Does your Omega-3 supplement balance fatty acid composition, lower triglycerides, and reduce inflammation in your body? Learn how Omega-3s help control the fat in your body through triglyceride synthesis.
Triglyceride synthesis is the way our bodies form fat cells. Omega-3s don’t directly contribute to the formation of triglycerides like other fatty acids but influence the overall balance of fatty acids within the body and their impact on your metabolism. Below are six ways omega-3s influence triglyceride synthesis.
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Balancing fatty acid composition
While there are many types of omega-3 fatty acids differing in chemical shape and size, three are more common than all the rest: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Of the three, DHA is especially important, as it’s the most abundant fatty acid in the brain and critical to nerve cell structure and function. However, DHA, EPA, and ALA decrease as we age, and the body cannot create them; instead, we must replenish them by consuming them via a diet rich with omega-3s, meaning plenty of fish, seeds, or supplements.
Reducing triglyceride levels
Research has shown that omega-3 fatty acids can significantly reduce blood triglyceride levels by increasing fatty acid oxidation. Additionally, omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the rate of very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) synthesis in the liver, eliminating VLDL from the blood and suppressing adipose tissue inflammation. Altogether, these effects both reduce triglyceride levels and help spur triglyceride synthesis.
Because of their effectiveness in reducing triglyceride levels, the United States Food and Drug Administration recently approved doses of prescriptions-strength omega-3 fatty acids as a treatment for reducing triglycerides among individuals with hypertriglyceridemia (a common condition in the U.S. in which triglyceride levels are elevated) upon a recommendation from the American Heart Association.
Enhancing lipid oxidation
Lipid oxidation is a complex biological process, in which unsaturated fatty acids interact with molecular oxygen in air, light, and metal ions to form lipid hydroperoxides. Those lipid hydroperoxides are then degraded into smaller, more volatile molecules, including aldehydes and ketones. “Rancidity” is another term for the end result of lipid oxidation—it’s a natural process, but not necessarily what you want to see in any of your animal food products, or in your own body, where it can lead to negative consequences as you age including age-related diseases such as Parkinson’s. Omega-3s contain antioxidants that help manage the oxidation process, ensuring that it proceeds as healthily as possible.
Improving insulin sensitivity
Another benefit of consuming a healthy amount of omega-3 fatty acids is that they may improve insulin sensitivity by reducing inflammation in the body and increasing mitochondrial fatty oxidation. In one study, overweight middle-aged men were subject to an increase in their omega-3 index; they had greater insulin sensitivity after altering their diets. Researchers agree that more studies are necessary to fully comprehend just how omega-3 fatty acids impact insulin resistance.
Anti-inflammatory effects
While research is somewhat limited, DHA and EPA both have anti-inflammatory properties. EPA, in particular, is crucial in the regulation of cellular inflammation, namely keeping it at bay. This helps heal oxidative stress in the brain, which in turn helps it function better. While daily consumption of DHA and EPA will certainly help with any day-to-day inflammation, both fatty acids can also benefit those suffering from chronic inflammation.
Studies have shown that omega-3s can reduce pain and inflammation caused by any type of inflammatory arthritis—a 2021 analysis of 70 studies of fish oil and other omega-3-heavy dietary supplements found that such supplements significantly reduced disease activity, pain, and stiffness in people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.
Modulating gene expression
Compared with other fatty acids, omega-3s have some pretty spectacular bioactive properties. Omega-3s have been shown to reduce many risk factors that precede various diseases, among them diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. They do so by affecting gene expression—they regulate two groups within the body that are essential for modulating the expression of genes that control systemic and tissue-specific lipid homeostasis. As a result of their ability to alter gene expression, omega-3s actively lower the likelihood of contracting chronic non-communicable diseases.
Your best source of omega-3s
Most American diets don’t contain enough Omega-3 fatty acids, which is why fish oil supplements are so popular. But krill oil is actually a better source of omega-3s than fish oil, and one of the best krill oil supplements on the market is Krill Oil Softgels 600MG, by Kori. The krill oil Kori uses is the most researched type of krill oil on the market, delivering Omega-3 fatty acids in their most natural, absorbable form.
Our cells are naturally more receptive to krill because they’re both made of the same material; krill is delivering the nutrients in a phospholipid form, our cell membranes are made of phospholipids, and so it’s naturally more of a good match. What that means for the consumer is better absorption and better bioavailability, so you get the benefits. These supplements are rich with both fatty acids—250 milligrams in total—lack a fishy aftertaste, and contain choline, which is an essential nutrient that supports brain and nervous system health.
Omega-3s and triglyceride synthesis:
Concluding thoughts
While omega-3 fatty acids themselves are not directly used in triglyceride synthesis, their presence can have a profound impact on metabolism. They help reduce triglyceride levels by influencing the production, oxidation, and storage of fatty acids in the body, making them an important component of a heart-healthy diet and a strategy for managing high triglyceride levels.
If you’ve been wanting to incorporate more fish and fatty acids into your diet, this is your sign to do so. Omega-3s are an incredibly powerful tool in keeping the body and brain healthy, and they ensure that key bodily functions and processes fire on all cylinders amidst the chaos of everyday life. There’s no real barrier to entry, either; you can pick up omega-3s via supplements or food at any point and bring a richness to your diet in the process.
For further research:
Arthritis Foundation: Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Your Health
Cleveland Clinic: Omega-3 Fatty Acids & the Important Role They Play
National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements: Omega-3 Fatty Acids
American Heart Association Journals: Omega-3 Fatty Acids for the Management of Hypertriglyceridemia: A Science Advisory From the American Heart Association
Important Note: The information contained in this article is for general informational purposes only, and should not be construed as health or medical advice, nor is it intended to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease or health condition. Before embarking on any diet, fitness regimen, or program of nutritional supplementation, it is advisable to consult your healthcare professional in order to determine its safety and probable efficacy in terms of your individual state of health.
Regarding Nutritional Supplements Or Other Non-Prescription Health Products: If any nutritional supplements or other non-prescription health products are mentioned in the foregoing article, any claims or statements made about them have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and such nutritional supplements or other health products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
