News
Increased levels of the protective macular pigment in the fovea of the eye are shown to be positively associated with increased blood serum of lutein, zeaxanthin and DHA in a new human study (1)
19 December 2016
30 August 2011
According to a new US study, low levels of omega-3 fatty acids may be linked to the risk of suicide by up to 62%.
In the case control study, levels of omega-3 fatty acids were tested in the blood of 800 individuals, all US military personnel, who had committed suicide. These levels were then compared with the omega-3 levels of 800 randomly selected controls, also active-duty service members, who matched the suicide cases by age, sex, and rank (1). The study results showed that all service members had low omega-3 levels and that suicide risk was greatest among individuals with the lowest levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the major omega-3 fatty acid concentrated in the brain.
The scientists commented that the findings would add to an extensive body of research that points to a fundamental role for DHA and other omega-3 fatty acids in protecting against mental health problems and suicide risks. In a previous placebo- controlled trial it was demonstrated that 2 grams of omega-3 fatty acids per day reduced suicidal thinking by 45%, as well as depression and anxiety scores among individuals with recurrent self-harm. Low blood levels of DHA correlated with hyperactivity of brain regions in a pattern that closely resembles the pathology of major depression and suicide risk. While omega-3 fatty acids are generally recommended by the American Psychiatric Association as an adjunctive therapy for mood disorders, more research is necessary to establish a definitive role for their use in the stand-alone treatment of depression, according to the researchers of this study.
19 December 2016
28 August 2018
London-based Gregory Ward, MBBS, FRCOG, Head of the London Postgraduate Specialty Training Programme in Obstetrics and Gynecology, discusses the importance of DHA omega-3 and ARA omega-6 nutrition to support infant health.
1 February 2016
Professor Kathryn Dewey of the Nutrition Department of the University of California, Davis, was the principal investigator of a cluster-randomized controlled effectiveness trial in Bangladesh which demonstrated that a small, lipid-based micronutrient supplement could help reduce stunting in newborn babies.