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Research
supports the benefits of Omega-3s - Orlando
Florida Feb 7 2005
James Maroon
professor of Neurology at the University of Pittsburgh commented
that Fish Oil has not been recognised for its inflammatory properties.
Neurosurgeons at the University of Pittsburgh placed 120 patients
on fish oil supplements to test the affect it had on reducing
inflammation. Results of the study: 59 percent of the patients
reported decreased joint pain and 86 percent of them were able
to discontinue prescription drugs entirely. It's a substance that's
perfectly natural, healthy, and has other very positive effects
on the body," Maroon said. Also Omega-3 has no side effects, like
medication and it's allot cheaper. Omega-3 fatty acids are available
in supplement form or can be eaten In a diet high in cold water
fish, including Tuna, salmon, Hoki, and mackerel according to
the scientists.
There are
numerous studies including one at the University of Edinburgh
investigating the way fish oil helps the heart and reduces inflammation
etc
Nutraingredients.com
10/09/2004-Two recent studies have added weight to the health
credentials of fatty acids, suggesting that taking fish oil supplements
and eating fatty fish, such as toxin free salmon, tuna, mackerel,
Hoki and cod, can reduce the risk of developing abnormal heart
rhythms (arrhythmias).
Research
has already suggested on several occasions that eating fatty fish
and supplements with fish oil can reduce the risk of having a
heart-attack.
But according
to studies published in Circulation (2004; 110:368-73) and Prostaglandins,
luekotrienes, and Essential Fatty Acids ( 2004; 71:153-9), evidence
points to the possibility that these fats might also prevent dangerous
abnormalities in heart rhythm.
In the first
of the new studies, 65 people with arrhythmia were randomly assigned
to receive either three grams of fish oil ( providing one gram
of omega-3 fatty acids) per day or placebo for six months. Blood
tests were then performed and the heart rhythms were assessed
during the six-month trial and for six months after stopping the
supplements.
Compared to
the beginning of the study, people receiving fish oil significantly
fewer and less severe arrhythmias. People taking fish oil had
46.9 percent, 67.8 percent, 71.8 percent, and 100 percent fewer
occurrences of the four types of arrhythmia monitored in the study,
namely atrial premature complexes, ventricular premature complexes,
couplets and triplets.
Six months
after the patients stopped taking the fish oil, these improvements
were reversed and all measurements were similar to those from
the beginning of the study.
People receiving
placebo experienced no significant changes in arrhythmia frequency
during the study.
The second
study involved 4815 people over the age of 65 years, who were
monitored for a potentially serious type of arrhythmia known as
atrial fibrillation. They were followed for 12 years through annual
physical exams and electrocardiographs (ECG) to assess heart rhythms,
and through reviewing records from hospital records from all hospital
visits.
Frequent fish
eaters were found to have a lower risk of developing atrial fibrillation
than people who were not.
Compared to
those who ate fish less than once a month, patients who ate fish
once to three times a month were 24 per cent less likely to suffer
atrial fibrillation, patients who ate it one to four times per
week were 30 per cent less likely to suffer, and eating fish five
or more times a week reduced the risk by 35 percent.
The researchers
therefore concluded that in elderly people, eating fatty fish
reduced the risk of atrial fibrillation, and in people with existing
arrhythmias, supplementing with fish oil reduced the number and
severity of episodes of arrhythmia.
This research
is another boost for health giving properties of fatty acids,
which earlier this week were awarded a qualified health claim
by the US Food and Drug Administration. This means that conventional
foods in the US will now be able to display a qualified health
claim previously restricted to supplements- for omega-3 fatty
acids.
The FDA said
that foods containing eisosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic
acid (DHA) omega-3 fatty acids can carry a claim stating that
they reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
" Coronary
heart disease is a significant health problem that causes 500,000
deaths annually" said Dr. Lester Crawford, acting FDA Commissioner.
" This health claim should help consumers with their health by
identifying foods that contain these important compounds."
In 2000, the
FDA announced a similar qualified health claim for dietary supplements
containing omega-3 fatty acids .
The FDA recommends
that consumers not exceed more than a total of 3 grams per day
of fish with omega-3 fatty acids, and no more than 2 grams per
day from a dietary supplement.
Scientific
evidence is growing to substantiate the role of omega-3 PUFAs
not only for the protection of the heart but also prevention of
cancer and other diseases.
The ingredient
has moreover seen support from low-carb diets such as Atkins,
which promote the use of Omega-3 fatty acids as part of their
eating plans.
How Fish Oil Protects Your Heart from DR MERCOLA (www.mercola.com)
While there
are many (unnecessary) pharmacological treatments for the prevention
and management of coronary heart disease, both health professionals
as well as the public believe simple dietary interventions may
prove to be more beneficial.
Specifically,
omega-3 fatty acids from fish and fish oils can protect against
cardiovascular disease.
Omega-3
Protects Your Heart
Following
are just some of the benefits omega-3 has to offer:
Guidelines
from the American Heart Association have supported the use of
fish oil supplements for patients with documented coronary heart
disease. (Please note: Any and all recommendations regarding fish
and fish oil consumption should be balanced against safety issues.)
Reference British Medical Journal 2004:328:30-35 January 3,
2004
Dr. Mercola's
Comment: He says that although this article from the British
Medical Journal is one year old, it remains extremely relevant
today. The perspective of this article mirrors my own opinions
about the use of fish oil as a natural alternative -- along with
a healthy diet -- in protecting your heart instead of conventional
medicine's all too common "Band Aid" approach. (It is my belief
that modern health care focuses on toxic drugs that treat specific
symptoms and never on the root cause of the problem.)
New
research on benefits of Omega-3s
Omega-3s
good for women's health
Nutraingredients 03/11/2004 -
Women in particular gain from an increased intake of omega-3 fatty
acids, according to a new study. Writing in the October issue
of Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey 59(10):722-730, the researchers
found evidence that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids might
help to prevent preeclampsia, postpartum depression, menopausal
problems, postmenopausal osteoporosis and breast cancer, among
others.
"Furthermore,
because elevated triglyceride levels are associated with cardiovascular
disease, especially in women; and because omega-3 fatty acids
have powerful effects on triglycerides, women in particular gain
from an increased intake of these fatty acids. This is especially
important in women receiving hormone therapy, which can increase
triglyceride levels," note the researchers.
They also
add that the quality of the omega-3 preparation is important.
Omega-3s
to enter weight loss category?
25/01/2005 -
Emerging research looks set to position omega-3 fatty acids as
a new ingredient for weight loss foods and supplements, reports
Dominique Patton.
There is already
evidence to link consumption of seafood with reduced risk of weight
gain but there has been little knowledge so far about how this
effect is produced.
New studies
carried out by one of the top three omega-3 suppliers, Pronova
Biocare, have identified a potential mechanism for the weight
reduction effect of fish-derived omega-3 fatty acids in mice.
The company,
which will patent the findings on its concentrated DHA/EPA combination,
says that a human trial underway in the Czech Republic may confirm
the animal results in the coming months.
"No mechanisms
have been suggested for this effect to my knowledge. This is very
new," Morten Bryhn, director of research and development for Pronova
Biocare, told NutraIngredients.com.
Researchers
from the company and colleagues at Charles University and the
Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic in Prague report on
their results in the December issue of Lipids (vol 39, pp 1177-1185).
They showed
that a 60 per cent omega-3 concentrate, containing 50 per cent
docosahexaenoic acid and 10 per cent EPA (known as EPAX 1050 TG)
increased oxidation of fat by activating genes that break down
fat in the mitochondriae and peroxisomes.
The fish oil
concentrates not only caused weight reduction in the mice but
they also appeared to stop the animals from gaining weight when
given free access to food. Additionally,
the omega-3 concentrate reduced the number of fat cells, especially
in the abdominal region.
These effects
were increased in animals that were put on a 10 per cent calorie
reduction regime.
The regimen
was previously tested in a pilot study, presented at the North
American Association for Study of Obesity (NAASO) meeting in November
(abstract no 249-P). It involved 20 women with severe obesity
(body mass index of more than 40) who were already on a very low
calorie diet.
The group
given the omega-3 concentrate reduced their weight by 20 per cent
more than the placebo group after only three weeks of treatment
(7.55 kg compared to 6.07kg in the placebo group). BMI was reduced
by as much as 15 per cent, says Pronova.
The firm has
now initiated a larger study of 30 obese women to confirm these
findings. The trial, as well as the previous pilot trial, will
also give researchers the chance to check the mechanism identified
in mice by analyzing biopsies of fat tissue taken from the patients.
"Most products
in this area make a lot of promises for fast weight loss. But
this really targets the mechanism behind weight gain and offers
the possibility for weight loss," he added.
Being overweight
is not only a problem of too much food and too little exercise
but also a problem of bombarding genes with signals leading to
fat accumulation, explained Dr Bryn.
"A diet rich
in red meat and vegetable oils increases accumulation of fat in
fat tissue because of a chronic disarray of genes responsible
for handling fatty acids and carbohydrates."
He explained
that the number of fat cells increases, boosting the turnover
of carbohydrates into fat. The resulting overweight or obesity
is difficult to curb by calorie reduction and exercise only.
"Genes are
constantly programmed to a situation of starvation and they need
to be reprogrammed. Omega-3 fatty acids from seafood seem to do
exactly that," added Dr Bryhn.
The findings
support yet another benefit from omega-3 fatty acids, already
being added to foods designed to improve heart health.
The weight
loss category of foods and supplements is currently booming (worth
more than $3 billion per year in the US) based on rising numbers
of overweight people around the world. It is set to grow even
faster in coming years as increasing numbers of children are already
overweight.
Experts estimate
that almost 25 per cent of children in the EU are now obese, with
about 400,000 becoming either obese or overweight every year.
However Dr
Bryhn claims that Omega 3 products will not "produce a dramatic
effect, but should be taken with a good weight control diet".
Omega-3 fatty
acids could be at an advantage over some other weight loss ingredients
because of their long, safe history of therapeutic use from a
number of clinical trials
DHA supplements
remedy cholesterol levels in children
13/01/2005 - Taking supplements of docosahexaenoic acid
(DHA) appeared to restore normal blood vessel function in children
with inherited high cholesterol, report researchers.
The small
trial is one of the first to suggest that supplementing with the
omega-3 fatty acid may improve the health of children at risk
of early heart disease.
Childhood
cholesterol levels were not well-established until fairly recently
but experts now believe that high cholesterol in children may
be common. Recent UK research revealed that 20 per cent of a group
of 11-14 year olds were already experiencing deterioration in
their micro-vascular health.
This raises
a child's chances of having high cholesterol levels in adulthood,
the single biggest modifiable risk factor for coronary heart disease.
However it is not known whether cholesterol-lowering medications
are safe for use in children so treatment usually begins with
dietary changes and exercise.
Previous
research has demonstrated that both fish oil and DHA supplements
improve blood vessel function in adults so researchers funded
by the US National Institutes of Health recruited 20 children
aged between nine and 19-years-old with inherited high cholesterol
for a double-blind study.
The children
received nutritional counselling based on national guidelines
on cholesterol-lowering and healthy diet for six weeks. They were
then randomly assigned to receive either a 1.2g DHA supplement,
provided by Martek, or a placebo daily for six weeks, followed
by a washout phase of six weeks and crossover phase of six weeks.
They continued the advised diet.
After the
DHA supplementation, the children's blood vessel function was
restored to the levels of healthy children, say the authors in
the December 2004 issue of The International Journal of Clinical
Pharmacology and Therapeutics (vol 42, pp 672-679).
Endothelium-dependent
flow-mediated dilation (FMD), a marker of blood vessel function,
increased significantly after DHA supplementation compared to
baseline, diet alone or placebo, write the researchers from the
University of California, San Francisco.
"We found
no improvement in FMD with the diet alone consistent with our
recent investigation," note the authors.
They believe
that DHA may improve NO synthesis or release, previously observed
in a study of EPA on endothelial cells and in human volunteers
after fish oil supplements.
"DHA has
the potential to delay early coronary artheriosclerosis in hyperlipidemic
children," they conclude.
NatureSource
Standard Omega3 Fish Oil:
- 100
x 1000mg softgel caps only NZ$9.90 ( Ex gst NZ$8.80)
- 200
x 1000mg softgel caps Only NZ$19.90( Ex gst NZ$17.69)
