News
How to get kids to eat more veggies
26 July 2013
New US research suggests that teaching young children an overarching conceptual framework for nutrition may be an effective strategy to get young children to eat more vegetables.
06 January 2014
According to new research from Sweden, omega 3 fatty acids can cross the blood-brain barrier in people with Alzheimer’s disease, positively affecting markers for the disease itself and inflammation.
In the randomized controlled trial, concentrations of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) as well as disease markers in the fluid surrounding the brain were measured in 33 patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease who received either a daily omega-3 supplement (1.72 g of DHA plus 0.6 g of EPA) or a placebo for six months (1). The study results showed that the supplemented participants had higher con- centrations of DHA and EPA in their cerebrospinal fluid and blood, while no such change was seen in the placebo group. Moreover, higher levels of DHA correlated directly with a slower progression of Alzheimer’s disease and lower concentrations of inflammatory markers in the cerebrospinal fluid.
The researchers commented that earlier studies already indicated that increased intakes of omega-3 fatty acids may protect against Alzheimer’s disease. The new findings suggest that omega-3 fatty acids in dietary supplements can cross the blood-brain barrier and may be used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease to halt memory loss. Omega-3 fatty acids and other essential polyunsaturated fatty acids accumulate in the central nervous system (CNS) during gestation. It has been assumed that these acids are continually re- placed throughout life, but little is known about how this occurs and whether a change in diet can affect the transport of important fatty acids across the blood-brain barrier. The blood-brain barrier serves to protect the brain from harmful chemicals existing naturally in the blood, but also blocks the delivery of drug sub- stances to the brain.
Several diseases can affect the fatty acid profile of the CNS. In patients with Alzheimer’s disease, for exam- ple, previous research has observed lower than normal brain concentrations of DHA (2). Higher blood levels of DHA or other omega-3 fatty acids have been correlated with a decreased risk of cognitive loss in normal aging (3) and development of dementia (4). Researchers have long been interested in the link between Alzheimer’s disease and inflammation, but attempts to treat the disease using traditional anti-inflammatory drugs have so far failed to produce any improvements in memory function.
26 July 2013
New US research suggests that teaching young children an overarching conceptual framework for nutrition may be an effective strategy to get young children to eat more vegetables.
4 June 2014
A new study from Italy reports that a supplementation with vitamin D may increase the ejection fraction of the heart in patients with severe heart failure and insufficient vitamin D levels.
1 March 2015
Since older people often do not process food well, old age may be considered a risk factor for inadequate micronutrient uptake. In the course of the natural aging process, several bodily functions deteriorate. An insufficient supply of micronutrients to the organism can accelerate the natural aging process and aggravate the decline of cell renewal processes, immune defense, eyesight and hearing, and cognitive performance. Further, the presence of chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, diabetes and cancer can increase micronutrient requirements. It is therefore all the more necessary to ensure that older people receive an optimal supply of vitamins, minerals, trace elements and essential fatty acids. However, many older people are a long way from consuming the recommended daily amounts, even in highly developed industrial nations.