1/24/24, 10:16 AM New Study: This Common Oil May Harm Your Liver

New Study: This Common Oil May Harm Your

Liver

Fish oil, derived from the fatty tissues of fish, is a great way to get more omega-3
fatty acids into your diet. The supplement has been shown to help ADHD,
Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular disease, weight loss and more. But for fish oil, it’s
possible to get too much of a good thing. In fact, fish oil may increase the risk of
dangerous fatty liver disease.

According to a new study from the University of Granada in Spain, and published in
The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, long-term consumption of sunflower oil or
fish oil can lead to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH. This condition is the more
serious form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which affects 80 to 100
million people around the world. Liver inflammation and liver scarring characterize
NASH, and it resembles liver damage caused by alcohol abuse.

Around 20 percent of Americans have NASH, and it’s most common in older adults.
Among the risk cancers for NASH are obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes,
high cholesterol and apparently life-long fish oil consumption.

Effects of oil consumption later in life

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1/24/24, 10:16 AM New Study: This Common Oil May Harm Your Liver

The new study led by José Luis Quiles, professor of physiology at the University of
Granada, looked at the effects of oil consumption later in life to understand the
association between NASH and dietary choices. The research team examined the
effect of different dietary oils including fish oil, sunflower oil, and virgin olive oil on
rat livers.

Quiles and his team looked for liver scarring, oxidative stress, the effects on gene
expression and the length of telomeres, which can tell scientists about the body’s
ability to reproduce cells, in the rats’ livers. Oxidative stress refers to the body’s
inability to balance free radicals that damage cells. Telomeres are located at the end
of each DNA strand and help protect chromosomes within the cells. Reduced
telomere lengths are associated with cellular aging; however, if your telomeres are
too long, you experience an increased risk for cancer.

As another part of the experiment, the team investigated how livers age over time.
Our livers simply accumulate fat as we age, but as Quiles writes, “regardless of this
accumulation, some livers age in a healthier way than others and with a greater or
lesser predisposition to certain diseases.”

What we eat impacts how well our livers age

For instance, sunflower oil consumed over one’s entire life can trigger liver fibrosis,
or scarring of the liver. When a person has liver fibrosis, their liver cannot function
properly and cirrhosis sets in. Cirrhosis is a chronic condition that may lead to liver
failure. Sunflower oil was also responsible for increased liver oxidation and changes
in the rats’ gene expression.

Subjects that consumed fish oil also experienced age-related liver oxidation, as well
as a decrease in the electron transport chain activity in cells’ mitochondria. The
mitochondria are the “powerhouses” of the cell. A decrease in the electron transport
chain activity results in impaired cell function. Interestingly, fish oil also increases
telomere lengths in the liver, which could be problematic if, as stated above, they
grow too long. However, olive oil caused the least amount of damage to the liver.
That’s good news for those of us who prefer a Mediterranean diet.

Get omega-3s directly from the source

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1/24/24, 10:16 AM New Study: This Common Oil May Harm Your Liver

Most doctors and nutritionists will tell you the best source for any nutrient is directly
from the whole food from which it is derived. So, rather than always turning to fish
oil supplements for your omega-3s, try to eat three to four servings of fatty fish, like
salmon, each week. Adding flaxseed oil to your salads or smoothies can help
increase levels of omega-3s in your diet, too.

To avoid some of the adverse effects of fish oil supplements, choose from the
following omega-3 rich foods:

Atlantic mackerel
Alaskan wild-caught salmon
Grass-fed beef
Fontina cheese
Spinach
Firm tofu
Navy beans
Anchovies
Chia seeds
Flaxseed oil
Eggs

If you’re like me, you’re probably about to toss out your fish oil supplements. The
good news is, there are plenty of ways to get as much, if not more, benefit from
whole foods.

What do you think of these new findings? Let us know in the comments below!

— Megan Winkler

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1/24/24, 10:16 AM New Study: This Common Oil May Harm Your Liver

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