Is Fish Oil the Key to Weight Loss?

Could one of the secrets to keeping off that extra weight involve more oil? Well, at least oil sourced from the flesh of fish.

A Japanese study found that, among mice, fish oil consumption led to "less weight and less fat." Researchers observed two groups of mice, where one group consumed the same fatty food as the other one, but with fish oil added to it.

"They also and had lower insulin and fasting glucose levels, plus a hotter core temperature," Time relayed.

"The scientists then measured energy burn and found that the mice fed fish oil burned more calories-possibly due to an increase in brown fat, a kind of fat that burns calories," the news source went on. "Other research has shown an anti-obesity effect of fish oil."

As previous studies have shown, brown fat is triggered by cold temperatures, thus activating one's sympathetic nervous system.

"When that happens, brown fat cells get the signal to generate heat through the activation of a protein called UCP1," Time added.

Interestingly, mice that ate food laced with fish oil had more UCP1, although it was also found in white fat.

"But the white fat in mice who were fed fish oil contained high levels of the UCP1 protein-indicating that fish oil may help turn white fat into brown fat," Time noted.

"The group consuming the fish oil gained 5 to 10 percent less weight and 15 to 25 percent less fat over the course of the experiment," Gizmag also noted.

According to the study's senior author, Teruo Kawada, this may explain why food from Japan and Mediterranean regions support longevity.

"Now we have better insight into why that is," he commented.

Meanwhile, NeuroGrow Brain Fitness Center medical director Dr. Majid Fotuhi told Time that the significance of the results of the study is that it "discovered the mechanism by which fish oil caused weight loss and brown fat production-at least in mice."

He also said that it would be interesting to have the findings translate into a drug that works the same way.

Despite the promising aspects of the research, Fotuhi said that more study needs to be done first.

"The results are preliminary, and I wouldn't rush to buy a bottle of omega-3 fatty acids to lose weight," he said, adding that taking fish oil would be beneficial for the brain, though.

Would you stock up on fish oil after learning of its other benefits? Tell us what you think!

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