The BBC debates the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids
The BBC’s report on omega-3 attempts to clarify the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids for confused consumers bombarded with “a flurry of products - eggs, fruit juices, breads, margarines and spreads and kids' drinks - topped up with omega-3 has been arriving on the supermarket scene with often extravagant accompanying claims.”
The report summarises the current position on omega-3 fatty acid consumption for health; it points out that most products fortified with omega-3 provide, in a typical serving, only a small amount of the daily intake required for health. The conclusion of the report is that “fish is undoubtedly good for us and should be included in the diet. Eating a varied diet of fresh, unprocessed food is always better than thinking that food with supplements will make up for basic deficiencies”, extolling consumers to buy more oily fish.
Click here to read the BBC debate.
BBC reports on a study supplementing patients with depression with cod liver oil
The report summarises the research involving 21,835 people, ages 40-49 and 70-74, which found that those who regularly took cod liver oil were less likely to suffer depression than those who did not. The report continues “in this latest claim, scientists said a spoonful of cod liver oil could reduce the risk of depression by as much as 30%. Depressive symptoms among cod liver oil users was 2.5%, compared to 3.8% in the rest of the population.” The study accounted for factors linked to depression such as age, gender, smoking, coffee and alcohol consumption and physical activity levels. A cautionary warning comes from Professor David Kendall, who is reported to have warned that socio-economic factors did not appear to have been taken into account in the study, he continues to note that given that fish oil seems to improve cardiovascular health the link may simply be that fish and fish oil consumers are healthier and thus happier, however “he did not rule out the idea that fish oil could directly impact upon depression”.
The report finishes by noting that the prescription of Prozac is significantly increasing and there is consequently a great deal of interest in developing alternative treatment methods.
To read the report click here.
Oily fish makes “babies brainier”
The BBC reports on a study of 9,000 mothers and their children; findings indicated that those mothers with the lowest intake of omega-3 had children with a verbal IQ 6 points less than the average. The children of those mothers with the highest consumption of omega-3 had, at age three-and-a-half, the best measures of fine-motor performance. The report quotes researcher Dr Joseph Hibbeln as claiming that "frightening data" showed 14% of 17-year-olds whose mothers ate little omega-3 rich foods during pregnancy exhibited difficulties with social interaction. The report also quotes Patrick Holford: “it is absolutely essential that pregnant women take in enough Omega-3 and that children in early infancy take in enough Omega-3."
To read the report click here.
The BBC debates the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids
The BBC’s report on omega-3 attempts to clarify the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids for confused consumers bombarded with “a flurry of products - eggs, fruit juices, breads, margarines and spreads and kids' drinks - topped up with omega-3 has been arriving on the supermarket scene with often extravagant accompanying claims.”
The report summarises the current position on omega-3 fatty acid consumption for health; it points out that most products fortified with omega-3 provide, in a typical serving, only a small amount of the daily intake required for health. The conclusion of the report is that “fish is undoubtedly good for us and should be included in the diet. Eating a varied diet of fresh, unprocessed food is always better than thinking that food with supplements will make up for basic deficiencies”, extolling consumers to buy more oily fish.
Click here to read the BBC debate.
BBC reports on a study supplementing patients with depression with cod liver oil
The report summarises the research involving 21,835 people, ages 40-49 and 70-74, which found that those who regularly took cod liver oil were less likely to suffer depression than those who did not. The report continues “in this latest claim, scientists said a spoonful of cod liver oil could reduce the risk of depression by as much as 30%. Depressive symptoms among cod liver oil users was 2.5%, compared to 3.8% in the rest of the population.” The study accounted for factors linked to depression such as age, gender, smoking, coffee and alcohol consumption and physical activity levels. A cautionary warning comes from Professor David Kendall, who is reported to have warned that socio-economic factors did not appear to have been taken into account in the study, he continues to note that given that fish oil seems to improve cardiovascular health the link may simply be that fish and fish oil consumers are healthier and thus happier, however “he did not rule out the idea that fish oil could directly impact upon depression”.
The report finishes by noting that the prescription of Prozac is significantly increasing and there is consequently a great deal of interest in developing alternative treatment methods.
To read the report click here.
Oily fish makes “babies brainier”
The BBC reports on a study of 9,000 mothers and their children; findings indicated that those mothers with the lowest intake of omega-3 had children with a verbal IQ 6 points less than the average. The children of those mothers with the highest consumption of omega-3 had, at age three-and-a-half, the best measures of fine-motor performance. The report quotes researcher Dr Joseph Hibbeln as claiming that "frightening data" showed 14% of 17-year-olds whose mothers ate little omega-3 rich foods during pregnancy exhibited difficulties with social interaction. The report also quotes Patrick Holford: “it is absolutely essential that pregnant women take in enough Omega-3 and that children in early infancy take in enough Omega-3."
To read the report click here.