Omega-3 fatty acids may be the game-changer that peripheral neuropathy patients need.
Most patients fight the crippling pain of neuropathy every day, and medications only take the edge off at best and are only effective for 50% of people. Omega-3 may be the way for everyone to fight back and support nerve health from the inside out.
How Does Omega-3 Help Nerve Pain?
Omega-3 reduces nerve pain and assists in repairing damaged nerves.
First, omega-3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA, have strong anti-inflammatory properties that reduce neural inflammation (inflammation around the nerves) by decreasing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
These proinflammatory molecules make pain receptors fire more easily, exaggerating the pain response. As a result, nerves send pain signals in response to stimuli that wouldn’t usually cause pain (like bed sheets or clothing rubbing against the skin).
The pro-inflammatory molecules disrupt normal nerve function by increasing oxidative stress and impairing the structural integrity of nerve cells, resulting in nerve damage and degeneration.
Omega-3 promotes the molecules’ resolvins and protectins. These two decrease the cytokine and eicosanoid molecules and reduce inflammation. They also reduce pain signals.
Omega-3 fatty acids also provide antioxidant effects, helping protect the nerve membranes from oxidative stress and damage. The protection is essential for anyone suffering from a neurodegenerative disease that increases inflammation, such as
- Alzheimer’s
- Lewy Body Dementia
- MS
- ALS
- Huntington’s disease
Omega-3 plays a vital role in slowing nerve degeneration and damage from these diseases.
Omega-3 also supports and maintains a healthy myelin sheath. DHA is concentrated in the myelin, providing stability and proper functioning.
While many people take medications to manage the pain, they only work for about 50% of the people taking them, and they do nothing to repair nerve damage. Research shows that omega-3 helps decrease nerve pain and support nerve repair.
Omega-3 vs Pain Medication for Neuropathy
Pain medications work by forcing a physiological response in the body. They forcefully activate, inhibit, or alter normal cell functions, which is how they provide fast pain relief.
Natural supplements like fish oil don’t force a bodily reaction. Instead, they provide the cells with the tools they need to restore normal biological functions and combat ongoing abnormal functions.
The process of relieving the pain is slower. It takes time for the pain and symptoms to subside.
How Long Until I See Results?
The response to omega-3 supplementation varies based on the type of nerve pain, your dietary habits, and other underlying illnesses you may have.
With milder cases of peripheral neuropathy, research says it takes 4-6 weeks when starting with a high dosage.
Those with more severe cases may wait 3-6 months to see a reduction, especially if they have chronic underlying inflammation from other illnesses, poor diet, or lack of sleep.
In severe cases, patients may need Gabapentin or Lyrica to alleviate the pain. Use them in the short term while the fish oil works in the background. Within 3-4 months, you should be able to start weaning off Gabapentin or Lyrica.
How Much Do I Need?
Clinical studies typically recommend doses between 1,000 and 3,000 mg of combined EPA and DHA daily. From our experience, however, we recommend 3,000-4,000 mg of EPA-DHA daily. We found our patients got better results at this dosage.
What are the Best Sources of Omega-3?
In your diet, you can consume the necessary amount of omega-3 by eating fatty fish like Wild Caught Alaskan Salmon such as Sockeye, Coho, or Chinook, Atlantic Mackerel (which is lower in heavy metals than other species of Mackerel), Herring, and Sardines.
When aiming to take between 3,000-4,000 mg of EPA and DHA, eating four ounces of salmon (taking in 1,100-1,500 mg) isn’t enough.
In this case, you would need a good quality fish oil supplement.
Omega-3 Supplements
While hundreds of different brands of fish oils exist, I will help you distinguish the good from the bad.
Fish oil comes in two forms: ethyl ester (labeled as ethyl ester, ethyl esterized, or ethanol) and triglyceride.
We recommend only the triglyceride form. If ethyl ester is listed on the label, avoid it. If it is not, then you likely have the correct form, triglycerides.
We look to the studies to delve further into why triglyceride is better. They prove that the triglyceride form elevates the omega-3 in your body faster and has superior bioavailability (penetrates cells faster).
Lastly, studies show that the triglyceride form does not go rancid quickly because it is more resistant to higher temperatures and oxidative stress.
How Do I Know If I Have a Good Quality Omega-3?
First, check if the label says ethyl ester. If not, you’re off to a good start with a triglyceride form.
Second, it should not contain sunflower, safflower, soybean, grapeseed, or any other seed oil, which is toxic to the body.
For vegans, algae-based omega-3 oils are available, but I have not found one that is cleanly sourced.
Why Do I Need a Good Quality Fish Oil?
Taking rancid fish oil upsets the stomach and can increase levels of ROS (reactive oxygen species), increasing inflammation. In our YouTube video “Avoid Seed Oils for Nerve Repair,” we delve deeper into the toxic effects of seed oils.
Which Fish Oil is Best?
Dr. Coppola and I vetted many brands of fish oils until we found the best ones. Here’s what we found.
First, I always recommend taking liquid fish oil rather than capsules. It can be challenging to take ten capsules daily to get 3,000-4,000 mg, and the capsules that come as 1,000 mg are huge. Liquid is the best option.
If you are worried about the taste, most companies use natural orange or lemon flavor in fish oil. I usually place two teaspoons of fish oil in one ounce of organic apple juice with vitamins D3 and K2. Because the amount of apple juice is so small, I recommend it to even our diabetic patients.
Some brands we recommend are:
Some may wonder about krill oil, cod liver oil, salmon oil, or calamari oil. I highly recommend them, especially krill and salmon oil, as they contain astaxanthin, a powerful antioxidant.
The only disadvantage is that it’s hard to get a high enough dosage, so I recommend taking two types of fish oil, like Nordic Naturals Ultimate with cod liver oil or krill oil.
Are There Side Effects with Taking Omega-3?
If you have a sensitive digestive system and commonly experience gas, bloating, or acid reflux, you may experience mild side effects with high doses of fish oil. These symptoms include,
- Burping
- Regurgitation
- Heartburn
- Upset stomach
- Mild nausea
These side effects are less likely with triglyceride-based fish oil.
How to Prevent Side Effects from Omega-3
To mitigate the side effects, start with a lower dose of fish oil and gradually increase each week. This method gives your body time to adjust to digesting the oil.
Second, take your fish oil with a meal.
Third, if you know that oils and fats sit heavily in your stomach, take the digestive enzyme lipase with your fish oil. The enzyme aids in digesting the oil.
Fish Oil and Medications
When taking over 2,000 mg of fish oil daily while taking medications such as NSAIDs like ibuprofen or naproxen, anticoagulants, or antiplatelet drugs like Warfarin, Xarelto, Plavix may pose a risk of increased bleeding. Doctors often warn against fish oil because of this side effect.
Taking fish oil with these medications increases the risk of bleeding. But as strange as this sounds, this is good news. When you are on an antiplatelet or anticoagulant drug, the doctor monitors your risk through two tests: INR and PT (prothrombin) test. These tests measure how long it takes your blood to clot.
If you take a high dose of fish oil and it takes too long for your blood to clot, ask your doctor to lessen the medication. Statistics show that 69% of all drugs have 10-100 different side effects, while 22% have over 100 side effects.
Most people start new medications to handle the side effects of the original drugs.
Clinical studies also show that fisth oil can decrease elevated blood pressure. This side effect is important to monitor if you are taking an antihypertensive drug (lisinopril or amlodipine); otherwise, your blood pressure may drop too low.
The good news is that your doctor can reduce or eliminate your medication’s dose.
Lastly, high doses of omega-3 fatty acids may lower blood sugar levels too low for those on diabetic medications like metformin or glipizide. Again, you can ask your doctor to reduce your medication if you monitor your glucose and find your levels decreasing to low.
The power of omega-3 goes beyond heart and brain health. It helps fight against nerve pain while simultaneously repairing and regenerating damaged nerves. While it is not an overnight fix, omega-3 works as a long-term ally from the inside out.
Struggling with Neuropathy?
Dr. Coppola and Dr. Monteiro’s dedication to combating neuropathy is deeply personal, stemming from Dr. Monteiro’s experience with her mother’s severe chemo-induced neuropathy. This personal journey fueled their commitment to develop a systematic, drug-free approach to reversing neuropathy.
They founded the San Antonio Neuropathy Center, where they’ve successfully treated over 18,000 patients over the past two decades. Their acclaimed book, “Defeat Neuropathy Now in Spite of Your Doctor,” along with their neuropathy product line, stands as a testament to their expertise and innovative solutions.
Recognized as leading neuropathy specialists in America, Dr. Coppola and Dr. Monteiro offer a beacon of hope for those diagnosed with this challenging condition. If you or a loved one is seeking relief from neuropathy, reach out to us at 844 400-0101 or email us through our contact page – Click here.
Your path to healing can start today.
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