Omega-3 fatty acids fight heart disease, depression, Alzheimer's, ADD, ADHD and bi-polar disorder

Omega oils are in the news this week.

An imbalance of Omega 3's and 6's has been linked to heart disease, depression and many other diseases, according to a study published in the March 30, 2007 issue of the journal Psychosomatic Medicine. Americans eat too many omega-6 foods and not enough omega-3 foods. Omega-6 fatty acids are found in refined vegetable oils and foods with these oils and omega 3 fatty acids, on the other hand, are found in foods such as oily fish, flax seed oil and walnuts. Source: Foodconsumer.org.

DHA, a type of omega-6 fatty acid, may stop the progression of Alzheimer's Disease. Researchers at the University of California, Irvine, said their finding suggests that a diet rich in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) — found in fish, eggs, organ meats, micro-algae, fortified foods and food supplements — may help prevent the development of Alzheimer's as people age. Source: Foodconsumer.org.

A new study by researchers at Harvard's Massachusetts General Hospital shows that a specially formulated high EPA Omega-3 fatty acid supplement should be the first-line treatment for children with ADD, ADHD, bipolar disorder and other educational and behavioral problems. The OmegaBrite™ supplement of Omega-3 fatty acids was tested for effectiveness and safety on 20 boys and girls with bipolar disorder, 6 to 17 years old, over an eight-week period. Half of these participants experienced a rapid 30 percent reduction in symptoms with no side effects.

"Results from this prospective, open study of monotherapy with Omega-3 fatty acids in the over-the-counter product OmegaBrite suggest that manic symptoms can be rapidly reduced in youths with BPD with a safe and well-tolerated nutritional supplement,” concluded the study authored by Dr. Janet Wozniak. The Massachusetts General study, funded by a Stanley Foundation grant, was reported in European Neuropsychopharmacology in February 2007. Source: Foodconsumer.org.

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