News
Vitamin D may decrease risk of an eye disease for women
14 April 2011
High blood concentrations of vitamin D may be linked to a reduced risk of developing age-related macular degeneration in postmenopausal women, according to a new US study.
14 February 2014
People with higher blood concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids may have larger brain volumes in old age, suggests a new US study.
The observational study measured the concentrations of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in red blood cells and eight years later the brain volumes of 1,111 women aged 78 on average (1). The study results showed that women with higher omega-3 fatty acid levels had a larger total brain volume and hippocampal volume compared to participants with lower levels. Those with double the levels of fatty acids (7.5% vs. 3.4%) had a 0.7% larger brain volume. The higher levels of fatty acids were achieved through the diet and/or use of supplements.
The researchers commented that these results suggest the effect on brain volume is the equivalent of delaying the normal loss of brain cells that comes with aging by one to two years. The positive effect on the volume of the hippocampus is important as this area of the brain plays an important role in memory. In Alzheimer’s disease, the hippocampus begins to shrink (atrophy) even before symptoms appear. While normal aging results in overall brain atrophy, lower red blood cell omega-3 concentrations may signal an increased risk of hippocampal atrophy.
14 April 2011
High blood concentrations of vitamin D may be linked to a reduced risk of developing age-related macular degeneration in postmenopausal women, according to a new US study.
1 April 2012
Chronic, low-grade, tissue inflammation is a significant risk factor in the development of a variety of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, and auto-immune diseases. Moreover, many discomforts, such as chronic pain, memory problems, mood swings, and general muscle fatigue, can be connected in some way to an underlying inflammatory condition. An important development in nutritional science in recent years has been the discovery of anti-inflammatory properties of certain micronutrients and their potential to prevent or treat certain diseases or conditions.
20 March 2015
A new US study reports that increased intakes of omega-3 fatty acids seem to reduce to risk of normal-weighted women to develop cancer of the lining of the uterus.