Can Omega-3 Help Prevent Type 1 Diabetes?
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids. They are necessary for the body to absorb vitamins, and for brain development and function, as well as anti-inflammatory activity. These fatty acids can be found in numerous foods such as fish, fish oil, green vegetables, vegetable oils, flaxseed, and nuts. They have been studied in the treatment and prevention of heart disease, asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis, and osteoporosis.
Type 1 diabetes is a disease in which antibodies formed by a person’s immune system destroy the insulin-producing beta-cells of the pancreas. This destruction by the immune system is likely due to both hereditary and environmental factors. One recent study evaluated the effectiveness of omega-3 fatty acids in the prevention of Type 1 diabetes in children at high risk for the disease. Researchers tracked the dietary intake of omega- 3 fatty acids of children for an average of six years. The children with a high dietary intake (from food) of omega-3 fatty acids had a significantly lower risk of developing diabetes.