Omega 3 Research
What the Scientists Are Saying About Omega 3
Due to the numerous research studies linking Omega-3 fatty acids with certain health conditions, health professionals have finally begun to tell their patients how important Omega-3 can be to help avoid the onset or progression of certain diseases.
Doctors and nutritionists now feel comfortable recommending the addition of Omega-3 fatty acid supplements to the diets of both patients and healthy people. The research regarding the benefits of consuming Omega 3 continues to mount.
Examples of the research conducted by reputable institutions on Omega-3 fatty acids:
University of Maryland Medical Center Omega 3 Research
An online article published by the University of Maryland with supporting documentation from over 25 sources says that clinical studies show that Omega-3 fatty acids may be helpful in relieving symptoms of certain health conditions, particularly those diseases relating to the heart. While most of the evidence points to cardiovascular conditions, the studies also point to the possibility of Omega-3 being beneficial for ADD, depression, arthritis, asthma, obesity and others.
Omega 3 Benefits ADD and ADHD according to University of Maryland Study
It has been determined that kids with ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder) appear to have low levels of important essential fatty acids such as EPA and DHA. In one particular study involving 100 boys, an increase in learning and behavioral problems such as temper tantrums and sleep disturbances were noted in those boys with lower levels of omega-3 fatty acids when compared with the boys that had normal levels omega-3.
In studies involving animals it was revealed that lower levels of omega-3 fatty acids can lower the concentration of important brain chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine. These neurotransmitters are directly related to attention and motivation. Omega 3 supplements were used in a clinical study involving 117 children with ADHD. This study determined that there was a major improvement in behavior, as well as reading and spelling in the children during the 3 month study. In yet another clinical study involving school aged children, researchers discovered that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation was able to decrease physical aggression in those children with ADHD.
Mayo Clinic
Two years ago, the Mayo Clinic announced that a research team to be led by Dr. David Knopman (a neurologist) will join a leading nationwide research team on Alzheimer's disease. The purpose of the research was to conduct a large-scale clinical trial to assess "the effectiveness of omega-3 fatty acids in slowing the progression of Alzheimer's disease."
The report adds: "Researchers primarily will evaluate whether taking DHA over many months slows the progression of both cognitive and functional decline in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's. During the 18-month clinical trial, investigators will measure the progress of the disease using standard tests for functional and cognitive change." The study was conducted across the 52 sites and selected over 400 participants aged 50 and older.
British Nutrition Foundation
The study by the British Nutrition Foundation was cited by the British Trout Association. It was a two-year study that was conducted among Welsh men who had suffered their first attack and who were likely to suffer another attack. Two groups were created; one group was assigned to eat at least two servings of oil-rich fish.
BBC Video Showing Benefits of Omega 3
At the end of two years, both groups showed a similar number of heart attacks but there were 29% fewer deaths in the fish eating group. The conclusion was that eating more fish did not prevent a second heart attack from occurring but could prevent death resulting from a first heart attack.
The importance of daily chewable omega 3 for children cannot be overemphasized.
