A recent study reported that omega-3 fatty acids attenuate the effects of air pollution on cardiovascular health. Twenty-nine healthy, middle-aged adults received 3 grams of fish oil daily or a placebo of 3 grams of olive oil daily for four weeks. After four weeks, the researchers exposed the subjects to concentrated, ambient fine and ultrafine particulate matter for two hours. The subjects were evaluated prior to exposure, immediately after exposure and 20 hours after exposure.

Researchers found that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation attenuated the negative effects of particulate matter on cardiac changes. The researchers concluded, “Exposure of healthy middle-aged adults to concentrated ambient fine and ultrafine particulate matter for two hours induced acute cardiac and lipids changes following supplementation with olive oil, but not fish oil. Our findings suggest that omega-3 fatty acid supplements offer protection against the adverse cardiac and lipid effects associated with air pollution exposure.”

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