Omega-3 Injection Reduces Stroke-Like Brain Damage in Mice

A triglyceride DHA emulsion reduced injury at 24 hours and improved neurological outcomes weeks later in a neonatal hypoxic-ischemic model

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Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) researchers report that a DHA-based omega-3 emulsion reduced stroke-like brain injury in 10-day-old mice after hypoxic-ischemic damage (reduced oxygen and blood flow).

Key takeaways

  • In this neonatal model, DHA was linked to less injury at 24 hours and better outcomes weeks later, while EPA was not.

  • The researchers point to a mitochondria/reperfusion-injury pathway as a possible explanation.

  • Clinical trials would be needed to learn whether this approach helps babies or adults after stroke-like injury.

Why it matters

Oxygen deprivation around birth can cause lasting impairment, and some injury pathways overlap with adult stroke biology. A therapy that could be administered shortly after injury would address a major unmet need, but translation to humans is still an open question.

Read more

CUIMC’s write-up and the full paper in PLOS ONE.