Posts Tagged ‘omega-3 fatty acids’
Saturday, February 20th, 2010
I hope this never happens to you, but if you or someone you have responsibility for ever sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI), even a mild one, omega-3 fatty acids are one important part of the solution. This study published in the Journal of Neurotrauma explains how brain injury reduces the activity of a factor important for maintaining brain health called Sir2α (silent information regulator 2 alpha). The authors describe multiple aspects of the protective effect of omega-3 fatty acids and conclude: “Our results suggest that TBI may compromise neuronal protective mechanisms by involving the action of Sir2α. In addition, results show the capacity of omega-3 fatty acids to counteract some of the effects of TBI by normalizing levels of molecular systems associated with energy homeostasis.”
Tags: head injury, omega-3 fatty acids, traumatic brain injury
Posted in Brain Health | No Comments »
Saturday, February 6th, 2010
This paper just published in the Archives of General Psychiatry reports on a randomized, placebo-controlled trial that set out to “determine whether {omega}-3 PUFAs reduce the rate of progression to first-episode psychotic disorder in adolescents and young adults aged 13 to 25 years with subthreshold psychosis.” (PUFAs = polyunsaturated fatty acids) The omega-3s (fish oil) reduced progression to psychosis and improved function. The authors conclude: “Long-chain {omega}-3 PUFAs reduce the risk of progression to psychotic disorder and may offer a safe and efficacious strategy for indicated prevention in young people with subthreshold psychotic states.” I have found that we can predict who will benefit most from fish oil supplementation for psychiatric and neurological conditions with a fatty acid analysis, a blood test that measures the amounts and ratios of fatty acids in cell membranes.
Tags: fish oil, omega-3 fatty acids, psychosis, schizophrenia
Posted in Brain Health | No Comments »
Monday, December 14th, 2009
This study published recently in the journal Advances in Therapy compared glucosamine sulfate with omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) to glucosamine sulfate given alone in the treatment of osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease). Both were effective, but the combination was more effective for higher levels of pain and stiffness.
Tags: degenerative joint disease, fish oil, glucosamine sulfate, omega-3 fatty acids, osteoarthritis
Posted in General Science & Health | No Comments »
Sunday, December 13th, 2009
This paper, just published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, documents an improvement in fasting and postprandial (after eating) triglycerides and a reduction in the inflammatory response when fish oil (omega-3 fatty acids) were consumed with the meal. There was also a corresponding reduction in body weight without a reduction in food intake.
Tags: inflammation, omega-3 fatty acids
Posted in Cardiovascular, General Science & Health | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 17th, 2009
The journal Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids published an important paper earlier this year that clarifies why there have been conflicting results in earlier studies on the use of omega-3 fatty acids in the treatment of ADHD. The authors demonstrated that EPA (eicosapentanoic acid) and DHA (docosahexanoic acid) were each associated with a different type of response in different areas of the brain. This is a good example of the importance of the functional medicine approach that investigates the details of underlying causes and customizes treatment for the individual. The authors state “These findings indicate that EPA and DHA may be involved in distinct aspects of affect processing in ADHD and have implications for understanding currently inconsistent findings in the literature on EFA supplementation in ADHD and depression.” Lapis Light patients already know about the importance of objectively measuring essential fatty acids with the proper blood test for neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders.
Tags: ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, essential fatty acids, omega-3 fatty acids
Posted in Brain Health, Children's Health | 1 Comment »