What is Omega-3?
Fatty acids are the building blocks of dietary fats. The human body stores such dietary fats mainly in the form of triglycerides. Triglycerides containing Omega-3 fatty acids are mainly found in fish.
The triglycerides contain three fatty acids, saturated as well as unsaturated fatty acids. Fats with a high content of saturated fatty acids are solid at room temperature, butter and fat from red meat, for example. Fats with a high content of unsaturated fatty acids are soft or liquid at room temperature, for instance, soft margarine, plant oils and fish oil.
There is no “fixed” recommended daily dose of Omega-3 on which all the experts agree, but the generally accepted dose recommended on the basis of studies conducted over many years is:
> Used as a preventive dietary supplement: 600-800 mg Omega-3 fatty acids
> Used therapeutically for cardio-vascular disorders: 1000-2000 mg Omega-3 fatty acids
> Used therapeutically for joint disorders: 4000 – 5000 mg Omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3 and the heart
Significant intake of Omega-3 fatty acids by eating fish or taking a dietary supplement may help reduce the risk of a myocardial infarction (heart attack) or cerebral stroke. Omega-3 fatty acids have also been shown to help prevent or reduce the severity of a second heart attack.
2-4 grams per day can balance the risk factors
If you have had a heart attack or you have risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, elevated blood lipids (particularly triglycerides), or if you are a smoker, you will benefit from taking Omega-3 fatty acid supplements, but the dose should be doubled to 2 to 4 grams per day.
Omega-3 and the joints
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects about 1% of the population in the Western World. The inhabitants of Greenland, the Faroe Islands and the coastal population of Japan have easily access to fish and seafood is accepted as very healthy. In seafood and sea mammals we find the omega-3 fatty acids known to interfere with a series of inflammatory events in the human body protecting against RA and other autoimmune diseases.
Omega-3 and Alzheimer’s Dementia
DHA is present in relatively large amounts in brain tissue, significantly more than in other tissues and organs.
The brain of a newborn baby integrates DHA to ensure normal development and function. A fetus requires large amounts of DHA during the last three months of pregnancy. Since this is obtained through the placenta, the mother’s diet has to be rich in DHA through seafood or Omega-3 supplements.
Mental depression is very common, affecting 8-10% of the population at any time. Statistics show that the prevalence of major depression has increased and the age of onset has decreased in every decade during the 21st century in the Western World. Anti-depressive medication is on the top list of social expenditure for drugs in many countries.
Omega-3s and mental disorders
Mental depression is very common, affecting 8-10% of the population at any time. Statistics show that the prevalence of major depression has increased and the age of onset has decreased in every decade during the 21st century in the Western World. Anti-depressive medication is on the top list of social expenditure for drugs in many countries.
Omega-3 and migraine
Epidemiological studies during the 1960s in Greenland concluded that migraine was extremely uncommon among the Inuits. Their diet is characterized by containing very high amounts of fish in combination with meat and fat from sea mammals. The fat from these species are very high in the polyunsaturated fatty acids called omega-3 fatty acids. Having dilating effects on the vessels as well as other mode-of-actions important for the prevention of vascular diseases the idea was brought up to test the possible effect on migraine attacks.
Omega-3 and eyesight
Glaucoma is a disease of the eye caused by increased intra-occular pressure leading to irreversible defects in the retina. Untreated the retinal changes will inevitably lead to permanent blindness. Today routine control of the intra-occular pressure can reveal elevated pressure which then can be lowered by several well documented pharmaceuticals. Due to early intervention the prevalence of blindness caused by glaucoma has therefore decreased.
Still about 50 000 people are blind due to glaucoma in the US. High intra-occular pressure does not go with any symptoms and when visual disturbance occur treatment often comes in too late. It is therefore important to measure the intra-occular pressure in people aged 50 or more and pay attention to members of families with frequent occurring glaucoma.
Glaucoma is seldomly seen in Greenland inuites. Omega-3 fatty acids have pressure reducing effects on the eye.
RECENT STUDY REINFORCES THE BENEFITS OF OMEGA-3 FOR WEIGHT CONTROL
Data from the study clearly demonstrated that the omega-3 concentrate rich in DHA (EPAX 1050 TG) increased oxidation of fat by activating genes that breaks down fat in the mitochondriae and peroxisomes. These effects not only showed weight reduction but they also showed weight gain prevention in animals given free access to food. Additionally, the omega-3 concentrate not only intensified breakdown of fat but also reduced the number of fat cells, especially in the abdominal region. The effects were augmented in animals on a concomitant 10 % calorie reduction regimen.
RECENT STUDY REINFORCES THE BENEFITS OF OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS FOR WOMEN
Relief from menstrual pain
For the millions of women worldwide who dread their monthly period, menstrual problems can be taxing and sometimes even disabling. Up to 90% of women suffer from menstrual pain and associated migraine. In most cases there is no identifiable cause, although nutritional factors appear to play a role in managing menstrual symptoms. Research has shown that supplementing your diet with omega-3 essential fatty acids, which are found primarily in oily fish, could alleviate this pain and suffering. The problem is that modern diets are often short of foods that contain these fatty acids and diet comparisons clearly show that omega-3 intake has significantly dropped this century. Fish oils are thought to help because of their prostaglandin modifying effects.
Omega-3 and cardiovascular risk
Yearly, 17 million people in the world die from cardiovascular causes – particularly heart attack and stroke. Diabetes and dysglycemia are independently associated with cardiovascular events like myocardial infarction and stroke. An estimated 195 million people have diabetes worldwide, of which approximately 90 percent have type 2 diabetes. Additionally pre-diabetes may affect as much as 5 to 8 percent of the population. Pre-diabetes confers an increased risk of progressing to type 2 diabetes and associated complications affecting the cardiovascular system.
Scientists Find Fish Consumption During Pregnancy
Fish Oil Supplements May Provide Appropriate Alternative for Women Who Don’t Eat Enough Fish or Fear Contamination
Compounding this news are ongoing concerns about contamination. Nearly half of those surveyed (48%) said their top reason for avoiding fish was fear of contaminants like mercury or PCBs. In addition, the FDA has issued warnings specifically targeted to pregnant women and women of child-bearing age about mercury levels in fish like tuna or swordfish.
This is why many medical experts are now discussing omega-3 marine-based supplements as an alternative for specific population groups, like pregnant women, who may benefit from fish consumption, but are worried about contamination or simply choose not to eat fish.
Regular intake of omega-3 fatty acids may have a prophylactic effect on the two most common eye diseases leading to blindness: maculopathia and glaucoma. The principle of using omega-3 fatty acids early in lifte may be very important not only to prevent these diseases but also other degenerative diseases caused by sub-optimal lifestyle such as coronary artery disease and Alzheimer’s Dementia. Integrated in our cells the omega-3 fatty acids have multiple effects on different organs in the human body.
The three studies presented and other intervention studies demonstrate that regular use of omega-3 fatty can offer prevention of a series of degenerative diseases coming into full effect in the elderly population.
An increased intake of omega-3 fatty acids in the form of capsules has a well-documented effect on the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (7), and constitutes an important supplement to dietary adjustment. To have any effect, the capsules need to be taken in high doses for a long time. This type of self-treatment will enable the patient to take responsibility for his or her disease and help the doctor to find the lowest possible dosage of the best medication. It may also reduce side effects and the risk of death from the serious haemorrhagic complications caused by antirheumatic drugs.