Omega-3 fatty acids have long been praised for their health benefits, but their role in treating heart failure has been unclear. While some studies suggest they improve heart function, others have produced mixed results. A recent meta-analysis found that high-dose omega-3 supplementation for a year or more markedly improved heart function and exercise capacity in people with heart failure. Researchers analyzed the findings of 14 randomized controlled trials, including more than 9,000 participants with heart failure. They examined the effects of different omega-3 doses and treatment durations... heart disease omega-3 inflammation mortality cardiovascular
Read moreLipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a type of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). High Lp(a) levels increase a person's risk for atherosclerosis, heart disease, and stroke. A recent study found that alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and linoleic acid (LA) both reduce Lp(a) concentrations in healthy men, but ALA is more effective at lowering cholesterol. The study involved 130 men enrolled in an ongoing cohort study in Finland. Researchers provided the participants with diets enriched in either ALA, an omega-3 fatty acid, or LA, an omega-6 fatty acid, for eight weeks. They found that serum Lp(a) concentrations dro... cholesterol omega-3 genetics cardiovascular lipoprotein a
Read moreInflammation plays a role in the decline of lung function and the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a lung condition that affects roughly 300 million people worldwide. However, omega-3s exert robust anti-inflammatory effects. A new study suggests that omega-3 fatty acids might slow the decline of lung function. Researchers conducted a two-part study. First, they reviewed data from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Pooled Cohorts Study (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29982273/), which measured plasma omega-3 concentrations in more than 15,000 participants. The ... omega-3 inflammation
Read moreA new study shows that premature infants who received supplemental DHA, a type of omega-3 fatty acid, at birth performed better on intelligence tests later in childhood than those who did not receive DHA. This was true regardless of whether the infants were fed breast milk, formula, or both. Researchers monitored the cognitive performance of more than 650 children born before 29 weeks' gestation. From birth until roughly the age of 36 weeks' gestation, about half of the children received DHA (60 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day) via tube feeding, while the other half did not. Whe... omega-3 development
Read moreAsthma is a respiratory condition characterized by narrowed airways and difficulty breathing. It commonly manifests in early childhood and affects more than 339 million people worldwide. (https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/chronic-respiratory-diseases-asthma) Findings from a new study suggest that dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids among children who carry a common variant in the fatty acid desaturase gene reduces the risk of developing asthma. Fatty acid desaturase is an enzyme that drives the biosynthesis of mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids in the body. Impairments in the expr... omega-3 asthma
Read moreCardiovascular disease – a broad category of conditions that includes coronary artery disease, stroke, and hypertension – is the leading cause of death worldwide, claiming the lives of roughly 18 million people each year. Findings from a recent meta-analysis suggest that omega-3 fatty acid intake reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for cardiovascular health. They participate in pathways involved in the biosynthesis of hormones that regulate blood clotting, contraction and relaxation of artery walls, and inflammation. Omega-3 fatty acids include alpha-... omega-3 cardiovascular
Read moreOmega-3 fatty acids are essential for human health. Evidence demonstrates that omega-3 fatty acids may also be beneficial against heart disease, stroke, cancer, and other conditions. A new study demonstrates that dietary consumption of omega-3 fatty acids in fish may help protect the brain from damage induced by particulate matter in air pollution. Particulate matter is a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets. It is present in fine inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrograms or less. Some evidence suggests that exposure to particulate air pollutants accelera... nutrition brain omega-3
Read moreOmega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats that are essential for human health. They participate in pathways involved in the biosynthesis of hormones that regulate blood clotting and the contraction and relaxation of artery walls. Byproducts of omega-3 fatty acid metabolism, called specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs), reduce the inflammation (https://www.jci.org/articles/view/97943) that drives many chronic diseases. Findings from a new clinical study suggest that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation increases blood levels of SPMs up to 24 hours after ingestion. Four families of SPMs h... omega-3 inflammation polyunsaturated fat
Read moreEach unit increase in omega-6:omega-3 ratio from umbilical cord plasma was linked to a 13% higher risk of ADHD symptoms at 7 years old. This study also found that a high prenatal n-6:n-3 ratio concentration in the cord plasma is associated with ADHD symptoms during childhood and this association may be driven by low DHA concentrations. DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid that makes up ~30% of the lipids found in the brain. This study was an observational study which means causation cannot be established even though the data was still significant after adjusting for many confounding factors including ... omega-3 pregnancy adhd
Read moreA double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial finds omega-3 supplementation for 6 months reduces disruptive and aggressive behavior in children compared to those given placebo. Other studies have found that omega-3 supplements can reduce aggressive and antisocial behavior in children but this is the first study to show a reduction in intimate partner violence (ie. behavior toward caregivers). A total of 1000 mg of omega-3 (300 mg of DHA, 200 mg of EPA, 400 mg of alpha-linolenic acid, and 100 mg of DPA) and 0.85 µg of vitamin D were given to the children in the treatment group. ... omega-3 behavior vitamin a
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