Omega-3 fatty acids are often associated with many health benefits, including lowering levels of triglycerides (a type of fat) in the blood, protection against heart disease, dementia, depression, and many more. Additionally, recent research suggests that omega-3 fatty acids may play a role in preventing chronic liver disease. What are omega-3 fatty acids? Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids that one must obtain from the diet to maintain good health. . There are three types of omega-3 fatty acids involved in human function, also called polyunsaturated fatty acids. These are ALA (α-linolenic acid), EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). ALA is a short-chain fatty acid derived from plant sources such as flaxseed oil and hemp oil. EPA and DHA are long-chain fatty acids found primarily from animal sources such as fatty fish. Research shows that omega-3 fatty acids help reduce inflammation and may reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as arthritis, heart disease and cancer. . They are also found in high concentrations in the brain and play an important role in brain performance as well as behavioral function. A deficiency in omega-3 fatty acids can manifest as poor memory, fatigue, dry skin, mood swings, depression, heart problems and poor circulation. Another type of fatty acids often found in the diet are omega-6 fatty acids. Unlike omega-3s, these fatty acids are unsaturated fatty acids which, when taken in large quantities, can cause inflammation and have negative health effects. The possible role of omega-3 fatty acids in liver disease Recent research suggests that omega-3 fatty acids may have a protective effect on the liver, just as it has been shown to protect...... middle of article......osteotosis in a Ldlr−/− mouse model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis induced by Western diet. J.Nutr. 2013; flight. 143 no. 3, 315-323. http://jn.nutrition.org/content/143/3/315 Oregon State University. Some omega-3 oils are better than others at protecting against liver disease http://oregonstate.edu/ua/ncs/archives/2013/feb/some-omega-3-oils-better-others-protection- against-liver-disease Depner CM, Traber MG, Bobe G, Kensicki E, Bohren KM et al. (2013) A metabolomic analysis of omega-3 fatty acid-mediated attenuation of Western diet-induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in LDLR-/- mice. PLoS ONE 8(12): e83756. http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0083756 Oregon State University. Other benefits are emerging for one type of omega-3 fatty acid: DHA.http://oregonstate.edu/ua/ncs/archives/2014/jan/more-benefits-emerging-one-type-omega-3- fatty-acid -dha