Omega-3 Goes Conventional | Back to Basics Weight Management
From eNewsletter 10/2/2019
DID YOU KNOW that the CDC publishes data on the flu vaccine's efficacy? Effectiveness for 2018-2019:
-Average for all ages - 29%
-6 months - 8 years - 49%
-9-17 years - 6%
-18-49 years - 25%
-50-64 years - 12%
-65 & over - 12%
OMEGA-3 GOES CONVENTIONAL
Steve and Bonnie: As if you needed more of a reason to eat fatty fish and/or take supplemental fish oil, the following studies should, at minimum, lead you to either test your omega-6 to omega-3 ratio, or screen for potential mutations of your FADS gene, which shows the ability to break down dietary oil into omega-3.
As you can see, conventional medicine is finally starting to accept fish and fish oil as an important therapeutical strategy.
A clinical practice guideline from the International Society for Nutritional Psychiatry Research recommends omega-3 fatty acids as adjunctive therapy for major depressive disorder. According to the authors publishing in Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, the value of omega-3 in depression is "overlooked," even though accumulating evidence supports it. The guideline recommends starting from at least 1 gram/day up to 2 grams/day for at least 8 weeks as adjunctive treatment. Importantly, the authors note that the quality of omega-3's may affect therapeutic activity.
According to a study in last month's World Psychiatry, omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil are the most effective dietary supplement for improving mental health in the world's largest review of research in people with mental disorders.
Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil reduces triglyceride levels by 20-30% among the majority of people who require treatment for high triglyceride levels, according to a science advisory from the American Heart Association's journal Circulation.
An American Journal of Clinical Nutrition study confirmed that high intakes of fish and fish oil are associated with an attenuation of the genetic association with long-term weight gain.
Results from a recent study in Stroke show that higher dietary intakes of fish oils, and higher adipose tissue levels of the omega-3 EPA in particular, are related to a reduction in ischemic stroke.
The Vitamin D and Omega-3 Trial is the largest and most recent to test whether vitamin D or fish oil can effectively prevent cancer or cardiovascular disease. According to results presented at last week's North American Menopause Society Annual Meeting, fish oil showed a small reduction in the primary cardiovascular endpoint of major CVD events, and were associated with significant reductions in heart attacks. Vitamin D supplementation was associated with a statistically significant reduction in total cancer mortality.
NOTE: Our Pure Genomics genetic wellness screening includes the FADS gene. We do not test for omega-6 to omega-3 ratio. Ask your physician if they can run this for you.
BACK TO BASICS WEIGHT MANAGEMENT
Steve: Sometimes we need to get back to the basics of weight management. While some of these may seem obvious, it is always a good idea to review the fundamentals...This article is reserved for NCI Well Connect Members. You can get this article by signing up here. You can get our free eNewsletter by signing up at the top of our website.