Omega 3 fish oil and weight loss
A recent study that supplemented diets with Omega 3 fish oil (good fat) to see if number of fat calories burned in a single day would increase.
Two groups were fed exactly the same diet, but one group was fed 6 grams of fat in the form of butter, olive oil, sunflower oil and peanut oil. The other group was given 6 grams of omega 3 fish oil. The fish oil group was given 8 capsules per day -- 2 in the morning, 3 at lunch and 3 in the evening.
The Total daily intake of omega 3 long-chain fatty acids was 1.8 grams. The outcome of the test results was fairly conclusive.
The table below shows you the changes in fat oxidation, body fat, and metabolic rate after three weeks for the groups with or without fish oil:
| With fish oil | Without fish oil | |
|---|---|---|
| Measurement of body fat | -2 pounds | -0.7 pounds |
| Measurement of daily metabolic rate | 1775 calories | 1710 calories |
These results show that the group who supplemented with fish oil burned about 1.1 milligram of fat per kilo per minute. This is roughly 26 percent higher than the other group who wasn't supplementing with fish oil.
One of the key reasons as to why omega 3 fish oil has such a powerful effect on fat metabolism is that insulin levels were 50 percent lower. Insulin is a hormone that reduces the use of fat for fuel, while also promoting fat storage in the presence of excess calories.
Insulin increases the activity of an enzyme known to promote the storage of fat.
Insulin inhibits the action of hormone-sensitive lipase, which is responsible for breaking down stored fat and preparing it for use as energy.
Insulin also activates an enzyme, which, along with fatty acid synthesis, is responsible for converting carbohydrate into fat.
