According to a new study that was published in PLOS ONE, omega-3 fish oil fatty acids can protect the brain from alcohol toxins.

Previous studies suggested that long-term abuse of alcohol leads to brain damage and the development of a special type of dementia.

Staff at the University of Loyola School of Medicine at the University of Loyola (Chicago, Illinois) previously conducted a meta-analysis that showed that moderate ("social") alcohol consumption of no more than 2 drinks per day for a man and 1 drink per day for a woman could reduce the risk of dementia and cognitive impairment in old age.

This group of scientists believes that a moderate amount of alcohol "strengthens" brain cells, making them more resistant to damage, but excess alcohol overloads cells, causes a neuroinflammatory reaction and cell death.

To study the possible protective properties of omega-3 fatty acids, the Chicago scientists, together with colleagues from the University of Kentucky and the National Institute of Alcohol and Alcohol Abuse, conducted a study that included experiments on the culture of rat brain cells.

For several days, scientists have exposed cell cultures to alcohol at concentrations equivalent to the limit concentration for drivers in the state. Scientists explain that this level is usually observed in the blood of chronic alcoholics.

They then compared the samples to other cultures of brain cells that were exposed to the same alcohol concentration, only with the addition of omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), one of the main active components of fish oil.

The team concluded that when treating DHA, the level of neuron inflammation in cells decreased by 90%, the cells became more resistant to toxic effects and less likely to die.

"Fish oil has a great potential as a means of protecting brain health in people who are chronically abusing alcohol. In any case, he will not harm them, "said study author Dr. Michael Collins (Michael Collins).

However that may be, scientists warn that their results should be checked in more extensive studies before making final conclusions.

They add that the best way for chronic alcoholics to avoid brain damage is to reduce the rate of alcohol consumption or give it up altogether.

"We do not want people to think that some capsules of fish oil give them green light in order to continue to get drunk," said Dr. Collins.

By the way, not so long ago authoritative edition BMJ informed, that moderate doses of alcohol do not bring advantage to our heart, as it was considered earlier. The authors of this study argue that at any rate of alcohol, its further reduction will be beneficial for the cardiovascular system and will reduce the risk of events such as heart attack and stroke.

Also in April 2014, scientists from the University of Utah reported that they found in the brain of rats an area sensitive to the negative effects of alcohol. Disabling this area leads to the fact that rodents begin to consume much more alcohol than their healthy relatives. This is due to the fact that due to the disconnection of this zone, rats can not "learn" from the bad experience of drinking, which restrains other animals.

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