Fish Oil For Healthy Skin

Skin is the largest organ in the human body and can often be the first visual indicator of an omega-3 essential fatty acid deficiency.

EPA and DHA, the omega-3 essential fatty acids in fish oil are crucial nutrients for skin health and function.

These essential fatty acids (EFAs) control a large number of cellular processes that directly impact skin health.

EFAs reside in the membranes that surround skin cells, where they facilitate vital cellular functions that impact skin health and function.

Including transporting nutrients into and wastes out of the cell, regulating inflammation, retaining moisture, promoting cell turnover, distributing melanin evenly, and preventing the free radical and oxidative damage that underlies skin ageing.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of Australians do not consume the minimum amounts of EFAs required to prevent deficiency.

And without adequate intake of EFAs, skin cells cannot function properly.

 

Deficiencies of EPA, DHA can lead to dry, rough, problematic skin that is prone to inflammation, premature aging, and uneven pigmentation.

EFA deficiencies have even been associated with several clinical disorders such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and acne.

A large and growing body of evidence indicates that supplementing with EPA and DHA from fish oil, and GLA from borage or evening primrose oil, benefits all skin types.

Studies have shown that increased intake of DHA led to measured improvements in eczema, and that increased levels of GLA in elderly patients lead to a reduction of skin water loss and to improved skin function.

Recent studies have also shown that EPA inhibits the ultraviolet radiation-related damage that causes tissue damage, premature ageing, and wrinkles.

 

Did You Know? Omega-3 Fish Oil…

  • Protects against photo-ageing and premature wrinkles
  • Can improve eczema and psoriasis
  • Regulate blood pressure
  • Reduces and prevents skin inflammation, hydrates skin and restores skin texture
  • Protects against free radicals and oxidative damage
  • Can improve and prevent acne

 

Research suggests that the youthfulness of skin can be maintained with fish oil, specifically eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).

Fish oil has been found to be effective in reducing photoageing (especially elastosis), wrinkle formation and is also beneficial in preventing chronological ageing, such as thinning of the skin.

The study discovered that EPA not only prevents UV induced skin ageing but that EPA also rejuvenates the skin.

They discovered that EPA administration to sun exposed skin caused an increase in the expression of extracellular matrix proteins, such as procollagen, tropoelastin, and fibrillin-1 by increasing transformin growth factor-b (TGF-b).

An increase in such proteins rebuilds the skin and improves its appearance.

 

Know Your Fatty Acid Levels

If your skin is suffering its possible that you are not getting enough essential fatty acids in your diet or too much non essential fatty acids.

You can find out by getting an Essential Fatty Acid Level Test done through Emed.

The fats which are tested are:

  • Saturated Fats – Myristic, Palmitic, Steric, Arachidic, Behenic acid
  • Monounsaturated Fats – Palmitoleic, Vaccenic, Oleic and Gondoic acid.
  • Omega-6 – Linoleic, Gamma Linoleic, Eicosadienoic, Eicosatrienoic and Arachidonic acid.
  • Omega-3 – Alpha Linolenic, EPA, Docosapentaenoic and DHA.

This test is especially important for anyone who doesn’t regularly consume fish, has an inadequate diet or who suffers from joint, muscle, tissue or skeletal pain.

This test allows us to uncover the imbalances associated with heart disease, high blood pressure, insulin resistance, diabetes, asthma, depression, ADHD and inflammatory disorders, which can all be related to inadequate EFA ingestion.

This test could potentially give you the power to take control of your health, and life, and prevent disease and illness before they occur.

For more information about this test, contact an Emed Practitioner by clicking here.

 

Further Reading:

 

 

References:

Kim HH, Shin CM, Park CH, et al. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) inhibits UV-induced MMP-1 expression in human dermal fibroblasts. J Lipid Research, 2005; 46:1712-1720.

Shahbakhti H, Watson RE, Azurdia RM, Ferreira CZ, Garmyn M, Rhodes LE. Influence of EPA, an omega-3 fatty acid, on ultraviolet-B generation of prostaglandin-E2 and proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 in human skin in vivo, Photobiology Unit, Dermatology Centre, University of Manchester, 2004, 80(2):231-5.