The effect of omega-3 fatty acids on alcohol-induced damage

Abstract

Alcohol is the most widely consumed psychoactive substance in the world that has a severe impact on many organs and bodily systems, particularly the liver and nervous system. Alcohol use during pregnancy roots long-lasting changes in the newborns and during adolescence has long-term detrimental effects especially on the brain. The brain contains docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a major omega-3 (n-3) fatty acid (FA) that makes up cell membranes and influences membrane-associated protein function, cell signaling, gene expression and lipid production. N-3 is beneficial in several brain conditions like neurodegenerative diseases, ameliorating cognitive impairment, oxidative stress, neuronal death and inflammation. Because alcohol decreases the levels of n-3, it is timely to know whether n-3 supplementation positively modifies alcohol-induced injuries. The aim of this review is to summarize the state-of-the-art of the n-3 effects on certain conditions caused by alcohol intake, focusing primarily on brain damage and alcoholic liver disease.

The effects of omega-3 fatty acids on antioxidant enzyme activities and nitric oxide levels in the cerebral cortex of rats treated ethanol

“…Therefore, omega-3 supplementation can have very positive effects in improving many pathological conditions, especially those caused by oxidative stress [21]. Good evidence exists that omega-3 supplementation ameliorated the ethanol-induced damage of different organs [7]. In our study treatment with ω-3 fatty acids normalized SOD activity in animals of the ethanol+ω-3 group.…”

“…Living organisms protect themselves against oxidative damage by means of the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defense systems. Catalase (CAT), SOD, and GSH-Px are among the most effective enzymatic antioxidant defense system [7]. Macit et al found a significant decrease in the activity of SOD and GSH-PX in the hippocampal tissue of rats exposed to chronic ethanol treatment [15].…”

“…By preserving the axonal structure, it contributes to proper conduction of electrical impulses through the nerve cells [6]. There is ample evidence that omega-3 fatty acids reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in the brain and other body tissues [7]. It has been proven in numerous studies in humans and animals that omega-3 fatty acids supplementation have a neuroprotective effect in neurodegenerative diseases.…”

Omega-3 Recovers Cannabinoid 1 Receptor Expression in the Adult Mouse Brain after Adolescent Binge Drinking

“…DHA and AA are major phospholipid components of brain cell membranes [16,19]. EtOH reduces DHA in the brain [20,21] and its deficit impacts on both cell membranes, altering their biophysical properties, and related membrane proteins, such as enzymes and receptors [19].…”

“…DHA and EPA are n-3 PUFAs that accumulate in brain cell membranes and maintain their structure and fluidity, restore glutathione levels, are anti-inflammatory, reduce oxidative stress and apoptosis, and overcome synaptic plasticity deficits, improving the cognitive impairment caused by prenatal EtOH exposure [16][17][18][19]. DHA is unevenly distributed among brain regions and between neurons and glial cells, and participates in membraneassociated protein functions, cellular signaling, gene expression, lipogenesis, neurogenesis and synaptic pruning [16].…”