Omega-3 can help eczema patients

London, Mar 28 (UNI) A diet rich in omega-3 can help reduce the severity of symptoms in eczema patients, according to new research.

Purified fish oil supplements cut the symptoms of patients with the most common atopic (allergic) form of eczema by almost a fifth, it said.

German researchers gave 44 patients with atopic eczema aged between 18 and 40 daily tablets of either 5.7 g Omega-3 supplements or placebos for eight weeks.

Those on the supplements recorded an average 18 per cent reduction in their symptoms, measured on a standard scale known as Severity Scoring of Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD).

Experts suggested that reduced consumption of omega-3 and increased intake of omega-6 fatty acids may have played an important role in the increased prevalence of eczema.

Too much Omega-6 prevents the body metabolising omega-3 into the fatty acids that form the structure of brain cell membranes and carry electrical signals between brain cells.

Eczema, also known as dermatitis, is a group of skin conditions that causes dry, itchy inflammation of the skin.

The richest sources of omega-3 are oily fish, particularly mackerel, herring, salmon, fresh tuna and trout. It is also found in walnuts and hazel nuts.

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