In a study of 106 healthy volunteers, researchers found that participants who had lower blood levels of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids were more likely to report mild or moderate symptoms of depression, a more negative outlook and be more impulsive. Conversely, those with higher blood levels of omega-3s were found to be more agreeable.
Canadian Children Omega-3 Deficient, U of G Study Finds
March 18, 2009 - News Release
Children in North America may not be getting enough omega-3 fatty acids in their diet, University of Guelph researchers have found.Their study, published in the March issue of The Journal of Nutrition, is the first to directly measure the dietary intake of fatty acids by young children, said Bruce Holub, University professor emeritus in the Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, and co-author of the study with graduate students Sarah Madden and Colin Garrioch.
“This is the first rigorously obtained evidence demonstrating that the diets of Canadian children are deficient in these vitally important nutrients,” Holub said.
The research analyzed the diets of 41 children between the ages of four and eight years old over a three-day period. With help from parents who provided food samples identical to what they were feeding their children, the researchers analyzed the meals in the lab and collected data from a typical week day and weekend.
The study found only 22 per cent of the children received the suggested amount of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA. These nutrients, commonly found in fish, play a key role in child development, particularly in the growth of the brain and other nervous tissues. That’s why infant formula has been supplemented with DHA for several years.
In contrast, the study found 61 per cent of the children were receiving enough of another important fatty acid, ALA, which is more widely available in canola, soybean and flaxseed oils, walnuts and processed foods.
The findings may not be surprising given another recent study of U.S. children that found 16 per cent had consumed no fish or shellfish over the course of a year.
Holub said the research shows direct measurement, while time consuming and costly, provides the most accurate tool for measuring dietary intake of fatty acids. Previous studies used indirect methods that relied on memory recall and “guestimates” of food intake that were of limited value.
“Our work shows the need to create more awareness of the importance of these nutrients in human health and that there is a gap between actual and recommended intakes,” said Holub. “This gap can be filled by increasing consumption of fish and seafood containing DHA/EPA, as well omega-3-enriched foods and supplements.”
Contact:
Prof. Bruce Holub
519 824-4120, Ext. 53743
bholub@uoguelph.ca
http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/othernuts/omega3fa/index.html
Omega-6 and omega-3 PUFA are important structural components of cell membranes. When incorporated into phospholipids, they affect cell membrane properties such as fluidity, flexibility, permeability and the activity of membrane bound enzymes (12). DHA is selectively incorporated into retinal cell membranes and postsynaptic neuronal cell membranes, suggesting it plays important roles in vision and nervous system function.
Vision
DHA is found at very high concentrations in the cell membranes of the retina; the retina conserves and recycles DHA even when omega-3 fatty acid intake is low (13). Animal studies indicate that DHA is required for the normal development and function of the retina. Moreover, these studies suggest that there is a critical period during retinal development when inadequate DHA will result in permanent abnormalities in retinal function. Recent research indicates that DHA plays an important role in the regeneration of the visual pigment rhodopsin, which plays a critical role in the visual transduction system that converts light hitting the retina to visual images in the brain (14).
Nervous System
The phospholipids of the brain's gray matter contain high proportions of DHA and AA, suggesting they are important to central nervous system function (15). Brain DHA content may be particularly important, since animal studies have shown that depletion of DHA in the brain can result in learning deficits. It is not clear how DHA affects brain function, but changes in DHA content of neuronal cell membranes could alter the function of ion channels or membrane-associated receptors, as well as the availability of neurotransmitters (16).
Esterified omega-3 fatty acids may improve the attention scores for children, says a new study from France and Israel's Enzymotec that appears to highlight the importance of the omega-3 carrier.
Prof. Bruce Holub
519 824-4120, Ext. 53743
bholub@uoguelph.ca
http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/othernuts/omega3fa/index.html
Biological Activities
Membrane Structure and FunctionOmega-6 and omega-3 PUFA are important structural components of cell membranes. When incorporated into phospholipids, they affect cell membrane properties such as fluidity, flexibility, permeability and the activity of membrane bound enzymes (12). DHA is selectively incorporated into retinal cell membranes and postsynaptic neuronal cell membranes, suggesting it plays important roles in vision and nervous system function.
Vision
DHA is found at very high concentrations in the cell membranes of the retina; the retina conserves and recycles DHA even when omega-3 fatty acid intake is low (13). Animal studies indicate that DHA is required for the normal development and function of the retina. Moreover, these studies suggest that there is a critical period during retinal development when inadequate DHA will result in permanent abnormalities in retinal function. Recent research indicates that DHA plays an important role in the regeneration of the visual pigment rhodopsin, which plays a critical role in the visual transduction system that converts light hitting the retina to visual images in the brain (14).
Nervous System
The phospholipids of the brain's gray matter contain high proportions of DHA and AA, suggesting they are important to central nervous system function (15). Brain DHA content may be particularly important, since animal studies have shown that depletion of DHA in the brain can result in learning deficits. It is not clear how DHA affects brain function, but changes in DHA content of neuronal cell membranes could alter the function of ion channels or membrane-associated receptors, as well as the availability of neurotransmitters (16).
http://www.foodnavigator.com/Science-Nutrition/Omega-3-carrier-key-to-boosting-children-s-attention-study
Omega-3 carrier key to boosting children's attention: study
Related topics: Science & Nutrition, Health and nutritional ingredients
Esterified omega-3 fatty acids may improve the attention scores for children, says a new study from France and Israel's Enzymotec that appears to highlight the importance of the omega-3 carrier.
Supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids in the phospholipid form resulted in changes to children's fatty acid profile and an increase in Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA) scores amongst children with impaired attention performance participating in the randomised double-blind clinical trial.
"To the best of our knowledge, the randomised controlled trial presented herein is the first short-term intervention study with omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) to show a correlation between these biochemical and cognitive function outcomes," wrote the authors in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
The researchers, led by Jacques Bodennec from the University of Lyon 1 (UMR CNRS 5123), add that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids in the triacylglycerol form produced different fatty acid profiles and different results. In terms of TOVA scores, improvements were significantly less than observed in children supplemented with the phospholipid form.
A number of studies have reported similar results and this led to calls by some for omega-3 supplementation of school children. Indeed, the UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) last year reviewed the science in this field but ultimately decided against such measures, stating the evidence was insufficient. In many cases these studies were said to lack quality in research methodology and reporting, and failed to account for confounders.
But studies like the new randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, supported financially by Enzymotec, could lead to a rethink in this stance.
Study details
Bodennec and co-workers recruited 60 children aged eight to 13 and randomly assigned them to receive daily supplements of 250 mg per day of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) esterified to phospholipid omega-3 (300 mg/d phosphatidylserine, Enzymotec) or as triacylglycerol (fish oil, Ocean Nutrition), or placebo for three months. All of the children were diagnoses with
http://www.biospace.com/news_story.aspx?NewsEntityId=51357
Harvard University Researchers Show Specially Formulated High EPA Omega-3 Supplement Effective as a Stand-Alone Treatment for Children with Bipolar Disorder, ADD
4/4/2007
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A recently published study by researchers at Harvard’s Massachusetts General Hospital shows that a specially formulated high EPA Omega-3 fatty acid supplement should be the first-line treatment for children with ADD, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and other educational and behavioral problems. The OmegaBrite™ supplement of Omega-3 fatty acids was tested for effectiveness and safety on 20 boys and girls with bipolar disorder, 6 to 17 years old, over an eight-week period. Half of these participants experienced a rapid 30 percent reduction in symptoms with no side effects.
"To the best of our knowledge, the randomised controlled trial presented herein is the first short-term intervention study with omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) to show a correlation between these biochemical and cognitive function outcomes," wrote the authors in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
The researchers, led by Jacques Bodennec from the University of Lyon 1 (UMR CNRS 5123), add that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids in the triacylglycerol form produced different fatty acid profiles and different results. In terms of TOVA scores, improvements were significantly less than observed in children supplemented with the phospholipid form.
A number of studies have reported similar results and this led to calls by some for omega-3 supplementation of school children. Indeed, the UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) last year reviewed the science in this field but ultimately decided against such measures, stating the evidence was insufficient. In many cases these studies were said to lack quality in research methodology and reporting, and failed to account for confounders.
But studies like the new randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, supported financially by Enzymotec, could lead to a rethink in this stance.
Study details
Bodennec and co-workers recruited 60 children aged eight to 13 and randomly assigned them to receive daily supplements of 250 mg per day of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) esterified to phospholipid omega-3 (300 mg/d phosphatidylserine, Enzymotec) or as triacylglycerol (fish oil, Ocean Nutrition), or placebo for three months. All of the children were diagnoses with
http://www.biospace.com/news_story.aspx?NewsEntityId=51357
Harvard University Researchers Show Specially Formulated High EPA Omega-3 Supplement Effective as a Stand-Alone Treatment for Children with Bipolar Disorder, ADD
4/4/2007
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A recently published study by researchers at Harvard’s Massachusetts General Hospital shows that a specially formulated high EPA Omega-3 fatty acid supplement should be the first-line treatment for children with ADD, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and other educational and behavioral problems. The OmegaBrite™ supplement of Omega-3 fatty acids was tested for effectiveness and safety on 20 boys and girls with bipolar disorder, 6 to 17 years old, over an eight-week period. Half of these participants experienced a rapid 30 percent reduction in symptoms with no side effects.
