In Australia, a group of 75 children, ages 7 to12, underwent cognitive assessments. Students with higher levels of omega 3EPA/DHA (marine sourced fatty acids) reported less anxiety and better word recall compared to children with high omega-6 levels (the type of fats found in fast food and processed foods) who had measurable attention deficits that correlated to lower reading and spelling levels.

The study from Australia is just one of several reports indicating that omega-3 with EPA and DHA found in fatty fish and fish oil are important for good cognitive functioning. The long and uniquely flexible omega 3 EPA /DHA chains are indispensable for the proper nutrient exchange across the cell membrane and help with the transmission of signals in the brain.

This study is the first to compare blood level of Omega-3 in children who have ADHD with and without learning difficulties, and supports emerging indications that the former may be more likely responders to omega-3 fatty acids such as DHA.

Source:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21828168
J Child Health Care. 2011 Aug 9. [Epub ahead of print]
Polyunsaturated fatty acids, cognition and literacy in children with ADHD with and without learning difficulties.

Milte CM, Sinn N, Buckley JD, Coates AM, Young RM, Howe PR.

Nutritional Physiology Research Centre, University of South Australia, Australia.

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Children’s DHA – 360 chewables

Children’s DHA Liquid, 8 oz

Nordic Naturals, the industry leader in omega-3 fish oil recently received a prestigious gold award this year for its Children’s DHA from alive Magazine. The alive Awards promote and recognize outstanding product innovation while enhancing the credibility of natural health products. Since 1994, these prestigious gold, silver, and bronze awards have been presented to manufacturers for the best consumer products in a variety of natural health categories.

The gold winner in “Children’s Products”, Children’s DHA is Canada’s leading fish oil product for children, and has been a favorite among children and their families for many years. Made entirely from Arctic cod liver oil, Children’s DHA is rich in the omega-3 DHA, essential for the proper function of the brain, eyes, nervous, and immune systems. Easily swallowed or chewed by children three and over, this product is available in strawberry-flavored liquid or chewable soft gels. Children’s DHA also contains healthy levels of 100% natural vitamins A and D.

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Carlson Labs Vitamin A-C-E with Selenium and Zinc

Ultimate DHA Eye contains almost 800 mg DHA with Lutein and Zeaxanthin

Doctor’s Choice Eye Formula with Key Nutrients

We bring you some nutrition tips for healthy eyes based on an article by Evelyn Theiss, The Plain Dealer.

Good nutrition for eye health goes beyond carrots and their beta carotene, doctors now say, and the addition of some key nutrients can help avoid two leading causes of vision loss and blindness — age-related macular degeneration and cataracts — and aid conditions such as dry eyes.

The key nutrients include lutein (it helps with night vision), zeaxanthin (it protects the eyes from ultraviolet damage and prevents free-radical damage to the retina and lens), omega-3 oils (the DHA in them prevents retinal damage), zinc (good for preventing macular degeneration) and vitamin A (helps our night vision, but excessive doses can be toxic.)

Lutein, especially, is crucial when it comes to eye health as we age — it is present in the macula of the retina and helps us discern fine details. We are born with a certain amount, but since the body doesn’t produce it, the amount of lutein in your eyes depletes with age — so the only way to get it is by ingesting it.

Ideally, at least nine servings total of fruits and vegetables a day are recommended for your eyes and your general health, particularly green leafy vegetables.Yet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said less than 15 percent of the population consumes even five servings of fruits and vegetables a day.

People who eat fish more than four times a week have a lower risk of macular degeneration than those who consume it less than three times a month. Omega-3 fatty acids are known to improve blood circulation to the eye.

Improving your nutrition is not necessarily easy. Take baby steps if you need to and consider taking supplements in case you decide to boost your totals using supplements.

The main nutrients shown to help you keep your eyes healthy as you age are those with the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin; essential fatty acids (omega-3s in particular); vitamins A, B, C and E; and zinc.

In the Age-Related Eye Disease Study, the National Eye Institute (of the National Institutes of Health) found that the combination of daily supplements to bring down the risk or progression of age-related macular degeneration is: 500 mg of vitamin C, 400 IU of vitamin E, 15 mg of beta carotene, 80 mg of zinc oxide and 2 mg of copper, also known as cupric acid. For the second ARED study now under way, the level of zinc has been cut back to 25 mg.

As always, it’s best to talk to your doctor for advice before starting a new regimen.

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Periodontal Disease

In a recent study published in the Journal Nutrition, Japanese researchers (Niigata, Japan) found that high DHA Omega-3 levels inversely correlated with progression of periodontal disease in older people.

Periodontal Disease – Gingivits

Periodontal diseases are those diseases that affect one or more of the periodontal tissues – which are tissues that both surround and support the teeth. While many different diseases affect the tooth-supporting structures and tissues, plaque-induced inflammatory lesions make up the vast majority of periodontal diseases. Bacteria in plaque around the teeth slowly damage and erode the gum tissues. The infected gums undergo inflammation and can eventually lead to tooth loss. A common periodontal disease is Gingivitis.

The study also revealed that omega-3 fatty acids were strongly effective against a wide range of oral bacteria while perhaps preventing inflammation.

The study involved participants for 5 years with groups getting low dose of DHA vs high dose of DHA and over this course of 5 years the progression of periodontal diseases were monitored. The group that consumed the lowest amount of DHA showed 1.5 times more disease progression than the group that consumed highest amount of DHA.

Possible Mechanism

“In periodontal diseases, bacteria trigger inflammatory host responses that cause destruction of the alveolar bone and periodontal connective tissue,” quoting the researchers.

“According to previous reports, DHA and EPA inhibit arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism to inflammatory eicosanoids. They also give rise to mediators that are less inflammatory than those produced from AA or that are anti-inflammatory” according to the researchers.

Source: Nutrition

Published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2009.09.010
“Longitudinal relationship between dietary ?-3 fatty acids and periodontal disease”

Authors: M. Iwasaki, A. Yoshihara, P. Moynihan, R. Watanabe, G.W. Taylor, H. Miyazaki

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Atherosclerosis and Heart Disease

New Study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association

The news about omega-3 benefits keeps coming! The evidence continues to grow stronger. Patients with coronary heart disease showed relatively longer “telomeres” when taking omega-3. As we age, our cells continue to divide and the “telomeres” shrink in size and thus is a marker of biological age. Shorter telomeres have been correlated with death and heart failure in several studies.

In a study published in this week’s JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), researchers measured telomere length in over 600 patients over 5 years. The study found that people with high levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their system had significantly less shrinkage in telomeres over five years, as compared with patients with lower omega-3 levels.

“What we’re demonstrating is a potentially new link between omega-3 fatty acids and the aging process,” said Ramin Farzaneh-Far, a clinical cardiologist and assistant medical professor at UCSF and San Francisco General Hospital who is the lead author of the research.

This comes just after other recent studies showing the benefits of omega-3 to heart patients. Just in August of 2009 a study was published in the August 11, 2009, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, which reviewed data on four trials involving almost 40,000 participants and overwhelmingly confirmed the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, in treatment after heart attack and, most recently, in heart failure patients.

The researchers conclude that the current recommendations on omega-3 fatty acids don’t change and the following guide from American Heart Association (AHA) on appropriate dosage levels is very much valid:

The AHA notes that patients taking more than 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids from capsules should only do so under a physician’s care.  High intakes could cause excessive bleeding in some people.

Sources: Journal of American Medical Association. American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology, and The Wall Street Journal

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Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Effervescent Drink Mix – 15% off. $29.71 – 21ct

According to Bradley West, ND, Nordic Naturals Research Advisor, “in traditional delivery systems like soft gels, the omega-3s in cod liver oil need to be gradually broken down by stomach acids in order to be absorbed in the small intestine. With the effervescent technology in place, the omega-3s can be absorbed and enter the blood stream faster – in as little as 15 minutes.” In addition to quicker absorption, the product is also easy on the stomach. The organic food acid combines with the carbonate, which buffers the effervescent solution to a normal pH. “Omega-3 Effervescent is the ultimate solution for individuals with digestive challenges, or those that find it hard to swallow soft gels, as well as the perfect way to ensure compliance when traveling,” adds Dr. West.

Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Effervescent contains cod liver oil made from Arctic cod harvested in a sustainable manner from Norwegian waters. Arctic cod is a flourishing fish population that has the highest DHA content of any cod species, as well as naturally occurring vitamins A and D. The formula contains added natural vitamin D3 for enhanced bone, mood and immune support. Sweetened with stevia in creamy orange flavor, the product has no oily feel or texture and never smells or tastes fishy. Omega-3 Effervescent is available in 7 and 21 count packages and can be used by both children and adults. More information is available at www.drinkyouromegas.com.

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Nordic Naturals Children’s DHA Liquid, Strawberry – 4 Fl. oz / 8 Fl. oz.

Carlson Kids Chewable DHA Orange Flavor, 120 chewables

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At the request of the European Commission, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) backed up DHA-related brain and eye health claims for infants.

EFSA’s Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) said DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) levels of 100mg of per day were appropriate for 7-24 month-old infants along with 200mg per day for pregnant and lactating women.

The following are the DHA Claims supported by EFSA’s panel:

“DHA intake can contribute to normal brain development of the foetus, infant and young children”
“DHA intake can contribute to normal development of the eye of the foetus, infant and young children”
“DHA intake can contribute to the visual development of the infant”
The NDA said any more specific brain and eye functions would need to be backed by further science.

“Please note that developmental steps are not directly related to cognitive functions as it may depend on brain domains and areas,” NDA head of unit, Dr Juliane Kleiner wrote in the advice. “Therefore to support a claim for DHA and cognitive function more studies using different parameters would be needed.”

Source: http://ec.europa.eu/food/efsa/comments/efsa_reply_Q-2009-548.pdf

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Salmon

A new study, published in the August 11, 2009, issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, reviewed data on four trials involving almost 40,000 participants and overwhelmingly confirmed the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, in treatment after heart attack and, most recently, in heart failure patients.  

“This isn’t just hype; we now have tremendous and compelling evidence from very large studies, some dating back 20 and 30 years, that demonstrate the protective benefits of omega-3 fish oil in multiple aspects of preventive cardiology,” said Carl Lavie, M.D., F.A.C.C., medical director of Cardiac Rehabilitation and Prevention, Ochsner Medical Center, New Orleans, LA, and lead author of the article. “The strongest evidence of a cardioprotective effect of omega-3s appears in patients with established cardiovascular disease and following a heart attack with up to a 30 percent reduction in CV-related death.”

DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), the long-chain fatty acids in the omega-3 family found abundant in fish have the most compelling evidence. According to Dr. Lavie, EPA and DHA work by getting into the membranes of cells and, in doing so, may help to improve the heart’s electrical activity, vascular tone, plaque stabilization and blood pressure.

Based on these findings, and because the body does not produce its own essential fatty acids, the authors recommend that healthy individuals consume 500 mg daily of omega-3 fish oil containing EPA and DHA, and people with known heart disease or heart failure aim for at least 800 to 1,000 mg daily.

“There are clear health and heart benefits associated with increasing one’s intake of foods that are rich in Omega-3s, including oily fish like salmon, sardines, trout, herring, and oysters” said Dr. Lavie.

Authors say further studies are needed to investigate and determine optimal dosages, as well as the ratio of DHA to EPA for maximal heart protection in patients.

Source: American College of Cardiology