Obesity, high blood pressure and high blood sugar levels. These are just some of the factors that underlie metabolic syndrome. One in five people are said to be affected by this medical condition, and prevalence tends to increase with age.

A person with metabolic syndrome runs a higher risk of developing a heart problem or diabetes. To combat these unhealthy effects, patients are advised to go on low-fat, low-sugar diets and maintain an exercise regimen. A number of drug supplements may be added to further minimize the risk factors. A new study suggests that metabolic syndrome can be fought with a more organic type of oral medication: fish oil capsules.

The idea of fish oil as an effective supplement for lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease is not entirely new. As early as 1775, a fish oil supplement was produced in England, but its recent popularity has caused modern scientists to conduct new research studies.

Fish oil is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, which are largely believed to help lower cholesterol levels. According to Dr. Jose Lopez-Mendoza, a professor of medicine at the Reina Sofia University Hospital and the University of Cordoba in Spain, adding Omega-3 to a high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet can battle the long-term adverse effects induced by a diet rich in complex carbohydrates, such as whole grains.

Dr. Lopez-Medina and his team conducted the study on 117 patients diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. Each of the patients was assigned to follow one of four diets for a minimum of 12 weeks. The diets were: high saturated fat (e.g. meat loaded meals), high monosaturated fat (e.g. fish and olive oil), low fat and high carbohydrate, and low fat and high carbohydrate supplemented with fish oil capsules. All four diets had around the same amount of calories and the patients underwent blood tests before and after eating to measure blood fat levels.

At the beginning of the study, all participants had similar post-meal blood fat responses. By the end of the three-month period, those who followed the low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet with fish oil showed better responses.

It looks like the fish oil phenomenon is here to stay. The low-fat, high-carbohydrates combination is often assigned as a diet for weight loss. While it can be effective in that field, it may induce a spike in cholesterol and blood sugar after a meal. Now with scientific backing, fish oil can mitigate these effects, allowing patients to enjoy a healthy diet without encountering too many adverse effects.