Results showed some benefits among those taking fish oil. Not surprising. I post this article for its newsworthiness, but also to clarify some statements made at the end of the article.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/sns-rt-us-fish-oiltre80g2ap-20120117,0,5713146.story

1. From the article:  ”And while fish oil is generally considered safe at recommended doses, it can have side effects; the more common side effects include bad breath, heartburn, nausea and loose stools.”           My comment: these side effects usually have more to do with digestion of any fat (e.g. potato chips, butter) and not fish oil per se.
2. From the article  ”At higher doses — more than 3 grams per day — fish oil might interfere with blood clotting and raise the risk of internal bleeding, according to the National Institutes of Health.”                            My comment: the ’3 grams per day’ refers to the total amount of EPA and DHA omega-3, not total amount of fish oil.  In this study, the subjects taking fish oil took less than 800 mg per day, far less than 3 grams (3000 mg).  For reference, 800 mg can be consumed by eating about 9 ounces of oily fish, such as salmon or tuna a week; that could be 3 – 3 ounce fish servings or 2 larger servings, or from supplements.
3. From the article  ”People using medications — as most older adults are — should also check with their doctor about possible interactions. Fish oil can, for example, boost the effects of blood pressure drugs, which could send your blood pressure too low.”                                                              My comment: Moderate amounts of fish oil have not been shown to send your blood pressure too low.  We do know that people who eat fish tend to, overall, have healthier blood pressure levels.  Fish oil supplementation has been shown to normalize blood pressure.  It is true, that interactions are possible; it is also plausible that one could lower their need for prescription medication when they are getting healthful amount of long-chain omega-3s in their diet.  For many, this could have multiple benefits (better nutritional status, less need for Rx and lower healthcare cost) and be worth looking into.

http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Research/Oily-fish-during-pregnancy-shows-immune-boosting-potential-for-infants

http://newhope360.com/recipes/6-superfoods-and-how-eat-them-every-day?cid=nl_360_daily

We can no longer ignore (or be surprised) that poor diet choices lead to the demise of our health.  Eating well is the most cost-effective health care.

Link to article here:

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/best-jobs/2011/jobs-helping-others/3.html

Note: this is a difficult topic and one too important to ignore

Suicide rates have doubled in the US military in the past decade. Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids impact mental health and brain function. DHA omega-3 is a structural component of brain cell membranes, and both EPA and DHA are directly involved with the metabolism of the brain and nervous system.

In this recent publication, blood levels of DHA omega-3 in enlisted Military personnel who committed suicide over a recent 7-year period were compared to enlisted personnel who are living, and similar in age, rank, etc.

Lower DHA levels were associated with a significantly higher risk of suicide. Higher levels of DHA were associated with lower risk, but the overall levels of DHA among everyone assessed were very low, lower than average levels of people living in North  America or Australia, for example.  They were low.

This publication is incredibly important because we learn 1) more about the relationship between these brain nutrients and suicide, and 2) that Military personnel need more of these essential nutrients.  The body can not make long chain omega-3s – they must come through diet or supplements.

Research Abstract: Lewis MD, Hibbeln JR, Johnson JE, et al. Suicide deaths of active-duty US military and omega-3 fatty-acid status: A case-control comparison. J Clin Psychiatry 2011;72:e1-e6.

Background: The recent escalation of US military suicide deaths to record numbers has been a sentinel for impaired force efficacy and has accelerated the search for reversible risk factors.

Objective: To determine whether deficiencies of neuroactive, highly unsaturated omega-3 essential fatty acids (n-3 HUFAs), in particular docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are associated with

increased risk of suicide death among a large random sample of active-duty US military.

Method: In this retrospective case-control study, serum fatty acids were quantified as a percentage of total fatty acids among US military suicide deaths (n = 800) and controls (n = 800)

matched for age, date of collection of sera, sex, rank, and year of incident. Participants were active duty US military personnel (2002–2008). For cases, age at death ranged from 17–59 years (mean = 27.3 years, SD = 7.3 years). Outcome measures included death by suicide, postdeployment health assessment questionnaire (Department of Defense Form 2796), and ICD-9 mental health diagnosis data.

Results: Risk of suicide death was 14% higher per SD of lower DHA percentage (OR = 1.14; 95% CI, 1.02–1.27; P < .03) in adjusted logistic regressions. Among men, risk of suicide death was 62% greater with low serum DHA status (adjusted OR = 1.62; 95% CI, 1.12–2.34; P < .01, comparing DHA below 1.75% [n = 1,389] to DHA of 1.75% and above [n = 141]). Risk of suicide death was 52% greater in those who reported having seen wounded, dead, or killed coalition personnel (OR = 1.52; 95% CI, 1.11–2.09; P < .01).

Conclusion: This US military population had a very low and narrow range of n-3 HUFA status.

Although these data suggest that low serum DHA may be a risk factor for suicide, well-designed intervention trials are needed to evaluate causality.

http://newhope360.com/blog/thank-guy-most-innovative-and-popular-ingredient-all-time?cid=nl_360_daily

Renewed scrutiny of the sustainability of krill harvesting off Antartica is likely following a new study linking falling penguin numbers to declining krill populations.

The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , found that penguin species, such as Chinstrap and Adelie, had fallen by up to 50 percent in western Antarctica over the past 25 years due to a fall in the availability of krill.

The decline in krill density was attributed not to over fishing but to warming waters, less sea-ice and increased predation from whales and seals.

The research was conducted by scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Most abundant

The shrimp-like Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) is one of the globe’s most abundant species found in densities of up to 30,000 creatures in a cubic-metre of seawater. Rich in phospholipids and omega-3s, they are harvested by companies such as Aker Biomarine and Neptune to make omega-3 products.

The British Antarctic Survey said the research underlined the need to monitor krill populations. The organization’s Simeon Hill told NutraIngredientsUSA: “This is a very welcome piece of research which illustrates that krill is a key part of a complex ecosystem. There are many causes of change in this ecosystem, including fluctuations in the climate and long term changes in the balance of species in the foodweb.

“These changes to penguin populations are a useful reminder of the need to continue to monitor and carefully regulate the krill fishery to ensure that it does not become an additional source of pressure on vulnerable populations.”

Last month, Hill told an omega-3 conference in Bruges, Belgium that the annual krill harvest ot 210,000 tonnes was 34 percent of the limit of 620,000 tonnes set to minimize environmental risk.

Environmental impact

Eric Anderson, Aker BioMarine Antarctic US, told NutraIngredientsUSA: “As the largest commercial harvester, we take very seriously the health of the ecosystem and krill biomass. Aker BioMarine adheres to the highest environmental standards in all aspects of operations and is focused on operating our fishery in a manner which emphasizes sustainable harvesting practices and minimizing environmental impact.

Our aim is to responsibly utilize the valuable marine resources we harvest to the fullest of their potential.”

Aker cooperates closely with the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Norway) to ensure krill is sustainably harvested, he added.

A co-founder of the Association of Responsible Krill Harvesting Companies (ARK), Aker earned Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification last year.

Wael Massrieh, Neptune Technologies’ vice president of scientific affairs, told NutraIngredientsUSA: “According to the numerous recent scientific papers and the testimony of world leader researchers on Antarctic krill populations, such as Dr Simeon Hill, on the one hand what is happening at the WAP (Western Antarctic Peninsular) is a local environmental situation which cannot be generalised to the entire marine ecosystem of the continent.

“On the other hand, the overall Antarctic krill population is sustainable and still very abundant, and strictly managed.”

Meanwhile, the sustainability of krill harvesting will be highlighted at the Vitafoods Europe trade show in Geneva, Switzerland next month during at a presentation by Nina Jensen conservation director for environmental group WWF-Norway.

Source: The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Title: Variability in krill biomass links harvesting and climate warming to penguin population changes in Antarctica

Authors: Wayne Trivelpiece et al

Source: http://www.nutraingredients.com

Is my diet making me depressed?

What can I do?^©

A free public lecture

Gretchen K. Vannice, MS, RD

Omega-3 RD™ Nutrition Consulting

Is there something fishy about our diet and the brain? Can depression and mood disorders be related to our diet? Research shows there is less depression in countries that consume more omega-3s. Good fats make a difference and getting them is easier than you may think.

Learn the evidence behind omega-3 fatty acids in depression and mood disorders. Omega-3 fatty acids: what they are, how to get enough of the right ones; learn dietary intake recommendations, based on your health status. This talk will review practical steps you can take and how to read labels.

There will be time for questions and discussion. No registration necessary.

Gretchen Vannice, registered dietitian, is a Health Educator and Nutrition Consultant specializing in omega-3s. She has coordinated clinical research trials in the US and Europe, is a public speaker, published author and international trainer. Ms. Vannice is Chair of the International Science committee for the Global Organization of EPA & DHA Omega-3, an Executive board member of the Omega-3 Learning Consortium and recently published an Editorial in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

Managing Risk with Marine Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Supplier Seminar Theatre Presentation

Tuesday, May 10th, 2011 at 2:35-3:05 p.m.

Presented by Gretchen Vannice, MS, RD

Metabolic Syndrome is a powerful and often “silent” predictor of cardiovascular disease. The prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome is increasing among adults and teens around the globe. In this session you will learn what Metabolic Syndrome is, and about a research-based approach toward managing risk with DHA/EPA marine omega-3 fatty acids.

Gretchen Vannice MS, RD, based in Portland, Oregon, USA is a research consultant, trainer, and author of a recently published article on Metabolic Syndrome in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. Chair of the International Scientific Committee for the Global Organization for EPA and DHA, Gretchen is a member of the Executive Board of the International N-3 Learning and Education Consortium for Health and Medicine. She is also the Managing Director of Omega-3 RD Nutrition Consulting.

Disclosure:  Supported by EPAX AS