BWH Researchers Shed Light on Role of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Boston, MA – Researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), studying the potential role of omega-3 fatty acids in preventing asthma attacks and allergic reactions, have identified a molecule produced by the body that helps alleviate respiratory attacks in lab mice. The study was led by Bruce Levy from BWH’s Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine and appears in the June 22, 2008, advance on-line issue of Nature Immunology.
Resolvin E1, the molecule generated by the body, is a product of an omega-3 fatty acid. Fresh water fish such as salmon, anchovies and mackerel are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Previous studies have shown that people who consume high levels of omega-3 rich fish are less likely to be asthmatic, however, why this is so has not been clear. In this study, the researchers were able to show the key role resolvin E1 plays in reducing inflammation in the airway and helping to quickly clear respiratory attacks.
"The findings are exciting," said Levy. "They shed light onto the natural processes that resolve asthma attacks and on resolvin E1’s potential therapeutic actions for asthma and other inflammatory diseases."
The research was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a component of the National Institutes of Health.
Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) is a 747-bed nonprofit teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School and a founding member of Partners HealthCare, an integrated health care delivery network. BWH is committed to excellence in patient care with expertise in virtually every specialty of medicine and surgery. The BWH medical preeminence dates back to 1832, and today that rich history in clinical care is coupled with its national leadership in quality improvement and patient safety initiatives and its dedication to educating and training the next generation of health care professionals. Through investigation and discovery conducted at its Biomedical Research Institute (BRI), BWH is an international leader in basic, clinical and translational research on human diseases, involving more than 860 physician-investigators and renowned biomedical scientists and faculty supported by more than $416 M in funding. BWH is also home to major landmark epidemiologic population studies, including the Nurses' and Physicians' Health Studies and the Women's Health Initiative. For more information about BWH, please visit www.brighamandwomens.org
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