Expert opinion
Video: Perspective on Personalized Nutrition from Lucy Jones, RD
24 October 2018
Internationally-recognized registered dietitian, Lucy Jones, provides her perspective on the fast-growing segment of personalized nutrition.
01 April 2014
A new study from the UK suggests higher blood levels of docosahexaenoic acid seem to be associated with less bedtime resistance and total sleep disturbance in children.
The randomized controlled trial measured blood concentrations of omega-3 and omega-6 long-chain poly- unsaturated fatty acids of 362 healthy seven to nine year old school children who received a daily 600 mg docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) or placebo for four months and whose parents were asked to rate their child’s sleep habits over a typical week (1). The study results showed that the supplementation with DHA resulted in higher blood levels of DHA, which were significantly associated with better sleep, including less bedtime resistance, parasomnias (sleep disorders that range from night terrors to sleep paralysis to bedwetting) and total sleep disturbance. Children with increased intakes of DHA had nearly one hour more sleep and seven fewer waking episodes per night compared with the children taking the placebo. Higher ratios of DHA in relation to the long-chain omega-6 fatty acid arachidonic acid (AA) are also associated with fewer sleep problems. A total of 40% of the children had clinical-level sleep problems, such as resistance to bedtime, anxiety about sleep and constant waking in the course of the night.
The researchers commented that various substances made within the body from omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids have long been known to play key roles in the regulation of sleep. For example, lower ratios of DHA – the main omega-3 fatty acid found in the brain – have been linked with lower levels of melatonin, a hormone that is part of the human sleep-wake cycle (2). Previous studies showed that blood levels of DHA in this ge- neral population of seven to nine year olds were alarmingly low overall, and this could be directly linked to children’s behavior and learning problems probably caused by poor sleep.
24 October 2018
Internationally-recognized registered dietitian, Lucy Jones, provides her perspective on the fast-growing segment of personalized nutrition.
1 October 2015
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common form of liver disease. The increasing prevalence of NAFLD in recent years is thought to be closely associated with similar rises in metabolic syndrome and obesity. There is no cure at present for NAFLD, but changes in eating habits can be beneficial, such as lowering your calorie intake, adhering to a Mediterranean diet, and consuming pre- and probiotics. Specifically, the antioxidant function of vitamin E when consumed in high doses appears to play a useful role in preventing further liver damage. Further, vitamin D has antifibrotic effects, which may prove an effective intervention in future NAFLD studies.
23 May 2014
According to a new study from Norway the consumption of fatty fish three times per week seems to have a positive impact on sleep in general and also on daily functioning.