There rarely is good news about diabetic neuropathy, but a new study found that fish oil reversed the nerve damage caused by the painful condition, according to a Diabetes in Control article.
The study, led by the VA Medical Center in Iowa City, used diabetic mice models to look at the effects of fish oil and resolvin (a protective molecule from fatty acids) on damaged nerves. Researchers found that the nervous systems of the mice treated with fish oil and resolvin showed an increase in nerve density and sensory signal transmissions. Researchers now want to do further research on animals to confirm that nerve damage can be reversed long after the onset of diabetic neuropathy, and then move on to human trials.
Neuropathy can erode the health of the nervous system, causing nerve pathways to cease to function correctly. This can lead the nerves to either be extremely sensitive or deadened to stimuli. Diabetic neuropathy is caused by high blood sugar levels, which can stress nerve cells. While there currently is no treatment to reverse the condition in humans, better blood sugar control can slow or stop the damage.
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