Researchers from the Universidade Federal do Paraná in Brazil report that Parkinson’s disease “patients taking fish oil, with or without antidepressants, presented improvement in depressive symptoms.” Continue reading Omega-3 to treat depression in Parkinson’s disease
Category Archives: Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Fish oil and colorectal cancer risk
Over 22 years, men who ate fish had a lower risk of colorectal cancer, according to the latest findings from the Physicians’ Health Study. Continue reading Fish oil and colorectal cancer risk
Is organic food healthier?
According to Claire Williamson, a nutrition scientist for the British Nutrition Foundation, “There appears to be a perception among many consumers that organic foods are more nutritious… However, to date there are limited data to support this view.”
But, there are some exceptions. Continue reading Is organic food healthier?
The latest on flaxseed oil in diabetes
MayoClinic.com says, “Studies of the effect of flaxseed on blood sugar levels report mixed results. Flaxseed cannot be recommended as a treatment for diabetes at this time.”
But that was in February. Now it’s May. And here are the latest findings. Continue reading The latest on flaxseed oil in diabetes
What do parents know about omega 3?
A lot of bandwidth and newsprint have been spent spreading the word about the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids.
Apparently, few parents are reading. Continue reading What do parents know about omega 3?
Another review of CAM options for bipolar disorder
St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) and S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAMe) top the list, according to this review from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in Pennsylvania. Continue reading Another review of CAM options for bipolar disorder
Eat eggs and lower your triglyceride levels?
According to this study, you can if they’re n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) enriched eggs. Continue reading Eat eggs and lower your triglyceride levels?
Is the omega-6/-3 ratio still important?
In her book, Queen of Fats, medical writer Susan Allport contends that for optimum health and disease prevention, the balance should be one to four times more omega-6 fatty acids than omega-3 fatty acids.
Here’s a different view. Continue reading Is the omega-6/-3 ratio still important?
Compiling the evidence for kava to treat anxiety
A review published in American Family Physician covers a broad range of herbal and dietary supplements for treating anxiety disorders.
I’ll focus on the best of the lot, kava (Piper methysticum). You can read the rest of the article here. Continue reading Compiling the evidence for kava to treat anxiety
Using omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in patients with recurrent self-harm
This study concludes that omega 3 fatty acid supplementation contributes to substantial reductions in surrogate markers of suicidal behavior and improvements in well-being. Continue reading Using omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in patients with recurrent self-harm
Fatty acids and behavior in adolescents with ADHD
This study shows that there are metabolic differences in the way that adolescents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) handle dietary fatty acids compared to young people without ADHD. Continue reading Fatty acids and behavior in adolescents with ADHD
Is there a reliable way to prevent or treat alcohol hangover?
Yes, but you might be disappointed.
Continue reading Is there a reliable way to prevent or treat alcohol hangover?
Preventing pressure ulcers
They occur when the skin breaks down after staying in one position for too long. Constant pressure against the skin reduces the blood supply and the tissue dies.
It’s a problem for people in a wheelchair or bedridden. Continue reading Preventing pressure ulcers
Benefits of omega-3 on heart rate after heart attack
Atrial fibrillation is an abnormal heart rhythm where the upper chambers of the heart quiver instead of beating normally.
Of course, this is not good for circulating the blood. Continue reading Benefits of omega-3 on heart rate after heart attack
The facts about fish oil and omega-3 fatty acids
The Canadian Medical Association Journal has published all you really need to know about omega-3 fatty acids and heart health.
And, it took just one page to do it. Continue reading The facts about fish oil and omega-3 fatty acids
More on teaching CAM in medical schools
Medscape printed an article last year that was critical of CAM and any role it might have in the education of medical students. I summarized it here.
Now, a reasoned reply has been published. Continue reading More on teaching CAM in medical schools
A ten-year perspective: The influence of nutrition on prostate cancer
Ten years ago, the late Dr. William Fair, a surgeon at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and CAM advocate wrote, “epidemiologic and laboratory evidence increasingly demonstrate that nutritional factors, especially reduced fat intake, soy proteins, vitamin E derivatives, and selenium, may have a protective effect against prostate cancer.”
Now, Steffen Theobald, a nutritional consultant and manager at the Scientific Association for the Improvement of Patient Competence in Germany updates the role of nutrition in the development, prevention, and treatment of prostate cancer.
Continue reading A ten-year perspective: The influence of nutrition on prostate cancer
Trying to make cookies and potato chips healthier
Researchers are studying the potential of snacks as vehicles to deliver more eicosapentaenoic acid, (EPA) plus docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in snacks. Continue reading Trying to make cookies and potato chips healthier
Negative results with statins; so let’s review CAM for Alzheimer’s disease
Researchers from Rush University Medical Center in Chicago have reported, “no relation between statin use and the risk of Alzheimer’s disease or a decline in thinking ability.”
In the absence of an allopathic silver bullet, it’s worthwhile to review what we know about complementary options to ease what author Eileen Shamy refers to as “the frightening and weary stages of Alzheimer’s disease.” Continue reading Negative results with statins; so let’s review CAM for Alzheimer’s disease
Linolenic acid lowers the risk of peripheral neuropathy in diabetics
Alpha-linolenic acid is an omega-3 fatty acid found in many vegetable oils, including flaxseed, walnuts, and canola oil.
Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Maryland reviewed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). They focused on adults with diabetes who were evaluated for peripheral neuropathy. Continue reading Linolenic acid lowers the risk of peripheral neuropathy in diabetics