Omega-3 fatty acids

So I’ll be brief with this study and then we’ll get on to the monkeys, which are much more fun.

A critical factor in cardiovascular health is the ability of the arteries to expand and contract to allow unimpeded blood flow. So the Baker Medical Research Institute in Australia set out to determine the effect of omega-3s on the elasticity of arteries.

Over a period of 7 weeks, the Baker team tested 37 subjects: men and women ranging in age from 40 to 69. Subjects were non-smokers with moderate alcohol consumption habits, and for six weeks prior to the trial all subjects stopped taking vitamin supplements and did not eat any fish.

During the test period, two groups received two different types of omega-3 capsules, while the third group received a placebo. At the end of the test, subjects who had received the omega-3s showed a substantial improvement of arterial elasticity – some of them improving their pre-test elasticity by well over one-third.

The Baker conclusion: increasing omega-3 intake by eating fish or by taking a fish oil supplement may improve the cardiovascular system and significantly reduce the chance of a fatal heart attack.

On the issue of fish consumption, however, not everyone agrees. But the fish discussion will have to wait a moment, because now it’s monkey time.

The infant monkey study was designed to understand the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on early and adolescent development. Conducted by the National Institute of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse in Bethesda, MD, researchers followed two groups of Rhesus monkeys, observing their behavior for a period of 3 years. One group received a standard baby formula, while the other group was fed formula containing omega-3 fatty acids.

The infant monkeys who received omega-3s were not only stronger and more alert, but they also demonstrated these traits almost immediately after birth – in less than one week. As they grew older and became socialized, monkeys in the group that did not receive omega-3 showed signs of a condition known as “low autonomic reactivity.” In humans this condition is characterized by an individual’s inability to relate well to their feelings, resulting in a sociopathic or “cold” personality. In comparison, the omega-3 monkeys adjusted well to their social order.

This study added to the growing evidence that a diet low in omega-3 may contribute to certain kinds of depression. In recent years, other studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids could be a significant factor in the healthy maintenance of brain cells, and particularly brain cell membranes. When neurotransmitters move freely between healthy cells, brain functions are improved, including the generation of feelings of well-being.

In one Harvard study of people who had been hospitalized with depression, a group that received a diet rich in omega-3 showed such rapid and dramatic improvement that the study was stopped so that other subjects in the study, still mired in depression, could receive the benefits of omega-3.

According to Dr. Rick Cohan, an HSI Panelist, swordfish and tuna in particular are often found to have unacceptable mercury levels. He says that the “lite” water-packed variety of tuna is reasonably safe to eat, but only in limited quantities, especially during pregnancy. Pregnant women and nursing mothers can pass mercury on to their children and cause birth defects and growth problems.

The solution: fish oil supplements are readily available in most health food stores, and as little as one gram per day can reap very positive long term benefits for cardiovascular health and general brain functions. As we’ve seen demonstrated time and again, we have an essential dietary need for omega-3 fatty acids. Even monkeys live healthier, happier lives with a little fish oil in their diet.

Jenny Thompson
Health Sciences Institute