expert opinion

Closing the chapter on omega-3 fatty acids and age-related macular degeneration may be premature

In Expert opinion · December 14, 2015

The results of the recent, comprehensive Age-Related Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) failed to support the prevailing view that marine omega-3 fatty acids could have a protective role in preventing the onset and progression of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). Professor Eric Souied, Head of the Department of Ophthalmology at both the Hôpital Intercommunal de Créteil and the Hôpital Henri Mondor in France, has carefully reviewed the study and found that the null results could be due to methodological differences between this and other recent studies. He thinks that the evidence from laboratory and other clinical studies still provides hope that omega-3 fatty acids could provide benefits in relation to ARMD.

expert opinion

By Jingo! – The Irish JINGO project yields detailed information regarding the link between vitamin D deficiency and inflammatory status in older people

In Expert opinion · December 1, 2015

Professor Mary Ward of Ulster University was part of a recent trial in which it was shown that elderly Irish adults (60 years or more) who were deficient in 25-hydroxyvitamin D (<25 nmol/L) were most likely to have the highest levels of inflammatory cytokines when compared to those who were replete (>75 nmol/L). Raised levels of these inflammatory cytokines are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and a range of other chronic diseases.

expert opinion

Using nutrigenomics to uncover how the potent antioxidant properties of hydroxytyrosol can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease

In Expert opinion · November 1, 2015

In his recent work, Francesco Visioli – Professor of Human Nutrition in the Department of Molecular Medicine at the University of Padova in Italy – has investigated the biological and pharmacological properties of olive oil phenolics, including hydroxytyrosol, and their ability to reduce the risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.

expert opinion

DHA supplementation during pregnancy benefits pregnant women primarily through the prevention of premature birth

In Expert opinion · October 15, 2015

A new analysis of data by Professor Maria Makrides’ group at Adelaide University in Australia has shown that in-patient hospital costs could decrease by 92 Australian Dollars (AUD) on average per pregnancy (single) when a daily supplement of 800 mg docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was consumed during pregnancy, due mainly to the reduced risk of giving premature birth.

expert opinion

Using marine omega-3s to revitalize brain function in the elderly via restoration of mitochondrial function

In Expert opinion · October 1, 2015

Mitochondria, the cells energy powerhouse, slowly loose function with ageing. Professor Eckert of the Nutritional Neuroscience research group at Goethe University, Frankfurt, has demonstrated that mitochondrial dysfunction can produce age-related cognitive impairment, but normal function can be largely restored with an intervention of fish oil.

expert opinion

Low dietary intake of folic acid probably accounts for the European failure to reduce spina bifida-levels in newborns

In Expert opinion · September 15, 2015

Dr Rima Obeid, Junior Fellow at the Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, of Aarhus University, Denmark, cites low serum folate levels in European women as the reason why there has been no reduction in the incidence in spina bifida and other neural tube defects over the last ten years. She also comments that recent advice from some European Nutritional Societies, reducing the required intake level of folate for young women is only likely to aggravate the problem.

expert opinion

Vitamin E has a beneficial effect on patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver

In Expert opinion · September 1, 2015

Professor Ken Sato works in the Department of Internal Medicine at Aichi Medical University in Nagakute, Japan. He and his team have recently conducted a meta-analysis examining the beneficial effect of vitamin E on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), including non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The aim was to evaluate the efficacy of vitamin E in improving liver function. Professor Sato concludes his paper thus: “This meta-analysis suggests that vitamin E therapy improves serum biochemical parameters and improves hepatic histology in NAFLD/NASH, especially in regard to adult NASH patients. Vitamin E also improves hepatic fibrosis, hepatic inflammation and ballooning.”

expert opinion

Evidence of insufficient iodine status in women of reproductive age in the United Kingdom

In Expert opinion · August 1, 2015

Iodine is an essential element of human nutrition and vital for the proper development of the central nervous system. The main sources of iodine in the European diet are dairy products and iodized salt. Latest findings reveal that pregnant British women suffer mild to moderate iodine deficiency at all stages of gestation, though the problem was found to be less evident in the wintertime when iodine levels in dairy milk are higher.

expert opinion

Simple flour fortification is an effective means of reducing the incidence of anemia on a national scale

In Expert opinion · July 15, 2015

Helena Pachon is Research Associate Professor at the Rollins School of Public Health in Atlanta, USA. Her team has been involved in a systematic assessment regarding the effectiveness of the fortification of flour to prevent anemia. They found that each year of flour fortification was associated with a 2.4% reduction in the prevalence of anemia. There was no reduction in those countries that did not fortify.

expert opinion

The importance of beta-carotene as vitamin A source

In Expert opinion · July 15, 2015