Fish oil may ease asthma

Adding fish oil supplements to the diet can prevent the constriction of the airways brought on by exercise in asthmatics, say researchers at Indiana University in the USA.

The researchers believe that the effect may be due to the anti-inflammatory effects of fish oil.

In the recent study, the researchers assessed pre- and post-exercise lung function and inflammatory markers in 16 asthma patients with exercise induced bronchoconstriction (EIB). The study subjects received 20 capsules of fish oil per day, but researchers are planning on further studies to find similarly positive effects of smaller doses.

Source: Chest. 129:39-49 2006 (March 2006)