Omega-3 Fatty Acid DHA Shows Potential As Therapeutic After Ischemic Stroke

Research by U.S. scientists has shown that the fish oil-derived omega-3 fatty acid DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) protected brain tissue and promoted recovery in acute ischemic stroke in rats, even after a five-hour delay in treatment. Ischemic stroke results when blood flow to the brain is restricted because of a clot or atherosclerosis. Damage to brain tissue is irreversible at the site of the blockage, but damaged tissue surrounding the site is salvageable if blood flow is restored and neuroprotective therapy is applied. For the study, researchers administered either DHA or saline intravenously at 3, 4, 5, and 6 hours after the onset of stroke. MRIs showed that DHA treatment reduced swelling, helped neurobehavioral recovery, and reduced destroyed tissue by 66 percent four hours after the stroke.