New Research Shows Omega-3s Can Help Preserve Lung Function*  

Omega-3s have an impressive list of health benefits. Your heart1, brain2, eyes3, and immune system4 all function best when there’s an ample supply of these fats in your system.* And emerging research shows that the lungs should now be added to that line-up. 

To do this, they followed 15,063 people and measured their lung function repeatedly over the span of 20 years. The group was considered healthy and racially diverse with no previous lung health concerns. 

At the end of the study, those who had higher blood levels of omega-3 fats also had a slower rate of lung function decline (aka lung health was better preserved). And the fatty acid DHA seemed to offer the most benefits. 

In fact, each 1% increase of DHA in a person’s blood was significantly linked to even slower lung decline. 

The type and amount of omega-3s you eat are directly correlated with blood levels of these fatty acids. So it’s a safe assumption that the people in this study with higher levels of omega-3 fats consumed more of those nutrients.  

The second part of this study involved analyzing genetic data from over 500,000 European adults (part of the UK Biobank database). 

Why? Because there are certain genetic markers in the blood that are connected to—and can be used as an indirect measure of omega-3 status. 

It’s recommended that adults get around 500 milligrams of EPA and DHA a day, but over 90% of Americans fall short of that number. But most research shows that higher daily intake levels of omega-3 fats (at around 1,000 milligrams) are linked to specific health benefits. So most people really need to bump up their intake for optimal health. 

Both parts of this study suggest that higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the blood—especially DHA—are linked to better lung health, and preserving function with age. Most people aren’t getting the omega-3s they need through diet alone.