Tag Archives: omega-3

That familiar crunching sound when you bend over is just part of old age right? Wrong!

We expect the aches and pains to start kicking in as we get into our late 40′s and 50′s, so we often just accept them. Some people may resort to medical drugs or physiotherapy sessions. But what are the causes and are there simple solutions?

Life-long wear and tear on joints is bound to result in some degree of deterioration. We’re not much different from a machine, with moving parts that wear out. Joints are cushioned with a protective cartilage ‘pad’ that prevents bone ends from rubbing against each other, but there are some common factors that cause the cartilage to deteriorate:

• Improper use of joints (such as wrong lifting techniques or sports activities that are particularly hard on the joints).
• Being overweight, strains your joints.
• Immobility. Cartilage needs to be stimulated by motion in order to maintain its integrity.
• Age-related enzymatic deterioration.
• Poor diet. Foods lacking in omega 3 for good circulation, low levels of vitamin D for bone health plus a total absence of glucosamine for cartilage health.

Everyone develops signs of joint wear at some point, but with a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise and a healthy body weight, you can delay the process and look after your bones and joints.

E-mail us at info@multivits.co.uk or give us a call for advice on maintaining healthy joints. We’ll ‘bend over backwards’ to help you!

According to a new study by Harvard scientists, Omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil seem to keep the heart in good working order by preventing a type of irregular heart beat known as atrial fibrillation.

Irregular heart rhythm can be a threat to your health but according to a new study published in the science journal Circulation, people with high levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their blood have up to 30 per cent lower risk of atrial fibrillation compared with people who have low levels of these fatty acids. Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of irregular heart beat and is typically associated with palpitations, fainting, chest pain, or congestive heart failure. It can increase the risk of stroke by up to seven times that of the average population.

Fish or capsules?
Oily fish like salmon, herring, and mackerel are excellent omega-3 sources whilst Bio-Marine Plus is an alternative for those who do not like the taste of fish. Bio Marine Plus supplement provides purified (PureMax-certified) fish oil in the form of free fatty acids that are highly bio-available. Bio-Marine Plus also contains vitamins B12 and folic acid, which help to control levels of homocysteine, a natural compound that is linked to an increased risk of atherosclerosis. PureMax is considered to be the world’s leading technology for purifying fish oils. It guarantees levels of pollutants that are far lower than the official threshold values set by health authorities.

Ingestion of only five grams of fish oil daily combined with a diet low in fat is in just 4-6 weeks able to reduce the growth of prostate cancer cells compared with the ingestion of a traditional Western diet, says new study.

Researchers from the University of California (UCLA) wanted to investigate whether a change in dietary fat and the ratio of omega-6 and omega-3 in the diet alter biomarkers for cancer. Biomarkers are biological substances and constituents of our body that can say something about our health.

The study included a group of 55 men diagnosed with prostate cancer who were about to have removed their prostate gland and some surrounding tissue. It was a so-called phase II study which evaluates the biological effects of a substance and possible side effects. 48 men completed the study.

The ratio between omega 6 and omega 3
The men were divided into two groups for 4-6 weeks before their planned surgery. They were given either a standardized Western diet or a diet low in fat with a daily supplement of 5 g of fish oil. The reason that fish oil supplementation was combined with a low fat diet was that you in this way achieved an omega 6/3-ratio of 2:1, meaning two parts omega 6 for each part omega 3 For comparison, a typical Western diet have an omega 6/3-ratio of 15:1, (15 parts omega 6 for each part omega 3). There were 21 people who completed the trial in the Western diet group and 27 who completed the low fat / fish oil diet.

Quick results
In the group who ate a low-fat diet combined with fish oil the content of omega-3 fatty acids in cell membranes of the prostate was significantly higher than in the group who ate the Western diet. This was true both for the sick and the healthy prostate cells. Omega-6-content was also lower. The content of cholesterol in the blood were lower than in the group on Western diet, but particularly interesting it turned out that cancer cells had reduced their cell division – and mind you in just one month.

This study is especially important for those who have been previously treated for prostate cancer. With this knowledge they can reduce their risk of relapse.

Ref. Aronsom WJ, et al. Phase II Prospective Randomized Trial of a Low-Fat Diet with Fish Oil Supplementation in Men Undergoing Radical Prostatectomy. Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2011, Oct. [Epub ahead of print]

Facts about prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers among men. Most men with prostate cancer are over 65 years. Overweight and obesity provides an increased risk. The risk that the cancer returns after treatment is quite high. A high antioxidant intake may further reduce the risk for the development and return of this kind of cancer.

About omega 6:3
A dietary ingestion of omega 6 and 3-fatty acids approaching 2:1 is important to reduce disease-promoting inflammation in the body.

About Movember
During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces around the world. The aim of which is to raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men. Marketing coordinator Thomas Laursen-Arons, Pharma Nord Denmark whose image decorates this article is not suffering from any illness but has decided to grow a moustache this November to raise funds for men’s health, and especially when it comes to prostate cancer. You can read more on the website: movember.com

Children diagnosed with ADHD (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) may benefit from taking supplements of fish oil.

Fish oil is associated with a long list of health benefits, and according to researchers, it can also be a good idea to give a daily supplement of omega-3 fatty acids to children with ADHD. In an article in the October edition of the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, two researchers working for the Yale Child Study Centre conclude in a meta-analysis of 10 scientific studies with 699 children that fish oil supplementation demonstrates a small but statistically significant effect in improving ADHD symptoms.

Safe to use
The researchers pointed to the fact that the current drugs used to ameliorate ADHD symptoms were more effective than fish oil. However, fish oil is not associated with the side effects typically observed in prescription drugs. The researchers note that in mild to moderate cases of ADHD supplemental fish oil may be used to improve the effectiveness of conventional treatment, or fish oil supplementation may be a viable option for those who do not want to treat their children with chemicals.

Effects of omega-3
Omega-3 fatty acids work in several different ways. For use in ADHD it is the fatty acid eicosapentaenic acid (EPA) in particular who seems to be effective although the exact mechanism is not known. For example, this type of essential fatty acids are known to have anti-inflammatory properties that can protect brain cells. In addition, omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to have a positive effect on brain levels of two important neurotransmitters, serotonin and dopamine. The brain’s serotonin levels are believed to affect our mood, while dopamine is important for learning, motion control, mood, thought and memory.

Ref:  Bloch MH, et al. Omega3 Fatty Acid Supplementation for the treatment of children With Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptomatology: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 2011;50(10):991-1000.

Our comments

Choosing the right fish oil
Pharma Nord’s preparations, Bio-Fish Oil 1000mh and BIOmega-3 Kids,  are a good choice for long term consumption. First of all, the fish oil is purified with one of the world’s leading purification techniques (PureMax ™) that ensures the lowest possible levels of pollutants such as heavy metals and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), that occur naturally in fish. PureMax technology purifies the fish oil to the point where the remaining levels of such toxins are substantially lower than the threshold levels set by health authorities to be safe for human consumption.

Bio-Pycnogenol and ADHD
There have been reports of positive experiences with pycnogenol for children with ADHD and adults with ADD (lack of attention). It is said to improve the brain’s blood circulation and increase the production of the neurotransmitter NO2 which improves memory and learning ability. Although there is not much research into this topic, there may be yet other mechanisms of action.

Ref: Heimann SW. Pycnogenol for ADHD. Letter. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 1999:38(4):357-8.

A daily intake of omega-3 fatty acids at a minimum of 250 mg are necessary to reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death and other cardiovascular diseases, a new meta-analysis confirms.

In 2009, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded that a daily dose of 250 mg of omega-3 fatty acids must be a minimum if a company wish to claim that their fish oil contributes to a normal function of the heart.

It is this limit that scientists from Cantox, University of Toronto wanted to verify. According to their findings, which are published in the British Journal of Nutrition, 250 mg daily of the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA are associated with a 35 percent reduction in risk of sudden cardiac death.

The novelty of this meta-analysis is that the data used comes from volunteers who have not previously had cardiovascular disease. This strengthens the conclusion to recommend a diet rich in long chain omega-3 fatty acids.

It is important to understand that the 250 mg is a minimum value and does not represent the optimal daily amount of omega-3 fatty acids. In other words, it is possible to achieve a further reduction of this risk if you consume more than 250 mg omega-3 daily. Healthy subjects without previous heart disease are recommended 900-1000 mg omega-3 daily. This corresponds to approx. 3 capsules of Bio-Fish Oil.

Reference
Musa-Veloso K, et al. Impact of low v. moderate intakes of long-chain n-3 fatty acids on risk of coronary heart disease.  British Journal of Nutrition. E-Pub ahead of print.