Mental Health
Omega-3 May Slash Psychotic Disorder Risk
Supplements of omega-3-rich fish oil may reduce the likelihood of developing psychotic disorders in high-risk people, say results of a new clinical trial.
Twelve weeks of supplementation with fish oil rich in EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) reduced the risk of progression to full threshold psychosis by 22.6 per cent, compared to placebo, according to findings published in the Archives of General Psychiatry.
The link between omega-3 and cognitive function and behaviour is not new, with various studies reporting beneficial results for the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA.
Some of the more promising data has been reported for DHA, with memory function improvements found for healthy older adults with a decline in cognitive function that occurs naturally with age, and known to precede diseases such as Alzheimer's.
The new study is the first of its kind to show benefits of omega-3 fatty acids in a help-seeking group at ultra-high risk of psychosis, claim the researchers from the Medical University of Vienna.
"The present trial strongly suggests that omga-3 PUFAs may offer a viable prevention and treatment strategy with minimal associated risk in young people at ultra-high risk of psychosis, which should be further explored," they added.
Study Details
The researchers recruited 76 people at ultra-high risk of progression to psychosis. High-risk was defined as having mild psychotic symptoms, transient psychosis or a family history of psychotic disorders, in combination with a decrease in functioning. These criteria identify individuals whose risk of becoming psychotic may be as high as 40 percent in a 12-month period.
The researchers randomly assigned them to receive daily placebo (coconut oil) or supplements of fish oil containing 1.2 grams of omega-3 and providing 700 mg of EPA, 480 mg of DHA. After 12 weeks only 4.9 per cent of the omega-3 group had progressed to psychotic disorder, compared with 27.5 per cent of the placebo group.
Commenting on the potential mechanism the researchers noted that omega-3 fatty acids may produce changes in cell membranes and interactions with neurotransmitter systems in the brain. "The finding that omega-3-rich fish oil, a natural substance may prevent or at least delay the onset of psychotic disorder gives hope that there may be alternatives to antipsychotics for the prodromal (early symptomatic) phase," wrote the authors.
"Stigmatization and adverse effects, which include metabolic changes, sexual dysfunction and weight gain, associated with the use of antipsychotics are often not acceptable for young people. However, omega-3s, are free of clinically relevant adverse effects. They have the advantage of excellent tolerability, public acceptance, relatively low costs and benefits for general health," they concluded.
Source: Archives of General Psychiatry "Long-Chain omega-3 Fatty Acids for Indicated Prevention of Psychotic Disorders: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial"
Overweight Middle-Aged Adults at Greater Risk for Cognitive Decline
The adverse affects of being overweight are not limited to physical function but also extend to neurological function, according to research in the latest issue of The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological and Medical Sciences.
The publication presents a collection of ten articles highlighting new findings related to obesity in older persons. "One of the unanticipated consequences of improved medical management of cardiovascular disease is that many obese individuals reach old age," reported Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences from scientists from the National Institute on Aging. "We need a better understanding of the causes and consequences of obesity in older individuals -- especially when obesity is associated with sarcopenia."
A study conducted at Sweden's Jönköping University, found that individuals with higher midlife body mass index (BMI) scores had significantly lower general cognitive ability and significantly steeper decline than their thinner counterparts over time. These statistics were compiled from a study of Swedish twins that took place over the course of nearly 40 years, from 1963 to 2002; the results were the same for both men and women.
Other studies reported in the journal show that obesity appears particularly threatening in the presence of other health problems, such as poor muscle strength and depression.
Similarly, changes in weight also signify declines in overall health. A team of researchers from the University of Washington, Seattle, found that such fluctuations are significant indicators of future physical limitations and mortality in the elderly. The researchers used data from the Cardiovacscular Health Study, which included information from over 3,000 individuals aged 65 and older from 1992 to 1999. They discovered that a history of cyclically losing and gaining weight increased a person's chance of having difficulty with activities of daily living including the simple tasks of bathing, dressing, eating, etc., by 28 percent.
Source: The Gerontological Society of America.
The Healthy Resources Below Have Agreed to Connect With Kat's Herbs.
- Salmon Oil EPA
Supplies Omega 3 Fatty Acids
http://katsvitaminherbs.com/salmonoil.php
- Ultra Lean 15 with Citrimax®
Hydroxycitrate Extract of Garcinia Cambogia
http://katsvitaminherbs.com/citrimax.php
Omega-3, Vitamins, Minerals May Reduce Aggressive Behaviour
Supplements of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins and minerals may reduce the number of violent and aggressive episodes in prisoners, according to an important new study from The Netherlands.
A nutritional supplement regimen containing vitamins, minerals, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids were associated with a 34 per cent reduction in violent incidents, according to findings of a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial with over 200 young adult offenders published in Aggressive Behavior.
On the other hand, a 14 per cent increase in the number of reported incidents in participants in the placebo group were reported by the Dutch scientists, from the Dutch Ministry of Justice. "The prospect of influencing aggression and rule-breaking behavior with nutrients in moderate doses is important enough to warrant further research," wrote the researchers. "This is particularly true as adequate supplementation may also have beneficial effects on mental health and cognitive functioning."
Despite the reductions in violent incidents, which were documented by the prison staff, no significant differences were reported by the prisoners themselves when asked to rate their aggression or general health.
The study follows a study in England at Oxford University (Br J Psychiat, 2002, Vol. 181, pp 22-28) which found that supplementation of young violent offenders with fatty acids and micronutrients reduced violent offences by some 39 per cent or more.
The study was a double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, which used the outcome measure was that used by the UK Home Office and Prisons to assess behaviour for legal purposes such as parole. "The measures were pretty robust," commented the researchers.
Milestone research
The area of fatty acid supplementation and aggression was described as "an important development, and about to become more important",
Reseachers believed the new study confirms the basic finding: "A good diet reduces aggression," they said.
Additional answers may be forthcoming. Oxford University researchers are currently conducting a double blind, randomised, controlled trial at three locations and planned to include 1,000 subjects. The study is funded by the Wellcome Foundation and supported by the UK Department of Justice and the Prison Service. "This could be milestone research, the research that finally makes the world take seriously the connection between diet and mental ill health, in all its forms," according to mental health experts.
No challenge to the methods of the new Oxford study has come forward, noted the scientists. "If the results turn out similar to the Gesch and Dutch studies, then it could be a significant breakthrough," they said.
They also added that the link between diet and aggressive behaviour "makes sense on the basis of evidence of links between major depression, suicide and homicide reported at the National Institutes of Health in the USA and of course our study demonstrating the absolute dependence of the brain on the long chain essential fatty acids."
Source: Aggressive Behavior March/April 2010, Volume 36, Issue 2, Pages 117-126 "Effects of nutritional supplements on aggression, rule-breaking, and psychopathology among young adult prisoners"
Select a Book about Mental Health
Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Boost Brain Function In Boys According To an Important New Study...
Supplements including the omega-3 fatty acid DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) may alter the function of the brain associated with working memory, according to results of a new study with healthy young boys.
Using neuro-imaging, scientists from the University of Cincinnati showed for the first time that supplementation with Omega-3 (DHA)alters the functional activity in cortical attention networks in humans.
"The present findings add to an emerging body of evidence from preclinical and clinical imaging studies that suggest that dietary DHA intake is a robust modulator of functional cortical activity," wrote the researchers in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
The new study helps verify a previous study from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for 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 DHA claims relating to brain health stated: "DHA intake can contribute to normal brain development of the foetus, infant and young children" Another omega-3 fatty acid, known as ALA (alpha linolenic acid), was affirmed as important for the normal brain development of children up to the age of 18 but no specific dosage levels were identified.
Study Details
While there is a growing body of evidence linking DHA to cognitive function, the researchers note that it is unkown how DHA supplementation may affect functional cortical activity in humans. In order to fill this knowledge gap, they recruited 33 health boys aged between 8 and 10 and randomly assigned them to receive one of two doses of DHA or placebo for eight weeks.
Brain activation patterns were measured using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during a test of sustained attention while playing video games. The results showed that DHA levels in the membrane of red blood cells (erythrocytes ) increased by 47 and 70 per cent in the low and high dose DHA group, while the placebo groups experienced an 11 per cent drop in DHA levels.
The most significant finding from the fMRI data was an indication of significant increases in the activation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex part of the brain in the DHA groups - an area of the brain associated with working memory. Changes in other parts of the brain, including the occipital cortex (the visual processing centre) and the cerebellar cortex (plays a role in motor control) were observed.
"These findings suggest that this imaging paradigm could be useful for elucidating neurobiological mechanisms underlying deficits in cortical activity in psychiatric disorders associated with DHA deficiencies, including ADHD and major depression," concluded the researchers.
The study was co-funded by Martek, the National Institutes of Health, and the Inflammation Research Foundation.
Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Published online "Docosahexaenoic acid supplementation increases prefrontal cortex activation during sustained attention in healthy boys: a placebo-controlled, dose-ranging, functional magnetic resonance imaging study"
