Essential Fatty Acids - News, Research & Links Archive

General

25.Nov.03 - Alternative therapies win NHS backing

Guidance published by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence today has endorsed complimentary treatments such as fish oils, reflexology and t'ai chi for easing the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Another treatment endorsed by the NICE for the treatment of MS is magnetic field therapy, where the patient lies on a pad fixed behind the spine and linked by cable to a computer-controlled bedside unit. Neural therapy, involving local anaesthetics to clear up 'electrical interference', is another option that might work. So are massage and multi-modal therapy, but there is no endorsement for other non-orthodox treatments such as acupuncture, herbal remedies or yoga. Source: The Guardian

18.Sept.03 - 10 Benefits for putting Fish on the Menu

Oily fish is the new superfood. Researchers claim it can give you a facelift, slash your risk of heart disease - and even stop your child turning to crime. But could a 99p tin of salmon really be the answer to all your health problems? ask Soraya Madell and Louise O'Sullivan. Here are ten reasons to put fish on your menu. More...

16.May.03 Fish health risk fears 'unfounded'

New American research into 779 mothers and babies at the University of Rochester, published in the Lancet, has found no link between consumption during pregnancy of fish contaminated with mercury and impaired brain development in babies. Source: Daily Telegraph

28.Feb.03 - Excessive mercury levels in quarter of Hong Kong babies

A quarter of infants in a Hong Kong study have been found to have excessive mercury in their blood, which can cause mental retardation, and doctors have warned expectant mothers against eating too much fish. More...

27.Feb.03 - Mercury in the fish causes concern

Last week the Food Standards Agency advised pregnant women, and even women who intend to become pregnant, to cut swordfish, shark and marlin from their diet and to reduce their consumption of tuna to no more than two medium- sized tins or one tuna steak a week. This advice about tuna does not apply to older children or adults, but all infants and children under 16 are still advised to avoid eating shark, swordfish or marlin. More...

03.Dec.02 - Avoiding Hangovers

"Have you ever thought why is hangover often characterized by a craving for a big greasy fry-up the next day?" More...

21.Jun.02 - Survey reveals reduction in dioxin levels in fish oil supplements

The Food Standards Agency today published results of a survey of dioxin and dioxin-like PCBs in 33 samples of branded fish oil supplements bought from UK retailers.

22.May.02 - "Food for Thought" - Health Fats in our Diet

'Omega-3s are found in large quantities in oily fish, and in linseeds and walnuts. "Ideally, the balance in our diet should be 3:1 in favour of Omega-6s," says Vicki Edgson [co-founder of The Food Doctor], "but it's more like 6:1."

Probably the healthiest diets for EFAs are the Mediterranean and Japanese diets, which include lots of fish, nuts, seeds and olive oil. Both nations have much lower rates of heart disease and of some cancers .' More...

Cardiovascular & Circulation

Patients who have suffered heart attacks will soon be able to get fish oil supplements on prescription from their doctor. New research suggests that taking high doses of omega-three fatty acids on prescription from a doctor could save many heart attack victims from having a catastrophic follow-up heart attack. Omacor last week became the first fish oil supplement to get an official drug licence from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Having monitored 11,000 patients for over three years, researchers found that taking prescription omega-three fatty acids reduced heart attack deaths by 20 per cent and sudden deaths by heart attacks by 45 per cent. Source: Daily Mail

Research has revealed that a traditional Mediterranean diet featuring fruit, vegetables, fish and olive oil can cut premature deaths by up to 25 per cent. Scientists from the Harvard School of Public Health and the University of Athens Medical School conducted a study of 22,043 adults. Points were awarded according to how closely each individual adhered to the Mediterranean diet. The participants' health was monitored for four years, and the study found that for each two-point rise, risk of death dropped by 25 per cent. The main benefit of the Mediterranean diet appears to be that it reduces heart disease and cancer. Source: The Independent

Recent research has added to the weight of evidence suggesting that oily fish is good for the health. A report published in 'Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association', says that oily fish can help to maintain a regular heartbeat. Doctors in the U.S examined heart cells from rats which were clumped together and were beating like a whole heart. The beats became erratic when the cells were exposed to toxic agents, but stayed more regular when fish oils were added to the cells. The oil prevented dangerous irregularities that could lead to heart attacks, and the Fish Foundation is recommending that people eat two fish meals a week. One of these meals should be oily fish such as mackerel. Source: Daily Mail

03.May.03 - Supplementation with long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in infancy results in lower blood pressure later in childhood

Dietary supplementation with LCPUFAs during infancy is associated with lower blood pressure in later childhood. Blood pressure tends to track from childhood into adult life, so early exposure to dietary LCPUFAs may reduce cardiovascular risk in adulthood. More...

10.Jan.03 - Considerable Reduction in the 10 year Risk Of Myocardial Infarction.

New research supports supplementation with a mixture of EPA and DHA (Omega 3's) & GLA (Omega 6) favorably alterers blood lipid and fatty acid profiles in healthy women. There is a considerable reduction (43%) in the 10-y risk of myocardial infarction in women. More...(external link)

19.Nov.02 Fish oil for your Heart and Brain

The benefits of eating fish regularly have been underscored by recent research pointing to additional health effects of these "good" sources of fat, the AHA maintains. The AHA experts cite recent studies that have found that fish, especially fatty fish such as tuna, salmon and sardines, that contain omega-3 fatty acids have protective effects on the cardiovascular system. More...

26.Jul.02 - Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Prevent Heart Disease By Improving Arterial Elasticity

Eating fish benefits those who are at high risk for ischemic heart disease (IHD), and sudden cardiac deaths occur less frequently in those who habitually eat ocean fish, a major source of omega-3 fatty acids. More...

08.Apr.02 - Researchers have come up with another reason to take fish to heart.

An Italian study suggests fish-oil supplements may dramatically reduce the risk of sudden death in heart attack survivors. Source CNN

Brain Health

23.Feb.04 - Milk boost to make kids brainier

Researchers from Aberystwyth have found that giving children organic milk can improve their concentration as it contains up to 64% more in Omega 3 fatty acids. It could also improve behaviour problems and reduce the risk of Alzheimer's. The researchers believe that organic milk is richer when cows are fed clover. Milk from such cows can contain up to 240% more Omega 3 acids. Unfortunately, organic milk is more expensive than non-organic. Source: The Sun

22.Jul.03 - Alzheimer diet cure

The front page of the Daily Mail announces that eating fish once a week can cut the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease by more than half. A seven-year study of 815 nursing home residents - 131 of whom developed the disease - found that those who reported eating fish just once a week had a 60 per cent lower risk of Alzheimer's compared to those who rarely or never ate fish. Dr Martha Morris, who carried out the research at Rush-Presbyterian St Luke's Medical Centre in Chicago, says, 'This shows that even small amounts of fish oil are good for you.' Her team believes that the key ingredient in fish is docosahexanoic acid (DHA), the same fatty acid found in the membranes separating brain cells. Source: Daily Express.

More Information

• Related Item "Don't forget the Fish Oil More>>

22.May.03 - Fish beats baby blues

Researchers have discovered that expectant mothers who ate three portions per week of oily fish such as mackerel were able to cut by half their risk of suffering from depression. The mental health benefits of oily fish were observed during pregnancy and for up to eight months after birth. US psychiatrist Dr Joseph Hibbeln studied almost 12,000 pregnant Britons, and says that the omega-3 fatty acids found in oily fish fight depression by boosting serotonin levels in the brain. The risks of mercury contamination from fish such as shark, tuna and swordfish have been well-documented in the national press recently, and today's article in the Express does not mention any other oily fish apart from mackerel. Source: Daily Express

14.May.03 - The eggs that can boost your brain power

The aptly-named Sean Poulter reports on the latest innovation in functional food - the 'Intelligent Eating' egg. The hens laying these eggs are fed tuna oil rich in Omega 3 from DHA (Docosa Hexaenoic Acid), the fatty acid vital for the health and development of the brain. This substance also prevents heart disease by improving the elasticity of the arteries, and is said to assist the immune and central nervous systems. There are also unproven claims that Omega 3 from DHA can relieve depression, improve short-term memory and stave off dementia. The new range of eggs is claimed to be more beneficial than eggs containing Omega 3 from ALA (alpha-linolenic acid). Source: Daily Mail

03.Mar.03 - Taking Fatty Acids (EFAs) During Pregnancy and Lactation Increases Children's IQ

In Norway a group of investigators administered supplementary essential fatty acids to 341 expectant mothers. The children's mental scores at 4 years of age correlated significantly with maternal intake of EPA and DHA during pregnancy. More...

25.Oct.02 - Eating fish is 'good for the brain'

Most of today's papers report that fish and seafood can lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease, according to a study published in the British Medical Journal. The study followed the medical history of 1,674 people at and above the age of 68, for up to seven years, and found that a diet rich in fish seemed to have a protective effect on the brain. More...

22.Oct.02 - Fish fatty acid, EPA, may relieve stubborn depression

Supplementation with Eicosapentaeonic acid, or EPA, an Omega-3-fatty acid, found in fish and fish oil, may help alleviate the symptoms of depression in patients who do not respond to standard antidepressant medications, new research findings suggest. More...

14.Aug.02 - Stressed? Take your vitamins and fish oil

When a person is under stress, the physical responses of their body use up nutrients and leave the immune system weakened. More...

23.Apr.01 - Depression & Nourishing your Brain

'A spate of cross-national studies has also linked low fish consumption to high rates of major depression, bipolar disorder, postpartum depression and suicidal tendencies.'

It's no secret that the fats in fish and walnuts are good for your heart. New research suggests they may also ward off depression and mental maladies, as Newsweek reports. More>>

17.Apr.01 - Why fish could be the answer for depression

Research clearly shows that depressed individuals tend to be low in fish fats, and there is good reason to believe that consuming more oily fish may help to stabilise mood and combat depression. More...

Allergies & Asthma

19.Dec.02 - Fish oils and magnesium may prevent asthma

A study by public health experts at the University of Cambridge (UK) suggests regular consumption of fish like salmon, mackerel and herring can have a protective effect in asthma. It is the latest evidence that diet is important in determining who is most at risk of developing asthma, and adds to the list of benefits ascribed to fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids. More...

06.Dec.02 - Fish oil cuts risk of asthma

The Express, the Independent and the Sun all report that eating oily fish twice a week could reduce the risk of developing asthma, according to new research. More...

18.Dec.02 - Eating Fish Oil Cuts the risk of Asthma LONDON (Reuters Health) -

Eating oily fish like salmon or mackerel regularly may reduce the risk of asthma symptoms, according to new British research. A study by public health experts at the University of Cambridge suggests regular consumption of fish like salmon, mackerel and herring can have a protective effect. It is the latest evidence that diet is important in determining who is most at risk of developing asthma, and adds to the list of benefits ascribed to fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids. More ... (Reuter's Subscription Required)

Cancer

12.Sep.03 - Fish oil fights weight loss in cancer cases

Research published in journal Gut suggests that fish oil may prevent wasting and weight loss associated with advanced cancer. Patients given a dietary supplement enriched with Omega 3 fatty acids found in foods such as herring and salmon gained more muscle bulk in trials than the patients taking a high protein supplement without the fish oil. The researchers, from the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh, also found that the patients given fish oil reported a significantly improved quality of life compared with the control group. Source: Financial Times

27.Jun.03 - A traditional Mediterranean diet 'helps you live longer'

Research has revealed that a traditional Mediterranean diet featuring fruit, vegetables, fish and olive oil can cut premature deaths by up to 25 per cent. Scientists from the Harvard School of Public Health and the University of Athens Medical School conducted a study of 22,043 adults. Points were awarded according to how closely each individual adhered to the Mediterranean diet. The participants' health was monitored for four years, and the study found that for each two-point rise, risk of death dropped by 25 per cent. The main benefit of the Mediterranean diet appears to be that it reduces heart disease and cancer. Source: The Independent

Mar.03 - Evidence that fish oil fatty acids might prevent certain cancers

Intakes of fish and marine fatty acids and the risks of cancers of the breast and prostate and of other hormone-related cancers: a review of the epidemiologic evidence (Archive) More....

Diabetes

15.Dec.03 - Cod-liver oil for babies can ward off diabetes

Researchers from Norway have found that giving cod liver oil to babies reduces the risk of them getting diabetes later in life. Infants who were regularly given a spoonful of the oil during their first year of life were 25 per cent less likely to develop the disease. The scientists believe that the key ingredient could be the long-chain fatty acids in cod liver oil, which are already known to reduce inflammation in the body. Source: Daily Mail

Our Note: Don't use Cod Liver Oil for babies, it can contain high levels of vitamins A & D as well as contaminants such as Mercury, Dioxins and PCBs. For long-chain fatty acid supplementation use a pure pharmaceutical grade oil which has all the same beneftis but without the down sides. First Vitality specilise in Highest Quality Omega 3 Oils, please contact us for help in choosing the right oil for your particular needs.

Skin

19.Dec.03 - Eczema and starflower oil

A study published in the BMJ suggests that starflower oil may not be as useful for eczema as previously thought. The study indicated that patients using starflower oil, which comes from the herb borage, showed less improvement than those using a placebo. The trial may also affect the reputation of evening primrose oil, which contains the same chemicals. Source: Times 2