://neurosciencenews.com/multiple-sclerosis-fish-8565/ (AANessed March 2, 2018).[/cbtab][/cbtabs]

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  1. Pleased to read this article, I eat fish for at least 3 evening meals, plus at least 2 for breakfast in one week.
    Guess I love fish more than aanything else

  2. It’s not a prediction that causes the instant scan of our environment, it’s simply the survival instinct checking the territory. It’s not the brain, it’s the innate DNA program for survival.

  3. Thanks for this. Why is this not so surprising? According to the Coastal Dispersal Model of human evolution (S.Munro 2010), early-Pleistocene Homo dispersed intercontinentally following African & Eurasian coasts, and then from the coasts went inland along rivers, google e.g. “Ape and Human Evolution 2018 made easy”.

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