Omega

Baked beans to have fish oils

2007-06-04T13:52:00.000+01:00

THE latest food enriched with Omega-3 extracted from fish oil is unveiled this week - baked beans.

Branston said enriching its canned beans would help parents get their children to eat more of the fatty acid.

Milk and eggs fortified with Omega-3 have already launched in the UK.

The Food Standards Agency says Omega-3 fatty acids - usually found in oily fish - can help protect against heart disease.

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Omega-3 fatty acids may not prevent cancer

2006-01-26T16:12:00.000Z

Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to do so much good in so many areas that there had to be something they weren't good at-

Omega-3 fatty acids probably do not help prevent any type of cancer, according to a review that evaluated every cited study looking into the question.

"Taking dietary supplements or regularly consuming fish doesn't appear to reduce the risk of developing cancer," says Catherine MacLean, of RAND Health in Santa Monica, California, US, who led the study.

Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated fat, one of four types of fat the body derives from food. Omega-3 comes in three forms - EPA, DHA and ALA - and they appear to do different things. EPA and DHA come from foods like salmon, fresh tuna and a few plants - or from supplements - and have been most associated with health benefits. ALA, on the other hand, which you can get from flax, walnuts, and enriched soy milks, has to be converted into one of the other two within the body to be beneficial.

Technorati tag: Omega-3, fatty acids

Fish oils are even better for you

2005-06-06T16:00:00.000+01:00

Scientists have combined Omega-3 fatty acids with a common anaesthetic and found the mix is very effective against cancer cells. Not quite another reason to eat more oily fish, but another sign of how natural ingredients can be more effective than synthesised ones.

The Indiana team studied the effect of two omega-3 fatty acids - docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).

Both have a minimal effect on cancer cells when applied alone.

But the researchers combined them with propofol, which was already known to inhibit cancer cell migration in a limited way.

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It is thought the fatty acids help to increase the absorption of propofol by the cancer cells.

Technorati tag: Omega-3, Fatty acids, Cancer

Fish oils 'block prostate cancer'

2006-03-22T16:14:00.000Z

A diet rich in a fat found in oily fish may protect men with prostate cancer from developing a more aggressive form of the disease, scientists have found.

Prostate cancer is much more likely to be life-threatening if tumour cells migrate and invade other tissues, such as the bone marrow.

Lab tests found omega-3 oil - present in fish like salmon - prevented this.

Technorati tag: Omega 3, Oily Fish

Omega

2005-05-06T15:58:00.000+01:00

You might suspect Rick Stein's brother is biased when he suggests that we all eat more fish. However John Stein's recommendation is based upon research in his department at Oxford University which has shown that a deficiency or imbalance in essential fatty acids can lead to concentration problems for youngsters and exacerbate criminal behaviour.

In a series of trials, they have found that dyslexia, dyspraxia, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can all be dramatically improved by simple nutritional supplements. Their work exploring the biological basis of personality and behaviour suggests we may need to rewrite the books on crime and punishment. Revealing as it does that mood, behaviour and achievement are affected by whether the brain has enough of the right kind of nutrients to function properly, it throws into doubt how far anyone, from the disruptive child to the convicted criminal, can actually control their behaviour.

Technorati tag: Omega 3, Essential Fatty Acids

Omega 3 feeds brains of toddlers

2005-07-18T16:02:00.000+01:00

A study into the diets of children under three has shown that Omega 3 supplements in their diets can have dramatic positive effects on their behaviour and learning abilities.

'The performance of almost 60 per cent of the children involved has improved dramatically,' said Dr Madeleine Portwood, educational psychologist for Durham local education authority and lead investigator at the Durham Sure Start trial. 'We saw children whose learning skills went from being six months below their chronological age to absolutely normal in just three months.

'Some two-year-olds went from having a vocabulary of 25 single words to being able to use whole sentences, while others were able to sit down and concentrate for the first time in their lives.'

Technorati tag: Food, Omega 3, Fish Oil

Eat fish for a brighter baby

2006-01-20T16:09:00.000Z

Pregnant women who eat more fish, which contains omega-3 fatty acids, tend to have brighter, more sociable children, claim researchers.

The amount of omega-3 helps to determine the child's intelligence, fine motor skills - the ability to manipulate small objects and hand and eye co-ordination - and the propensity to anti-social behaviour, says a study by Dr Joseph Hibbeln, of the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.

Technorati tag: Omega 3, Fatty acids

Mental Health and Diet

2006-01-16T16:06:00.000Z

Something we've known for a while here at Digest- diet can affect mental health. The changes in the nation's diet over the last fifty years have been linked to rises in depression and mental illnesses. The news item has a useful list of disorders and what diet issues could be causing tyhem-

Depression - Linked to low intakes of fish - high in omega-3 fatty acids which are essential for good brain health
Schizophrenia - Epidemiological evidence has shown sufferers have lower levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids, unclear though what changes need to address this
Alzheimer's disease - Some studies have suggested high vegetable consumption can protect against the brain disorder
ADHD - Research shown children with disorder are low in iron and fatty acids

Technorati tag: mental health, Technorati tag: Omega 3

Doubts cast on oily fish benefits

2006-03-24T16:15:00.000Z

There is no evidence of a clear benefit to health from fats which are commonly found in oily fish, researchers say.

Consumption of omega-3 fatty acids is thought to protect against heart disease and UK guidelines advise eating four portions of oily fish a week.

But the British Medical Journal review of 89 earlier studies looking at heart disease, cancer or strokes found no evidence the fats offered protection.

Technorati tag: Omega 3

Bad Science

2006-04-01T16:17:00.000+01:00

There have been a few studies recently, which have garnered a lot of publicity, which have "proved" that various natural health supplements aren't so effective. Well a few people have analysed the analysis-

Patrick Holford- DON'T BE FOOLED BY THE OMEGA 3 SCAM

The headlines in the newspapers read 'Experts cast doubts on Omega 3' BBC.. 'The benefits of fish and linseed oils as elixir of life are another health myth' the Times… 'The Benefits of Omega 3 Seem Fishy' CBS News.

This is due to a 'systematic review' of studies on omega 3 and it's effects on cardiovascular disease, cancer and mortality, published on Friday in the British Medical Journal. This is not a new study, but a study of studies. The authors conclude that 'omega 3 fats don't have a clear effect on total mortality, combined cardiovascular events or cancer.'

It's my job to read and analyse the whole paper and it soon becomes clear there is something very fishy going on. The main analysis is on 15 'randomised controlled studies'. Of these studies nine show benefit of omega 3, five show no big difference, and one is shown as negative. So nine for omega 3, one against. The author of the 'negative' study, Dr Bemelmans from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands questions how his study could be used to turn this review paper from positive to negative. For good reason. If you read the abstract of this paper (which you'll find on-line by typing in Bemelmans + margarin) the first thing you'll find is that this isn't a study on fish or fish oils, it's a study on margarine! The authors gave their subjects a margarine containing alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) – that's the omega 3 found in flax – or linoleic acid (omega 6) and found 'no significant difference existed in the 10 year estimated heart disease risk.'

Combs Spouts Off- They call this science?

In the past few months, several studies have been widely reported that supposedly discredited some widely-used nutritional supplement or alternative treatment. The fine folks at the Life Extension Foundation (LEF) have had enough of the shoddy studies, misleading press releases, and terrible reporting, and they're preparing a full-fledged response. A preliminary article is available on their website now:

Over the past several months, the media has questioned the efficacy of several popular dietary supplements. In the upcoming June 2006 issue of Life Extension magazine, we dissect these negative media reports down to the bone to reveal the hard scientific facts.

In doing so, we expose the absurdity of the headline-hungry media making proclamations such as “another natural remedy bit the dust” when describing the recent glucosamine study. We also reveal the inappropriateness of conventional doctors, with little knowledge about the proper use of nutrients, but with strong financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry, conducting studies that contain so many flaws that their findings are largely irrelevant.

As usual for LEF, this article is footnoted to a fare-thee-well -- 181 references, most to studies published in peer-reviewed medical and scientific journals. If you print the article, it runs about 6 pages, depending on margin settings, etc. The references add about 6 more pages. The article provides brief preliminary critiques -- scathing ones -- of studies claiming that:

* Eating a low-fat diet doesn't reduce women's risk of heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer, or colon cancer.

* Calcium and vitamin D don't protect women's bones.

* Glucosamine and chondroitin aren't effective for osteoarthritis of the knee.

* Saw palmetto is ineffective in treating prostate enlargement.

Each of those four claims is easily shown to be false. In fact, a couple of them are even contradicted by the studies, which were mischaracterized in press releases and media reports.

Technorati tag: Food, Omega 3

Fish oil 'boosts pupil performance'

2006-05-14T12:38:00.000+01:00

Pupils' GCSE results improved dramatically after they were given fish oil supplements as part of a nutrition study.

The 15 and 16-year-olds took capsules containing Omega-3 fish oil for 12 weeks in the critical run up to their exams last year.

A total of 34% passed five GCSEs at grade C or higher, compared with 27% in 2004.
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On average, they exceeded the results predicted for them by one grade.

Pupils taking fish oil also did significantly better than expected in reading tests set by researchers.

And yet the Government stioll drags its feet over improving the quality of school meals.

Technorati tag: Omega 3, School, Education

Healthy fats 'halve risk of Motor Neurone Disease'

2006-05-07T16:19:00.000+01:00

Eating a high amount of polyunsaturated fats and vitamin E may halve the risk of developing motor neurone disease, a study suggests.

Polyunsaturated fats include omega 3, in fish and leafy vegetables and omega 6, in cereals and whole-grain bread.

Dutch researchers found people who had the highest daily intake of the fats had a 60% lower risk of developing MND compared to those who ate the least.

Technorati tag: Omega 3, Omega 6, Motor Neurone Disease

Fish oil supplements for all schoolchildren

2006-06-12T21:56:00.000+01:00

Children may be given food supplements at school to improve their behaviour and studying performance.

A daily shot of Omega 3 fish oil would be supplied to pupils as young as five.

In depth:
Which fish oil brands are best for children?

Ministers are considering the move amid growing concern about the poor diets of many of the nation's youngsters.

It will bring back memories of the 1950s and 1940s when cod liver oil was given free to young children, pregnant women and nursing mothers.

Technorati tag: Omega 3, Fish Oil, Children

Fish oil study launched to improve GCSE grades

2006-09-06T10:38:00.000+01:00

More than 5,000 schoolchildren across one county are to be given a daily dose of fish oils in a pioneering attempt to improve their GCSE grades, education officials have announced.

In the largest ever programme of its kind, all Year 11 students at Durham County Council's 36 comprehensive schools will be offered omega-3 supplements at the start of the new term.

The initiative follows a series of successful trials which have shown that fish oil supplements can dramatically improve a child's learning ability, behaviour and concentration.

Technorati tag: Omega 3, Education, Concentration

Fish oil 'can help hyperactive kids'

2006-06-20T16:13:00.000+01:00

HYPERACTIVE children could benefit more from taking fish oil supplements than stimulant drugs, new research has revealed.

It comes a week after Education Secretary Alan Johnson said children in Britain might be given fish oil supplements to improve their concentration in class.

The latest findings came from a trial carried out at the University of South Australia in Adelaide, which studied 132 children aged seven to 12 suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Of those given a mix of Omega-3 fish oil and Omega-6 primrose oil, nearly 50 per cent saw a significant reduction in their symptoms.

Technorati tag: Omega 3, Children

Fish oil during pregnancy could boost baby's coordination

2006-12-21T23:10:00.000Z

Women who take high doses of fish oils during pregnancy could dramatically boost their children's coordination, say researchers.

A new study reveals the benefits of using so-called "clever capsules" to help develop the full potential of babies while still in the womb

It found a significant advance in hand-eye coordination among toddlers whose mothers took fish oil supplements during the second half of pregnancy compared with those who did not.

Technorati tag: Omega 3, Fish Oil, Pregnancy

Fish oil urged for heart patients

2007-05-23T12:20:00.000+01:00

Doctors are being advised to prescribe oily fish or omega-3 fatty acid supplements to heart attack patients.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) believes this is an effective way to cut the risk of further heart attacks.

It is the first time NICE has recommended lifestyle change - alongside drugs - in guidance on preventing repeat attacks.

Patient representatives said the measures could have a big impact.

Technorati tag: Omega 3