Lungs Like Fish Oil

A new study shows that regular use of fish oi supplements in a person's diet can protect against the harms associated with Particulate Matter (PM) pollution.

"Twenty-nine people aged 50 to 72 took either olive oil or fish oil supplements for a month and then breathed concentrated outdoor air that contained extremely high levels of particulate matter pollution. After a short exposure to the high levels of particulate air pollution, heart rate variability decreased significantly in the participants who ate olive oil supplements. In contrast, the subjects on fish oil supplements showed little change. Researchers also found that the olive oil group showed longer repolarization duration and an immediate increase in two types of lipid levels in the blood (very low-density lipoprotein and triglycerides) after the exposures to concentrated air compared to the fish oil group."

Past studies have shown that exposure to particulate matter can lead to a variety of health problems such as asthma, stroke, heart failure, and decreased brain function. PM pollution in California alone is is estimated to cause 9,000 premature deaths per year. New PM emission rules for cement plants that are now being rolled back by EPA would save an estimated 2000-2500 lives per year nationally.