Fish oil is a substance that contains certain nutrients that are believed to help a number of conditions, including Alzheimer’s and dementia. These two conditions are characterized by memory loss and erratic behavior. As they progress, those symptoms worsen and often interfere with daily functioning. People with Alzheimer’s and dementia often require a caretaker or need to reside at nursing homes, because as the conditions become more severe they can interfere with the health and safety of the afflicted person and those around them. Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s can be difficult sometimes, because the symptoms could easily be signs of other issues.
Alzheimer’s and dementia are considered to be two separate issues, but they are linked. The main cause of Alzheimer’s disease is the build-up of plaque on the brain. Doctors are not sure why this happens, but heredity and environmental risk factors can contribute to the onset of Alzheimer’s. Diet and age are also risk factors. People over the age of 65 are more at risk for developing Alzheimer’s and dementia. Eating a balanced diet, exercising, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can go a long way in preventing Alzheimer’s, and also slowing down the process of plaque build-up. Taking fish oil has also been known to help. Fish oil contains a few substances, most notably an Omega-3 fatty acid called DHA. This acid is essential to human life and good health. DHA can actually destroy the protein that causes the plaque build-up in the brain. DHA is found in fatty fish, such as tuna and salmon. That is because they eat certain fish, like herring or sardines. These fish do not actually produce the DHA; it is the algae that they consume that produce it. It is then secreted into the fish oil. Fish oil is also known to support cardiovascular health. According to the United States National Institutes of Health, extensive research is being done on the benefits of fish oil.
Fish oil is touted as an important dietary supplement to be taken to reduce the symptoms of a realm of medical conditions. Researchers have studied the effects of a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids on brain function. Some studies suggest that EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), poly-unsaturated fatty acids found in fish oil and other foods, may reduce some of the symptoms of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder).
ADHD is characterized by impulsive behavior, hyperactivity, and inability to focus attention for extended periods. Previous studies have shown that the ratio of EPA and AA (arachidonic acid) in the blood of children with ADHD is higher than in children without the disorder. Research is focusing on whether supplementing the diets of patients with fish oil to balance out the levels of these two fatty acids in the blood can reduce the symptoms.
A 2005 study done by the University of Adelaide in Australia and published in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics demonstrated the difference in hyperactivity levels and ability to focus attention when supplements were given. The 103 children in the test groups ranged in age from seven to twelve years in age. The test groups were divided into those who were given fish oil supplements and those who were given placebo capsules of palm oil. Over fifteen weeks, the control group given placebos did not improve in behavior while almost half of the children in the group given supplements did. When the members of the control group were given the supplements for an additional fifteen weeks, their concentration and hyperactivity improved as well.
In one 2007 eight-week study with findings co-authored by Dr. Barry Sears of Zone Labs, children given daily supplements containing between 8 to 16 grams of DHA and EPA showed improvement in the symptoms associated with the disorder. The test groups included children who were taking medications prescribed for management of the disorder as well as children who were not taking their medications during the study. Dr. Sears suggested the benefits of the supplement take about four weeks to begin to be seen and when the supplement is discontinued, the benefits fade away after the same amount of time. This would indicate the supplements would need to be taken throughout the lifetime of the patient. Details of the study are found in his book, Toxic Fat: When Good Fat Turns Bad, and in the July 13, 2007, issue of Nutrition Journal.
Dr. Sven Ostlund of Goteborg University in Sweden has done a recent study with children ranging in age from eight years to eighteen years of age, all with symptoms of ADHD. His 2009 study testing the effectiveness of treatment with daily fish oil supplements suggests the symptoms of hyperactivity and inability to focus can be improved by almost half. He presented his findings to colleagues in May 2009 in Sydney, Australia.
Mayolinic.com and the Royal College of Psychiatrists suggest more studies be done to prove the effectiveness of using fish oil to alleviate the symptoms associated with ADHD.
Arthritis is a disorder that causes inflammation in the joints between bones. Although there are over 100 types of arthritis, the most common types are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis suffers work hard to reduce the painful symptoms of this condition. Typical treatments include pain medication and anti-inflammatory drugs. Medical studies have also demonstrated that fish oil benefits arthritis suffers. Fish oil, which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, can reduce inflammation and can even improve the effectiveness of other anti-inflammatory drugs. According to the Mayo Clinic (), consistent use of fish oil supplements resulted in a decrease in both joint pain and stiffness that affect so many rheumatoid arthritis suffers.
The most prevalent form of arthritis, osteoarthritis involves the gradual wear of cartilage and resulting friction between bones, which leads to pain and swelling. Another common form of arthritis is the chronic autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when an overactive immune system begins to attack the body and causes the lining in the joints to swell. This inflammation can spread, causing damage to cartilage and bone. In most cases of arthritis, sufferers can experience pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints. There are a variety of treatments that can work together in an attempt to reduce the painful symptoms of arthritis while improving joint functioning. Pain medications can range from mild acetaminophen to harsh narcotics like Vicodin. Anti-inflammatory drugs can also attempt to reduce the swelling. With the addition of fish oil supplements, sufferers can reduce the stiffness and painful joint inflammation.
Fish oil appeared to increase the effectiveness of anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen. Fish oil supplements are not a new discovery in the world of medicine, however. A 1990 study, “Effects of fish oil supplementation in rheumatoid arthritis” from the medical journal Annals of Rheumatoid Diseases, demonstrated that dietary fish oil supplements suppressed symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, research that appeared in a 2001 article, “Antioxidants and fatty acids in the amelioration of rheumatoid arthritis and related disorders,” from the British Journal of Nutrition showed that ingesting fish oil supplements resulted in a significant reduction in morning stiffness and join pain for participants suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. This study also states that fish oil supplements can be helpful in the management of Lupus, another form of arthritis. Monitoring one’s weight, so joints are not bearing extra stress, keeping joints flexible through exercise and using assistive devices to prevent further damage to joints are some of the ways people manage a life with arthritis. As part of a treatment plan, fish oil supplements can prove beneficial to people suffering from the painful effects of arthritis.
Sources:
Darlington, L. Gail and Stone, Trevor W. “Antioxidants and fatty acids in the amelioration of rheumatoid arthritis and related disorders.” British Journal of Nutrition, Vol. 85, March 2001, pp. 251-69.
“Evidence: Omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil, alpha-linolenic acid.” MayoClinic.com. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research , 1 Mar. 2008. Web. 30 July 2009. .
H van der Tempel, J. E. Tulleken, P. C. Limburg, F. A. Muskiet, and M. H. van Rijswijk “Effects of fish oil supplementation in rheumatoid arthritis.” Annals of Rheumatoid Diseases. 1990 February; 49(2): 76–80.
Fish oil, which is obtained from the liver of various fish species, is composed of omega-3 fatty acids such as DHA and EPA. Individually, these substances have powerful positive effects on health. For example, the DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) can inhibit the growth of colon cancer cells while the EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) can reduce various types of inflammation. Together, they can alleviate the symptoms of various illnesses, including diabetes. In fact, during the past decade, several scientific studies have demonstrated the ability of fish oil to improve the conditions of people who are suffering from diabetes.
In a study published in 2003 in the Circulation, a peer-reviewed journal, Dr. Hu and his colleagues at the Harvard Medical School studied over five thousand women with diabetes. The study started in 1980 with diabetic women who have no cardiovascular problems. Sixteen years later, a significant percentage already suffered from coronary heart diseases (CHD) and some of the women have died due CHD-induced stroke and cancer. These deadly diseases often coexist with diabetes. In a follow-up study, it was found that the diabetic women who don’t suffer from cardiovascular illnesses are those who ate fish at least once a week. This led to the conclusion that the regular intake of fish oil prevents the occurrence of diseases that are co-morbid with diabetes.
In an experimental study conducted by researchers from the Frederico II University and published in Diabetes Care, diabetic patients were given fish oil supplements for a period of six months. It was found that the fish oil increased the patients’ sensitivity to insulin but did not adversely affect the control of blood glucose. This implies that fish oil should be required in the diet of people with diabetes. And still in another study conducted by Dr. Connor and published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, fish oil was found to reduce hypertension and decrease the risk of vascular diseases.
Researches about fish oil and diabetes all point towards one direction – that the omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil can help improve the conditions of diabetic patients. Fish oil can reduce the risk of developing co-morbid disorders. Fish oil can positively affect insulin resistance. And fish oil prevents vascular diseases, even in people who are genetically susceptible. There were no studies that indicate possible harm in taking fish oil supplements. Instead, taking fish oil leads to other benefits including the prevention of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, depression, and other mental disorders.
Many of us grew up with the absolute conviction that fish was “brain food.” We never knew the reason why, or if it was even true. But as it turns out: Fish really is brain food.
A series of recent scientific studies reveal that fish oils have a salutary impact on what is undeniably the scourge of old age: memory loss and forgetfulness. A trial conducted by the bioscience company, Martek, supplies evidence that the consumption of the Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oils both improve memory and augment learning as well.
More specifically, the Martek study underscores the beneficial effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), one of the Omega-3 fatty acids. Researchers are further confident that DHA will play a considerable therapeutic role in the coming years—helping slow down memory loss in the elderly population and, in some instances, arrest and reverse declines. Dr. Yurko-Mauro, who administered the study, remarked how participants who took the DHA supplements realized benefits “roughly equivalent to having the learning and memory skills of someone three years younger.” He noted, too, how these same individuals experienced close to “double the reduction in errors on a test that measures learning and memory performance,” when contrasted with persons not taking the supplements.
It is sincerely felt that, upon further testing, Omega-3 fatty acids will aid and abet the treatment of such insidious brain diseases as Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. In a comparable study, UCLA researchers uncovered how Omega-3 fatty acids produce a brain plaque-fighting protein that is often in short supply in patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. With these fatty acids now clearly acknowledged as brain plaque-busters, early detection of mental decline and corresponding memory loss becomes even more critical.
These breakthroughs couldn’t have come at a more opportune time. Courtesy of copious medical advances and life-extending medications, the average life span is on the rise. Today, approximately 4.5 million men and women have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. And, as the sprawling baby-boomer generation retires in droves in the coming years, between 11 and 16 million individuals could be afflicted with the disease by 2050.
The good news is that cold-water fish—salmon, mackerel, herring, and others—are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, the fish oils that can assist us in remaining mentally sharp, as well as live both longer and more fulfilling lives. Because these heartening test results are expected to augur more significant medical advances in the years ahead, the ready availability of fish oil supplements are cause for genuine optimism.
