Omega-3 Fatty Acids help for colitis

Colitis is a medical condition that is distinguished by the inflammation of the bowel and, in particular, the colon.

The most frequent symptoms of colitis are:

• Abdominal bloating, cramps and pain that may be alleviated after a bowel movement.
• Diarrhea (frequently with mucus and blood)
• Weight loss
• A throbbing spasm of the rectal sphincter accompanied by a strong desire for a bowel movement.

Some patients with severe cases of colitis may have as many as 40 to 50 diarrhea episodes a day. If the pathological process of colitis continues, it may bring up the need for a surgical resection of part of the colon.

Unfortunately, most of the time colitis is treated only with drugs which suppress the immune system, like Prednisone. While immunosuppressive drugs may ease short term symptoms of colitis, they have multiple side effects and frequently may cause long term weakening of overall health as the result of a weak immune system.

Fish oils contain 2 types of Omega-3 Fatty acids: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These 2 types of Omega-3 comprise anti-inflammatory effects that are imperative to quite a few processes in the body. These processes include blood clot formation and normal immune function. Omega-3 EPA and DHA also provide additional health benefits such as decreasing blood pressure and optimizing cardiovascular health.

Omega-3 Fatty Acid supplementation has been studied for a number of years as an alternative or complementary treatment for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, particularly Crohn's disease. Some researchers believe that Omega-3 may work by suppressing the inflammation process in the body in general and, particularly, in the bowel wall.

In one study, 59 % of patients with Crohn's disease have maintained remission when taking Omega-3 supplements for a period of 1 year as compared to 26 % taking a placebo.

A second study showed that when taking Omega-3 supplements, patients with ulcerative colitis successfully reduced their Prednisone dose. After they stopped taking Omega-3, patients needed elevated doses of Prednisone again. The amount of Omega-3 Fatty Acids used in these studies was about 3 grams a day.