Omega-3 Fatty Acids Found to Benefit Patients with Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's disease is a chronic neurodegenerative condition, caused by the formation of plaques from accumulated fragments of b-amyloid (Abeta), derived from amyloid precursor protein, which results in brain damage. Consumption of omega-3 fatty acids, found in oily fish such as sardines and salmon, has been linked to a decreased risk of developing the disease. A number of explanations for this protective effect have been proposed: the omega-3 DHA ensures that the protective fatty membrane surrounding neuronal cells is highly flexible, making the transmission of messages between neurons quick and effective, in addition the omega-3 EPA increases levels of nitric oxide, a mediator of neurotransmission, and reduces levels of pro-inflammatory substances.
A new study has tested the impact of omega-3 supplementation on patients with existing Alzheimer's and mild cognitive impairment. Twenty three patients with mild or moderate Alzheimer's disease and twenty three with mild cognitive impairment were randomly assigned to receive omega-3 PUFAs 1.8 g/day or placebo (olive oil) daily for 24 weeks. The treatment group showed better improvement on the Clinician's Interview-Based Impression of Change Scale (CIBIC-plus) than those in the placebo group; in addition those with mild cognitive impairment receiving omega-3 PUFAs showed significant improvement in the cognitive portion of the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-cog) compared to the placebo group. Higher proportions of EPA in red blood cell membranes (a marker of fatty acid status) were also associated with better cognitive outcome.
 
These are exciting preliminary results that build on previous work and when viewed together, indicate that fish oil supplementation in the early stages of cognitive impairment may effectively help slow the progression of dementia.  
 
C lick here to view the abstract.

From the Nutri Newsletter, No. 119

Probiotics found to help sufferers of IBS

Irritable bowel syndrome is a common gut-related complain, and one that conventional medicine does not have too many answers for. In practice, I find food sensitivity is a common factor in this condition. Another often-found issue is an imbalance in the 'ecosystem' that inhabits the gut. One approach here is to restock the gut with 'healthy' bacteria in the form of supplements known as 'probiotics'. On Monday, I discuss a study which found this approach to bring significant relief to sufferers of IBS. For more on this, click this link.

From Dr. Briffa's e-newsletter

Super-Food Broccoli 'May Help Protect Lungs'

Recent research suggests that a substance found in broccoli may limit the damage that can lead to serious lung disease.
 
Everyone is more than aware of the dangers of smoking, in particular how it is the leading cause of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) - an illness which kills about 30,000 people in the UK every year.
 
Now US scientists have found that sulforapane, a compound found in broccoli, increases the activity of the NRF2 gene in human lung cells, therefore protecting cells from damage causing toxins.
 
In the latest study, the research team found that:-

    *
      Smokers with advanced COPD had a significantly lower activity of the NRF2 gene.
    *
      The NRF2 gene is responsible for 'switching on' mechanisms within the body that remove the cell-damaging toxins and pollutants.
    *
      Disrupting the NRF2 gene caused an early onset of severe emphysema.
    *
      Increasing the activity of the NRF2 gene may lead to the development of treatments in the prevention of COPD.
    *
      Sulforapane (the compound found in broccoli) was able to restore the reduced levels of NRF2 in cells exposed to cigarette smoke.

A spokeswoman for the British Lung Foundation commented: "This is an important study for the 3 million people in the UK with COPD because of its findings about the imbalance of oxidants and antioxidants in the lungs".

Click here to read the full study.

Omega 3 May Mean Better Survival Rates for Heart Patients

A new study has shown that a daily supplement of omega-3 fatty acids may
reduce mortality and admission to hospital for cardiovascular reasons in
patients with heart failure.

Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation has been linked to a wide-range of
health benefits, including reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and
certain cancers, joint health, healthy pregnancy and improved behaviour
and mood.

So far, several studies have reported beneficial effects of omega-3
fatty acids on cardiovascular disease, but, until now, there have been
no large-scale trials investigating the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids
in patients with heart failure.

Italian researchers recruited 6975 patients with chronic heart failure
to take part in the Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio della Sopravvivenza
nell'Infarto miocardico (GISSI), and randomly assigned them to receive
either a daily omega 3 supplement or placebo for 3.9 years.

At the end of the randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial the
researchers commented, "Our study shows that the long-term
administration of 1g per day omega-3 PUFA was effective in reducing both
all-cause mortality and admissions to hospital for cardiovascular reasons".

Dr Gregg Fonarow from Ahmanson-UCLA Cardiomyopathy Centre, Los Angeles
said: "Although the improvements in clinical outcomes were modest, they
were additive to those of other therapies that are standard in care of
heart failure. The therapy was safe and very well tolerated".

Source:
The Lancet (published online ahead of print, 31 August 2008)
Effect of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in patients with chronic heart
failure (the GISSI-HF trial): a randomised, double-blind,
placebo-controlled trial" GISSI-HF investigator
The Lancet (published online ahead of print, 31 August 2008)
Statins and n-3 fatty acid supplementation in heart failure. G.C. Fonarow