Fish Oil May Protect Alcohol Abusers From Neurodamage and Dementia

A new study suggests that omega-3 fish oil offers protection against alcohol-related neurodamage and reduces the risk of eventual dementia.

Several studies conducted in the past have shown that long-term alcohol abuse causes brain damage and also increases the risk of dementia. But, researchers at the Loyola University Health System found that intake of fish oil may benefit alcohol abusers. They found that on exposing brain cells to high levels of alcohol, a compound present in fish oil offers protection against inflammation and neuronal cell death.

In the new study led by Michael A. Collins, the cultures of adult rat brain cells were exposed to concentrations of alcohol for several days. The concentration was four times the limit that is considered legal for driving and this concentration is seen in chronic alcoholics. The brain cultures were later compared to cultures that exposed to same high levels of alcohol, along with a compound that is seen in fish oil called omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

The researchers found that there was up to 90 percent less neuroinflammation and neuronal death in the brain cells exposed to alcohol and DHA than the cells exposed to alcohol alone.

In meta-analysis conducted earlier, Collin gathered the results of 75 studies and found that moderate social drinking may have an opposite effect of reducing the risk of dementia and cognitive impairment during aging.

The researchers emphasized on the need of further studies to confirm whether omega-3 offers protection against alcohol-related cognitive injury and dementia in models of adult rodents.

"Fish oil has the potential of helping preserve brain integrity in chronic alcohol abusers," Collins said. "At the very least, it is unlikely that it would hurt them. We don't want people to think it is okay to take a few fish oil capsules and then continue to go on abusing alcohol."

The finding was documented in the journal PLOS One.