Eicosapentaenoic Acid in Myelinogenesis: Prospective in Multiple Sclerosis Treatment

There is evidence that increased intake of fish oil, rich in long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, mainly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), may beneficially affect the development and course of multiple sclerosis. However, controlled trials have not been able to draw definitive conclusions. The conflicting results could be due to the different mixture of EPA and DHA present in different sources of fish oils used in the clinical trials. In fact, among n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, EPA has the most potent effect on myelinogenesis and inflammatory process. The purpose of this chapter is to review the current knowledge on mechanisms underlying these beneficial effects and the evidence of neurological benefits of EPA, looking specifically at multiple sclerosis.