Health for life

Several recently published articles highlight the critical importance of Omega-3 fats from fatty fish consumption and fish oil supplements. Scientists publishing in the journalStroke demonstrate that the active DHA Omega-3 fat component helps brain cells to better withstand the stress load placed on the aging brain to lower the risk of a life-altering stroke by as much as a quarter.

Researchers from the Rhode Island Hospital`s Alzheimer`s Disease and Memory Disorders Center have found that DHA from supplements alter the critical brain chemistry and structure to prevent cognitive decline and abnormal brain aging. A wealth of scientific evidence is mounting to document the importance of Omega-3 fats to assist metabolic disorders that lead to dementia, stroke and chronic disease.

Inflammation of the vital nerves and critical structures of the brain is a precursor to stress that can play an important role in the development of a life-altering stroke. Researchers publish the result of their work designed to determine if Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil, specifically the long-chain DHAcomponent would be sufficient to reduce neural inflammation and lower risk from a stroke.

To conduct the study, mice were broken into three groups. The first group was supplemented with a DHA-enriched diet, the second group consumed a DHA-depleted diet and the final mice were fed a control diet. After a period of three months, scientists found that only the group with the DHA-enriched diet experienced lower levels of neuroinflammation and had 25% less tissue injury following an induced stroke. They also noted that long-term supplementation resulted in a healthy buildup of DHA fat in brain tissue resulting in an enhanced Omega-3 to Omega-6 fatty acid ratio.

Lead author on the study, Dr. Jasna Kriz concluded“This is the first convincing demonstration of the powerful anti-inflammatory effect of DHA Docosahexaenoic acid Essential Omega 3 fatty acid integral to the health of all cell membranes, nerve and brain function. The consumption of omega-3s creates an anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective environment in the brain that mitigates damage following a stroke.”

Additional evidence of the importance of Omega-3 fats from fish consumption or supplementation is provided by researchers from Rhode Island Hospital. A study was designed using 819 senior participants broken into three groups, those with normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer`s Disease. 117 individuals were taking fish oil supplements during the three year course of the study. Taking fish oil supplements was associated with less brain shrinkage and improved cognitive function during the study period.

The lead author, Dr. Lori Daiello concludes, “In the imaging analyses for the entire study population, we found a significant positive association between fish oil supplement use and average brain volumes in two critical areas utilized in memory and thinking.” DHA is perentially conserved for the construction of neural structures and should be an essential part of your regular menu (from fatty fish) or as a molecularly distilled and purified supplement (500 mg to 1 gram per day) to lower stroke risk and prevent cognitive decline.

According to the result of a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a diet supplemented with the Omega-3 fatty acid DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) can significantly lower the risk of sudden cardiac death, heart disease and visual degeneration leading to blindness.

Many scientific studies have proven the importance of Omega-3 fish oils in the prevention of cardiac disorders and specifically lowering the risk of sudden death from a heart attack. Research conducted by the Division of Cardiology and Department of Medicine at the University of Maryland found that the DHA fraction of fish oil dramatically alters the mitochondria in the heart muscle increasing healthy heart energy production. Researchers found that DHA activates the gene PPAR to help prevent the increasing incidence of heart failure and risk from a deadly heart attack.

Another key component in the progression of cardiovascular disease is systemic inflammation that leads to unstable plaque known to rupture and cause a heart attack. Further evidence of the importance of DHA in lowering heart diseases risk is published in the journal Nature Chemical Biology. Researchers found that DHA influences the action of immune system macrophages. Working at the genetic level, DHA is shown to control the release of cellular antioxidants that inhibit the damage caused by excessive and chronic inflammation to the coronary arteries.

DHA is an important tool in the prevention of stroke. Many of the mechanisms that increase incidence of a heart attack also contribute to stroke risk. DHA becomes incorporated into the cell wall structure where it stabilizes existing plaque, making it less likely to break off and cause a stroke. DHA has been shown to help blood flow easier, lower the risk for clotting and reduce blood pressure. High levels of DHA can prevent hardening and thickening of the arteries that result in vascular decay.

The journal Science Translational Medicine reports the result of research that demonstrates how DHA regulated genes that can prevent blindness. DHA is highly concentrated in the retina and can control the abnormal growth of blood vessels in the eye that cause visual degradation. By halting unnecessary growth, DHA regulates vessel formation so that healthy blood vessels form and undesirable ones do not.

Fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, herring and trout are ideal sources of Omega-3 fats including the DHA fraction. Due to the ever-increasing problem of mercury contamination in fish, supplementation is well advised. Nutrition experts recommend a molecularly distilled, dosage-controlled supplement that supplies 250 to 500 mg of DHA (not EPA and DHA combined, read labels caully) daily to dramatically lower the risks from heart disease, heart attack, stroke and blindness.

DHA is a critical Omega-3 fatty acid which our ancestors found primarily in fish which is now severely deficient in our diet, causing a dramatically increased risk from diabetes and dementia. Including this powerful nutrient through targeted supplementation can prevent these conditions and regulate the progressive decline we know as aging.

DHA is an Omega-3 fat which is perentially used by the body for the formation of cell membranes and is especially important to the formation and function of neurons in the brain. When our body is supplied with sufficient amounts of DHA, the fat is allowed to accumulate in the brain where it increases brain cell survival and down regulates the formation of toxic amyloid beta plaque. This action effectively lowers the risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer`s disease.

The results of a study published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry found that DHA can protect against brain aging by preventing the typical damage associated with memory decline. DHA is stored by the brain for use during periods of stress and toxic overload to protect brain neurons. This is critical to the formation of memories, higher learning and thought which decline with the onset of dementia. Sufficient blood levels of circulating DHA are necessary to provide reserves which can be used to repair neuronal damage before memory loss becomes evident.

Systemic inflammation is one of the key underlying causes of diabetes and DHA has been shown to regulate the metabolic disorder which results from excess body weight. Macrophages are components of our immune system which are essential for fighting invading pathogens, and accumulate in the white adipose tissue in response to weight gain. As more weight is gained macrophage activity increases and inflammation levels rise in the body with potentially devastating effects to our internal organs and vascular system.

DHA has been shown to attach to a receptor on macrophages which are present in our white fat cells and down regulate inflammatory activity to reduce levels of inflammation. Higher levels of inflammation are associated with insulin resistance which is a hallmark of the progression of diabetes. According to research published in the journal Cell, DHA is the evolutionary key to mediate inflammation while safely lowering risk from diseases ranging from diabetes and cancer to cardiovascular disease.

Extensive research has confirmed DHA as the most critical fatty acid to promote cognitive function and lower dangerous levels of inflammation throughout the body. Man has evolved on a diet which is fortified with this essential fat but our modern diet is grossly deficient leading to many common diseases. The best way to ensure sufficient levels circulating in your blood is to supplement daily with a highly concentrated form of DHA to reduce the risk of diabetes and cognitive decline.