The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point

Archive for the 'Omega-3 Fatty Acids' Category

Trade-offs: Comparing supplements vs. exercise

Saturday, January 4th, 2014

little-guy2Drs. Andrew Mendelsohn and James Larrick at the Panorama Research Institute and Regenerative Sciences Institute, in Sunnyvale, California, have complied an impressive list of reviews on the effects of exercise. Here’s the first in a series of summaries of their recent publications.

(more…)

Diets for multiple sclerosis

Thursday, December 20th, 2012

Diets and dietary supplements are often used by people with multiple sclerosis (MS).

This updated Cochrane review reports on studies of dietary habits as an effective treatment for MS patients. (more…)

CAM use in the Manitoba IBD Cohort Study

Monday, February 27th, 2012

Researchers in Winnipeg, Manitoba surveyed the prevalence of CAM use in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. (more…)

Omega-3 for cystic fibrosis

Sunday, February 19th, 2012

In this Cochrane review, researchers at the Sydney Children’s Hospital, in New South Wales, Australia, evaluated the evidence that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation reduces morbidity and mortality. (more…)

Does it matter if your tuna is packed in water or oil?

Sunday, February 19th, 2012

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, in Philadelphia, compared the fatty acid profiles of different commercially available US tuna products. (more…)

Influence of maternal DHA supplements on infant morbidity

Wednesday, February 15th, 2012

Researchers in the US and Mexico studied the effects of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on immune function and inflammation. (more…)

Use of dietary supplements to enhance sports performance

Monday, February 6th, 2012

Researchers at Texas Chiropractic College, in Pasadena, studied children in the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) in order to estimate their use of supplements. (more…)

Complementary treatments for osteoarthritis

Sunday, February 5th, 2012

Former Medical Director, of the Rosenthal Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine, at Columbia University Medical Center, in New York City, Dr. James Dillard, reviewed the evidence.

Here’s what we know. (more…)

Demographics and the risk for high mercury levels?

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

Using data from a study of pregnant women from an inland area in the US South, researchers at Duke University, in Durham, North Carolina, sought to understand the fish consumption habits and associated mercury levels. (more…)

Effect of fish oil on weight loss during chemotherapy

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

Involuntary weight loss is a major contributor to mortality and morbidity in patients with advanced cancer.

Researchers at the University of Alberta, in Edmonton, studied patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer first-line chemotherapy. (more…)

Benefits in type 2 diabetes of eating fatty fish

Thursday, January 26th, 2012

Dietary advice is the basis of treatment of diabetes, but there’s uncertainty about the effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Researchers at Uppsala University, in Sweden, compared the effects of diets rich in omega-3 or omega-6 fatty acids on glucose and lipoprotein metabolism in these patients. (more…)

Review: CAM for ADHD

Thursday, January 19th, 2012

Complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) are frequently given to children and adolescents for reputed benefits for hyperkinetic and concentration disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Researchers in Arizona and Australia assessed the evidence based on the results of studies providing an acceptable standard of evidence. (more…)

Balancing the heart benefits vs mercury risks in fish

Sunday, January 15th, 2012

The benefits of eating fish on heart attack risk is mostly due to the effects of omega-3 fatty acids. But, fish also contains methylmercury, which may increase the risk of heart attack.

Researchers at Umea University, in Sweden, determined how eating fish and red blood cell concentrations of mercury and selenium are related to the risk of a heart attack and whether omega-3 fatty acids are protective. (more…)

Omega-3 and the risk of dementia

Sunday, January 8th, 2012

Researchers at the National University Hospital, in Singapore, studied the association between taking long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplements and cognitive decline in an older Chinese. (more…)

Krill oil vs fish oil

Friday, January 6th, 2012

Researchers at Akershus University College, in Lillestrom, Norway, studied the effects of krill oil and fish oil on lipid blood levels and oxidative stress and inflammation in healthy people. (more…)

Cardiovascular effects of omega-3 in women

Thursday, December 29th, 2011

Researchers at Statens Serum Institut, in Copenhagen, Denmark, explored the association between intake of long chain omega-3 fatty acids and the risk of cardiovascular disease in a large group of young women. (more…)

Omega-3 and the incidence of arrhythmias and fatal heart attack

Friday, December 23rd, 2011

Researchers in Netherlands studied high-risk patients with a previous myocardial infarction and diabetes. (more…)

CAM treatment of obsessive compulsive disorder

Tuesday, December 13th, 2011

Standard therapies are of limited value for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

Researchers at Swinburne University of Technology, in Australia, reviewed the value of CAM, self-help techniques, and lifestyle interventions. (more…)

Omega-3 to treat mental illness

Monday, December 12th, 2011

Several health organizations have come together to review the evidence.

Here’s what we know. (more…)

Review: CAM for treating Alzheimer’s disease

Wednesday, November 30th, 2011

Dr. Keith Wollen at Washington State University, in Port Angeles, has written a review of treatment options.

Let’s focus on CAM. (more…)