Omega-3 Oils by Ray Sahelian, M.D. Health benefit of Omega-3 oils

Omega 3 fatty acids are fascinating nutrients. Almost every aspect of our health -- physical and mental -- is related to the types of fatty acids that make up our cells and tissues. And it appears that most of us are not ingesting the right kind of fatty acids -- the omega 3 fatty acids found in fish and fish oils. The most common omega fatty acids are omega 3, 6 and 9. This page will mainly discuss omega 3 fatty acids such as EPA and DHA.

FDA and Omega 3 Fatty Acids - Qualified Health Claim allowed by FDA
"The scientific evidence about whether omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) is suggestive, but not conclusive. Studies in the general population have looked at diets containing fish and it is not known whether diets or omega-3 fatty acids in fish may have a possible effect on a reduced risk of CHD. It is not known what effect omega-3 fatty acids may or may not have on risk of CHD in the general population."
"Consumption of omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. FDA evaluated the data and determined that, although there is scientific evidence supporting the claim, the evidence is not conclusive."

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Omega 3 benefit for Heart
In elderly people, omega-3 fatty acids contained in fish oil increase a measure of heart-healthiness called heart rate variability.  Taking a daily omega 3 fish oil supplement may therefore reduce the risk of developing irregular heart rhythm or succumbing to sudden cardiac death.

Omega 3 and Mood
Omega-3 fatty acids, like those found in fish, may give a boost to behavior, mood and personality. University of Pittsburgh researchers found that volunteers with lower blood levels of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids were more likely than others to be impulsive, to have a more negative outlook, and to report mild or moderate symptoms of depression. Study participants with higher blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids were found to be more agreeable, however. A number of previous studies have linked lower levels of omega-3 to clinically significant conditions such as major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, substance abuse and attention-deficit disorder.

Omega 3 and depression
There have been a few studies that indicate countries that have a high intake of omega 3 fatty acids such as fish oils, have a lower number of cases of depression.
   According to a University of Pittsburgh study, omega-3 fatty acids, which are plentiful in fatty fish like salmon, seem to affect areas of the brain associated with emotion. Dr. Sarah M. Conklin observed that people with lower blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids were more apt to have a negative outlook and to be more impulsive, while those with higher levels typically were more agreeable and less likely to exhibit a sour mood. In their latest study, Dr. Sarah Conklin and colleagues set out to see whether the volume of gray matter in the brain, especially in areas related to mood, was proportionally related to the amount of omega-3 fatty acid consumed. They asked 55 healthy adults about their average intake of omega-3 fatty acids and used MRI bran scans to determine gray matter volume. As the researchers theorized, the higher the intake of omega-3 the larger were the volumes of gray matter in areas of the brain associated with mood and regulation of emotion. While these findings hint that omega-3s may contribute to structural improvement in areas of the brain related to emotion -- the same areas where gray matter is reduced in people with mood disorders such as depression -- further studies are needed to determine whether eating fish actually causes changes in the brain, the researchers note.

Omega 3 and Alzheimer's Disease
It appears Omega-3 fatty acids, in the form of Fish Oils, are able to help patients who have mild Alzheimier's disease. Since current drugs used for Alzheimer's disease are not very helpful, and potentially dangerous, perhaps doctors should initially try omega-3 fatty acids in mild cases of AD rather than cholinesterase inhibitors.

Omega-3 fatty acid treatment in 174 patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease: OmegAD study: a randomized double-blind trial.
Arch Neurol. 2006 Oct;63(10):1402-8. Department of Neurobiology, Caring Sciences and Society, Section of Clinical Geriatrics, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm.
Epidemiologic and animal studies have suggested that dietary fish or fish oil rich in omega-3 fatty acids, for example, docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, may prevent Alzheimer disease (AD). Two hundred four patients with AD whose conditions were stable while receiving acetylcholine esterase inhibitor treatment and who had a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of 15 points or more were randomized to daily intake of 1.7 g of docosahexaenoic acid and 0.6 g of eicosapentaenoic acid (omega-3 fatty acid-treated group) or placebo for 6 months, after which all received omega-3 fatty acid supplementation for 6 months more. Administration of omega-3 fatty acid in patients with mild to moderate AD did not delay the rate of cognitive decline according to the MMSE or the cognitive portion of the Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale. However, positive effects were observed in a small group of patients with very mild AD.

Omega 3 in Food
Omega 3 fatty acids, such as alpha linolenic acid are found in polyunsaturated oils. The best oils for omega 3 fatty acids include flax seed oil and fish oils (also found in krill oil supplements). Walnuts have a small amount of omega 3 fatty acids. Another good source of omega 3 fatty acids is hemp oil.
   Basically, foods that have omega-3 fatty acids are cold water fish such as salmon, herring, halibut, and sardines, omega-3 fortified eggs, walnuts, flax seeds, hemp seeds, seaweeds and sea vegetables.

Omega 3 Research Update
 Healthy fats found in fish and vegetable oils may help ease the inflammation that marks chronic lung disease. In a small study of adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Japanese researchers at Kagoshima University Hospital found that supplements of omega-3 fatty acids appeared to improve patients' breathing difficulties -- possibly by countering the airway inflammation seen in the disease. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, or PUFAs, are found largely in oily fish, and to a lesser extent in flaxseed, walnuts, soybeans and canola oil. Research has suggested that these fats -- particularly fish oils -- may help lower the risk of heart disease and other ills, possibly due to their anti-inflammatory effects. COPD is a group of serious lung diseases that includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Half of the 64 patients drank a liquid supplement rich in omega-3 fats each day; the other half drank a supplement containing omega-6 fats, another type of polyunsaturated fat found in many foods, including vegetable oils and meat. After two years, patients in the omega-3 supplement group showed an overall improvement on tests that measured their breathing during a short bout of exercise. At the same time, levels of certain inflammatory proteins in their blood and mucus generally declined -- suggesting that the improvements in lung capacity arose from the anti-inflammatory effects of the fatty acids. SOURCE: Chest, December 2005.

Eating fish appears to knock a few years off your mental age -- in a good way. Elderly people who ate fish at least once a week had the mental functioning of a person three years younger than their chronological age, while those who ate fish twice weekly or more turned the clock back four years. Seafood is rich in omega-3 acids. One of these acids in particular, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), is essential for the development of the brain in early life. More recent research suggests DHA may be key for people at the other end of the age spectrum

Dietary supplementation with omega-3 and other fatty acids appears to reduce the educational and behavioral problems of children with a condition termed developmental coordination disorder (DCD). Moreover, symptoms typical of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder -- ADHD --, including difficulties in attention and concentration as well as hyperactivity and impulsivity, fell markedly.  In fact, the benefit of the omerga-3 supplements seemed to be similar to that usually achieved by stimulant medication.

The fatty acids found in fish may slightly lower a man's risk of prostate cancer, but another type of fatty acid found in a range of foods may raise the risk, a large study suggests. Researchers found that among nearly 48,000 U.S. men followed for 14 years, those with the highest intakes of two fatty acids found in oily fish were 26 percent less likely than men with the lowest intakes to develop advanced prostate cancer. The opposite was true, however, when it came to alpha-linolenic acid, or ALA. Like the two fish-oil fats, ALA is an omega-3 unsaturated fatty acid that is thought to promote heart health; it is found in vegetable sources such as soybeans, canola oil, walnuts and flaxseed, and to a lesser extent in meat and dairy products. In this study, men with the highest intake of ALA were about twice as likely as those with the lowest intakes to develop advanced prostate cancer. And the risk was increased regardless of whether the ALA came from vegetable or animal sources, according to findings published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Cognitive aging, childhood intelligence, and the use of food supplements: possible involvement of omega–3 fatty acids
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 80, No. 6, 1650-1657, December 2004
Food supplement use is widely promoted, but little is known about the cognitive effects of food supplements. Objective: We examined the effects of food supplement use on cognitive aging. Design: This was an observational study of subjects born in 1936 whose mental ability was tested in 1947 and who were followed up in 2000–2001, at which time cognition, diet, food supplement use, and risk factors for vascular disease were assessed. In a nested case-control study, fish-oil users were matched with nonusers, and cognitive function was related to erythrocyte omega3 fatty acid composition. Results: Childhood intelligence quotient (IQ) did not differ significantly by category of food supplement use (ie, none, fish oil, vitamins, and other). At the age of 64 y, cognitive function was higher in food supplement users than in nonusers before adjustment for childhood IQ. After adjustment for childhood IQ, digit symbol (mental speed) test scores were higher in food supplement users. Fish-oil supplement users consumed more vitamin C and vegetable and cereal fiber than did non-supplement-users. In a nested case-control study, erythrocyte membrane omega–3 content was higher in fish-oil supplement users than in nonusers, but cognitive function did not differ significantly between groups. Total erythrocyte n–3 fatty acids and the ratio of docosahexaenoic acid to arachidonic acid was associated with better cognitive function in late life before and after adjustment for childhood IQ. Conclusions: Food supplement use and erythrocyte n–3 content are associated with better cognitive aging. If associations with n–3 content are causal, optimization of omega n–3 and n–6 fatty acid intakes could improve retention of cognitive function in old age.

Effect of fish and fish oil-derived omega-3 fatty acids on lipid oxidation.
Redox Rep. 2004;9(4):193-7.
There is evidence that omega-3 (omega3) fatty acids derived from fish and fish oils reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease via mechanisms underlying atherosclerosis, thrombosis and inflammation. Despite these benefits, there has been concern that these fatty acids may increase lipid peroxidation. However, the in vivo data to date are inconclusive, due in part to limitations in the methodologies. In this regard, our findings using the measurement of F(2)-isoprostanes, a reliable measure of in vivo lipid peroxidation and oxidant stress, do not support adverse effects of omega3 fatty acids on lipid peroxidation.

 Ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids and childhood asthma.
Asthma. 2004;41(3):319-26.
Asthma is a leading cause of morbidity for children and is a major public health problem in Australia. Ecological and temporal data suggest that dietary factors may have a role in recent increases in the prevalence of asthma. AIM: The aim of conducting this study was to investigate whether childhood asthma was associated with the ratio of omega 6 (n-6) to omega 3 (n-3) fatty acids in the diet (n-6:n-3). METHOD: The Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort Study is a prospective birth cohort of 2602 children. Using a nested case-control cross-sectional study design within this cohort, a group of children were identified as cases with current asthma at 6 or at 8 years of age or as controls with no asthma at 6 or at 8 years. Dietary details including n-6 and n-3 fatty acid intake data were collected by parent response to a questionnaire when the children were 8 years old. Logistical regression was used to compare quartiles of n-6:n-3 intake in cases and controls. Adjustment was made for covariates: gender, gestational age, breastfeeding, older siblings, maternal smoking during pregnancy, maternal age, maternal asthma, child's current age in months, body mass index, total energy intake, and antioxidant intake (vitamins A, C, E, and zinc). RESULTS: A response rate of 83% was achieved by providing complete data from 335 children [49% cases with current asthma (n = 166), 51% controls (n = 169)]. Following adjustment for covariates the association between the ratio of n-6:n-3 fatty acids and risk for current asthma was statistically significant . CONCLUSION: We found evidence for a modulatory effect of the dietary n-6:n-3 fatty acid ratio on the presence of asthma in children. Our results provide evidence that promotion of a diet with increased n-3 fatty acids and reduced n-6 fatty acids to protect children against symptoms of asthma is warranted.

Omega-3 fatty acids in inflammation and autoimmune diseases.
Simopoulos AP. The Center for Genetics, Nutrition and Health, Washington, DC
J Am Coll Nutr. 2002 Dec;21(6):495-505.
Among the fatty acids, it is the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) which possess the most potent immunomodulatory activities, and among the omega-3 PUFA, those from fish oil-eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)--are more biologically potent than alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). Some of the effects of omega-3 PUFA are brought about by modulation of the amount and types of eicosanoids made, and other effects are elicited by eicosanoid-independent mechanisms, including actions upon intracellular signaling pathways, transcription factor activity and gene expression. Animal experiments and clinical intervention studies indicate that omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties and, therefore, might be useful in the management of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Coronary heart disease, major depression, aging and cancer are characterized by an increased level of interleukin 1 (IL-1), a proinflammatory cytokine. Similarly, arthritis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and lupus erythematosis are autoimmune diseases characterized by a high level of IL-1 and the proinflammatory leukotriene LTB(4) produced by omega-6 fatty acids. There have been a number of clinical trials assessing the benefits of dietary supplementation with fish oils in several inflammatory and autoimmune diseases in humans, including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis, lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis and migraine headaches. Many of the placebo-controlled trials of fish oil in chronic inflammatory diseases reveal significant benefit, including decreased disease activity and a lowered use of anti-inflammatory drugs.

Omega3 nutrition supplement questions
Q. What's the right dose of fish oil omega 3 fatty acids?
     A. Each person has a different requirement based on diet and nutrition and medical condition. If you eat plenty of fish, you would not need omega 3 supplement. But if you don't consume enough fish, then one, two, or three omega3 fatty acid capsules a day should be sufficient.

Q. I want to buy an omega 3 pure supplement but don't know how many mg of epa and dha should be in each capsule.
     A. It's hard to say what the ideal ratios are, but if you were to buy an omega3 supplement, a ratio that I like is 180 mg epa and 120 dha per capsule.

Q. Is omega3 a vitamin?
     A. A vitamin is a substance that the body cannot make and is necessary for metabolism. Omega3 fatty acids are not a vitamin since the body can make these fatty acids from other fatty acids.

Q. What's a good dosage of omega3 oil for a child?
     A. A child would need less than an adult, one capsule of omega3 fish oil should be fine.

Q. How do I know the omega 3 fish oil product i buy is pure?
     A. You may wish to buy from a reliable company. It's hard to know for sure an omega3 product is pure unless it is tested in a lab.

Q. Do omega3 fatty acids help depression?
     A. I think omega3 fatty acids do help depression, omega 3s are a good fat, but they are only part of the solution.

Q. Does omega 3 supplement come in a tablet?
     A. Perhaps you may be able to find an omega3 tablet, but in my experience, I only come across capsules.

Q. Do omega-3 fatty acids have the same attributes for kids (6 to 12 years old) as they are thought to have for adults? If so is dosage information available for youths?
   A. Long chained omega-3 fatty acids would also be beneficial in children if their diet does not include enough cold water fish. The dosage would be about a third or half of an adult's dosage.

Q. What do you think of an Omega 3 - 6 - 9 product?
   A. Most Americans consume too much omega 6, I don't see the need to add omega 6 as a supplement.

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Potential Benefit of Omega3 Oils
Cardiovascular
Promote healthy cholesterol levels
Reduce blood "stickyness" for better flow and pressure
Contribute to reduced triglyceride levels

Neurological
Helps with maintenance of positive mood
May improve concentration and memory, in children and adults
Offers relief for discomfort associated with women's monthly cycle

Bone and Joint
Helps maintain joint flexibility and mobility
Promote less stiffness, swelling and tenderness in joints

Other
Supports visual health and may protect against age-related eye complications
Promote healthy respiratory function

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Omega 3 Industry News
Cognis has acquired Napro Pharma AS, a Norwegian manufacturer of omega-3 fish oils for the nutrition industry. The Napro Pharma product portfolio further strengthens Cognis' Nutrition & Health Strategic Business Unit as a supplier of natural-source ingredients sold worldwide for the dietary supplement and functional food markets.
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Pure Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil is a good source of Omega-3 fatty acids with the same ratio found in free-swimming salmon.   Many studies show that Omega-3 fatty acids found in free-swimming salmon.  Many studies show that Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil have numerous health advantages and are especially helpful for the cardiovascular system.  Natural Factors supports the sustainable use of wild salmon through contributions to salmon using fish parts that would otherwise be wasted, therefore there is no depletion of existing stocks.  Natural Factors Wild Salmon Oil has no antibiotic or hormone residues often found in farmed salmon and is frequently tested for chemical residues and heavy metals.

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tocopherol is the name for vitamin E
tongkatali for better sexual sensation