Entries tagged with: Fatty Acids
The Science
Very low n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid status in Austrian vegetarians and vegans.
Very low n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid status in Austrian vegetarians and vegans.
The Science
DHA status of vegetarians
DHA status of vegetarians
The Science
Long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in plasma in British meat-eating, vegetarian, and vegan men
Long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in plasma in British meat-eating, vegetarian, and vegan men
The Science
Reduced expression of fatty acid biosynthesis genes in the prefrontal cortex of patients with major depressive disorder.
Reduced expression of fatty acid biosynthesis genes in the prefrontal cortex of patients with major depressive disorder.
The omega-3 fat DHA is essential for healthy brain – it is a primary component of neurons and is also converted to molecules that protect the brain. For most people DHA comes from the diet, but you also make DHA in your liver. This study looks at the enzymes in the liver that make DHA. It shows that those with major depressive disorder have less expression of the genes that make DHA. The genes involved in making long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acid, both required for good health, are not as present ie “down-regulated” in the prefrontal cortex of MDD patients. The study was only 10 patients, but this was of human brains postmortem, which is quite interesting data. I’ve been seeing a lot of data on DHA and suicide and I wonder if this pathway provides the sort of Biosignatures that my colleague Maria Oquendo, MD is investigating? Read the abstract →
The Science
Cross-sectional study of conjugated linoleic acid in adipose tissue and risk of diabetes.
Cross-sectional study of conjugated linoleic acid in adipose tissue and risk of diabetes.
Fighting diabetes is key to keeping a healthy brain and this study suggests you can fight diabetes with...meat. This is another study that supports conjugated linoleic acid as a fat you should consider for your health. The researchers examined the amount of CLA in 1,744 subject's fat tissue. CLA is a fat made by ruminant animals such as cows, sheep, and goats and is found in highest concentrations in grassfed meat and dairy products. Researchers found that a greater intake of meat and dairy products containing CLA is linked with a reduction in the risk of diabetes. The researchers propose that the mechanism is CLA's involvement in regulating insulin and adipose tissue. Read the abstract →
The Science
Fatty acid composition in the mature milk of Bolivian forager-horticulturalists: controlled comparisons with a US sample
Fatty acid composition in the mature milk of Bolivian forager-horticulturalists: controlled comparisons with a US sample
Breastfeeding is known to provide many benefits to infants. Breast milk is a nutritional powerhouse with an array of omega-3 fats needed for brain building and development, immune boosting molecules, and everything for a healthy happy baby. However, because breast milk is composed by the nutrients that the mother’s eats, its quality is determined by maternal diet. This recent study compared one of the most important fatty acids for infant brain development, long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, and found that mothers living Amazonia Bolivia, who eat wild game and freshwater fish and almost no processed foods, provided their infants with milk that is significantly higher in those important omega-3 fatty acids such as DHA compared to mothers on a processed foods diet in the United States. This study has serious implications for infant formulas and the researchers suggest that formulas based on breast milk analysis from mothers eating a modern diet are possibly lower in omega-3s that ideal. Read the abstract →
The Science
Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation for the Treatment of Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptomatology: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation for the Treatment of Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptomatology: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
This meta-analysis took 10 studies of omega-3 fats in the treatment of ADHD and found that fish oil, especially a mix with a higher proportion of EPA Read the abstract →
The Science
The Diet Factor in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
The Diet Factor in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
This is the most recent review of all the data on diet and ADHD. This is a gold-mine of a paper that is very well written and presents the whole spectrum of evidence. If you are interested in the issue of diet and ADHD, this is a must read. Just like we are increasingly linking depression to dietary patterns, the data seems increasingly clear that for some, symptoms of ADHD can be ameliorated by dietary change. Read the abstract →
The Science
Effect of Randomized Supplementation with High Dose Olive, Flax or Fish Oil on Serum Phospholipid Fatty Acid Levels in Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
Effect of Randomized Supplementation with High Dose Olive, Flax or Fish Oil on Serum Phospholipid Fatty Acid Levels in Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
If you want to improve omega-3 status should you take flax seed oil or fish oil? The shortest of the omega-3 fats, alpha linolenic acid or ALA found in high concentrations in flax seed can be converted to the longer EPA and DHA, which are the omega-3 forms most studied in brain health. This study investigated adults and followed them for 3 months with groups taking either olive oil (no omega-3s), flax seed (ALA), or fish oil (EPA and DHA) and compared their blood. The researchers conclude that to increase the longer-chained EPA and DHA, it is not enough to take ALA from flax seed. But remember, the right fish – wild salmon, mackerel, sardines, and anchovies to name a few – is also a great choice and loaded with EPA and DHA. Read the abstract →
The Science
Eicosapentaenoic and Docosahexaenoic Acids, Cognition, and Behavior in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: a Randomized Controlled Trial
Eicosapentaenoic and Docosahexaenoic Acids, Cognition, and Behavior in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: a Randomized Controlled Trial
This study investigated the treatment of ADHD symptoms with omega-3 supplements. Thisis a very cool study because 1) they measure blood levels of omega-3s 2) it lasted for along time (4 months) 3) these were very symptomatic kids (90% on the Conner’s ADHD scale and were not medicated. Also the study used very robust amounts of omega-3s and the researchers also investigated whether DHA or EPA was superior. The doses in the groups were: EPA 1109 mg and DHA 108 mg; a DHA-rich fish oil providing EPA 264 mg and DHA 1032 mg; or a safflower oil (control) providing LA 1467 mg/d (omega-6). While the primary outcomes measure did not show significant differences, the blow levels of DHA was correlated with better reading and less oppositional behavior as rated by parents. Not a home run for omega-3s, but certainly something worth investigating if your child has a low intake of omega-3s and attentional/behavioral problems. Read the abstract →
The Science
Serum Phospholipid Docosahexaenoic Acid is Associated with Cognitive Functioning During Middle Adulthood
Serum Phospholipid Docosahexaenoic Acid is Associated with Cognitive Functioning During Middle Adulthood
Middle-aged people with high levels of the beneficial omega-3 fat DHA in their blood did significantly better on memory and reasoning tests in a 2010 study published by The Journal of Nutrition. The most common food sources you can use to boost your DHA is oily fish like salmon and mackerel. Read the abstract →
The Science
The Size and Burden of Mental Disorders and Other Disorders of the Brain in Europe 2010
The Size and Burden of Mental Disorders and Other Disorders of the Brain in Europe 2010
This study determined that 40% of the European population suffers from some kind of mental illness. Read the abstract →
The Science
Long-chain Omega-3 Fatty Acid Intake is Associated Positively with Corticolimbic Gray Matter Volume in Healthy Adults
Long-chain Omega-3 Fatty Acid Intake is Associated Positively with Corticolimbic Gray Matter Volume in Healthy Adults
These researchers looked at very specific regions of the brain and found more gray matter (which represents brain cells, and thus brain "strength" and health) in people who ate more fish. Read the abstract →
The Science
A Meta-analytic Review of Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trials of Antidepressant Efficacy of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
A Meta-analytic Review of Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trials of Antidepressant Efficacy of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
This study concludes that more comprehensive trials looking at the anti-depressant efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids were needed. Subsequent research continues to support the use of these fats to augment and enhance the treatment of patients with clinical depression. Read the abstract →
The Science
Dietary Fat Intake and the Risk of Depression: the SUN Project
Dietary Fat Intake and the Risk of Depression: the SUN Project
Less reported is the link between trans fat and depression. Published in Feb 2011, this study nicely connects these industrial fats and depression: those who ate the most trans fats were 42 percent more likely to get depressed. The results were also linear, which meant that even eating lower levels of trans fat increased a person’s risk. Read the abstract →
The Science
Dietary Linoleic and Oleic Fatty Acids in Relation to Severe Depressed Mood: 10 Years Follow-up of a National Cohort
Dietary Linoleic and Oleic Fatty Acids in Relation to Severe Depressed Mood: 10 Years Follow-up of a National Cohort
I want you to get to know oleic acid as it is a great fat for the brain and body and one that pretty much everyone agrees is good for your health. Read the abstract →
Farmacy
Oleic Acid
Oleic Acid
Oleic acid is used by the body to create oleoylethanolamide, which enhances memory, induces fat burning, promotes weight loss, and reduces appetite. More About Oleic Acid →