{"id":639979,"date":"2026-04-30T06:07:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T06:07:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/639979\/"},"modified":"2026-04-30T06:07:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T06:07:11","slug":"could-they-sometimes-harm-the-brain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/639979\/","title":{"rendered":"Could they sometimes harm the brain?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"omega-3Share on Pinterest<\/a>Omega-3s may sometimes harm the brain, study claims. Image credit: Marc Tran\/StocksyFor many years, we have heard about the potential health benefits of fish oil due in part to their high concentration of omega-3 fatty acids.Past studies have linked the consumption of fish oil to possible protection against several health concerns, including brain diseases like dementia and Alzheimer\u2019s disease.A new study has found that fish oil supplements may not be beneficial for people who have experienced repeated mild traumatic brain injuries.Researchers believe the build-up of a specific omega-3 fatty acid could potentially disrupt brain healing and assist with the accumulation of the protein tau in the brain, via both human cell and mouse trials.<\/p>\n

For many years, we\u2019ve heard about the potential health benefits of fish oil<\/a> due in part to their high concentration of omega-3 fatty acids<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Instead, the build-up of a specific omega-3 fatty acid in fish oil could potentially disrupt brain healing and assist with the accumulation of the protein tau<\/a> in the brain, which is considered to be a hallmark of Alzheimer\u2019s disease, via both human cell and mouse trials.<\/p>\n

For this study, researchers used a combination of models, including one with mice and another with human brain microvascular endothelial cells, to examine how long-term fish oil use might impact the brain. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis project developed over several years and was motivated by a broader question,\u201d Onder Albayram<\/a>, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine within the Department of Neuroscience at the Medical University of South Carolina, and lead author of this study, told Medical News Today.<\/p>\n

\u201cFish oil is widely used and generally considered beneficial, yet there are also observations in other areas of medicine suggesting that its effects may vary depending on the biological context, particularly during periods of tissue repair,\u201d Albayram explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wanted to understand whether similar context dependent effects might exist in the brain,\u201d he detailed. \u201cTo do this, we needed a model where the brain is actively engaged in recovery over time. Repeated mild head injury provided a useful framework, because it involves a prolonged and often subtle repair process, with elements of resilience and vulnerability.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn that sense, the model allowed us to study how dietary factors such as fish oil interact with the brain\u2019s recovery mechanisms,\u201d he continued. \u201cThe study evolved step by step, with the findings guiding the next questions.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the study\u2019s conclusion, researchers found that one specific omega-3 fatty acid in fish oil, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)<\/a>, was associated with a reduced repair capacity in the brain, potentially interfering with healing after a brain injury. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis was one of the most important parts of the study because it helped us move from observation to mechanism,\u201d Albayram said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the mouse model, several findings pointed toward the neurovascular unit, especially the cerebrovascular endothelial cells<\/a>, as a vulnerable site after repeated mild brain injury. These cells form the inner lining of the brain\u2019s blood vessels and help regulate blood flow, metabolic exchange, barrier function, and tissue repair. The human brain has an enormous vascular network, so even subtle changes in endothelial function can have meaningful consequences over time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2013 Onder Albayram, PhD<\/p>\n

\u201cBased on the mouse data, we developed an in vitro model using human brain microvascular endothelial cells to ask a more focused question: could EPA directly affect the repair capacity of these cells under conditions that allow fatty acid use?,\u201d he continued<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we found was that EPA, but not DHA<\/a>, reduced endothelial repair responses, including vascular network formation and wound healing capacity. That was significant because it mirrored the direction of the mouse findings and suggested that EPA may act directly on the vascular repair machinery, rather than being only a secondary marker of injury,\u201d said Albayram.<\/p>\n

Additionally, Albayram and his team also correlated long-term fish oil supplementation to vascular-associated accumulation of the protein tau in the cortex<\/a>, as well as lower neurological and spatial learning. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe observed vascular associated tau accumulation in the cortex, which is a recognized but still not fully understood feature in conditions such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy<\/a>,\u201d Albayram explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn human postmortem studies, tau often accumulates around blood vessels, but it is difficult to determine how this develops over time or whether the vasculature plays an active role in shaping this pathology. Our findings suggest that the cerebrovascular system, including endothelial cells, may be more directly involved than previously appreciated,\u201d he told us.<\/p>\n

\u201cImportantly, these vascular changes were accompanied by neurovascular uncoupling, meaning a disruption in the coordination between neuronal activity and blood flow,\u201d he continued. \u201cThis was observed alongside deficits in spatial learning and memory, indicating that the vascular and metabolic changes were functionally relevant. Ultrastructural analyses further supported this, showing disruption within the neurovascular unit.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTogether, these results suggest that under certain conditions, dietary factors may influence how the brain\u2019s vascular system adapts to injury, and that this can be linked to both pathological features, such as tau accumulation, and measurable changes in cognitive function,\u201d Albayram added.<\/p>\n

MNT had the opportunity to speak with Dung Trinh<\/a>, MD, internist for the MemorialCare Medical Group and chief medical officer of Healthy Brain Clinic in Irvine, CA, about this research.<\/p>\n

Trinh, who was not involved in the study, commented that its findings do not mean that fish oil is broadly harmful, but they do challenge the assumption that all omega-3 supplements are automatically brain-protective. <\/p>\n

\u201cFor patients with repeated mild head injuries, especially athletes, veterans, or people with recurrent falls, the finding that EPA may interfere with brain vascular repair is clinically important and worth paying attention to,\u201d Trinh explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrain health is complex, and cognitive decline<\/a> can come from many causes, including Alzheimer\u2019s disease, vascular disease, traumatic brain injury, sleep problems, mood disorders, medications, and metabolic conditions<\/a>. We need continued research so we can move beyond one-size-fits-all advice and develop more personalized strategies to protect memory, thinking, and long-term brain function,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Trinh advised readers not to panic about this study\u2019s findings, and not to abruptly stop anything recommended by their physician. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis study does not prove that fish oil causes brain damage in the general population,\u201d he continued. \u201cBut if someone has a history of repeated concussions or head trauma, they should talk with their doctor about why they are taking fish oil, what dose they are taking, and whether their supplement is EPA-heavy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meridan Zerner<\/a>, MS, RDN, CSSD, LD, CHWC, founder of Meridan Zerner Nutrition in Dallas, TX, offered her top tips on how to follow a brain-healthy diet that is rich in whole foods, without relying on supplements. <\/p>\n

\u201cFirst, I would gently and respectfully encourage people to pump the brakes a bit and have a deeper conversation with their healthcare provider,\u201d Zerner said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis study does not overturn the previous broader recommendations and research. We do know that omega-3s (preferably from food) support the brain\u2019s foundation, but repair is far more complex. It\u2019s not one nutrient \u2014 it\u2019s the whole environment: nutrition, sleep, blood flow, and recovery,\u201d she emphasized. <\/p>\n

Zerner offered these starter recommendations for eating a brain-healthy diet focused on whole foods: <\/p>\n

Eat fatty fish 2\u20133 times per week. Salmon<\/a>, sardines<\/a>, mackerel, herring, and trout are naturally rich in both EPA and DHA in a food matrix that the body may process differently than a concentrated supplement.Load up on colorful produce. Berries<\/a>, leafy greens<\/a>, beets, and cruciferous vegetables provide antioxidants<\/a> and polyphenols<\/a> that support the brain\u2019s vascular health and help to reduce neuroinflammation.Include walnuts<\/a>, flaxseeds<\/a>, and chia seeds<\/a>. This is small, but meaningful in that these foods provide ALA<\/a>, a plant-based omega-3. While the conversion to EPA and DHA is very limited, they contribute to overall anti-inflammatory eating patterns.Follow a Mediterranean<\/a> or MIND diet<\/a> pattern. Both are supported by strong evidence for cognitive health. They emphasize olive oil<\/a>, beans, whole grains, nuts, fish, fruits, and veggies which supply the brain with multiple protective nutrients.Stay well-hydrated and limit ultra-processed foods<\/a>. The brain is roughly 73% water<\/a>, and ultra-processed foods drive inflammation \u2014 the opposite of what we want for brain repair.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis study [\u2026] is a smaller mouse study, which for most health scientists means that it raises excellent questions and definitely validates the need for actual human studies,\u201d Zerner said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut again, the findings depend a lot on context \u2014 this is a rodent study, the effects observed are not universal across all omega-3 fatty acids, the dose of EPA that would create an equivalent dose in human beings is unclear, the number and severity of TBIs isn\u2019t clear and all the mice were male,\u201d she cautioned. <\/p>\n

\u201cI would also defer to the lead researcher himself who said this is not a call for the public to abandon fish oil supplements, emphasizing that \u2018biology is context-dependent\u2019,\u201d she added. \u201cHowever, if you are an athlete in a contact sport, a military service member, or anyone at elevated risk for repetitive mild TBIs, this research does give us reason to pause and ask more questions.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Share on PinterestOmega-3s may sometimes harm the brain, study claims. Image credit: Marc Tran\/StocksyFor many years, we have…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":639980,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[64,63,14608,137,532,1292],"class_list":["post-639979","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nutrition","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-brain-health","tag-health","tag-nutrition","tag-omega-3"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/639979","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=639979"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/639979\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/639980"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=639979"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=639979"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=639979"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}