Fish oil derived heart drug being reviewed by the FDA

Yet another series of tests supporting the use of omega 3 fatty acids to treat high triglyceride levels has proven out. Amarin Corp has been issued approval for an FDA review for a new drug based on fish oil that will be used to treat individuals with high triglyceride levels. While this is not the first drug that is omega 3 based, it is another example of the ongoing recognition of fish oil (omega 3s) as a significant fatty acid to include in one’s diet.

For more information, please feel free to read the PharmaTimes article at PharmaTimes.

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Food Sources Of Omega 3 Fatty Acids

There are several excellent food sources of omega 3 fatty acids within easy reach of consumers. If you are a vegetarian, you can enjoy flax seeds and walnuts as well as cooked soybeans and raw tofu. Your body can make use of the long-chain polyunsaturated fats to create omega 3 nutrients. If you are not vegetarian, hopefully you like fish. Certain types of fatty fish represent the best natural source of omega 3.

It is believed that the best absorption of EPA and DHA (Omega 3 forms) is through food rather than taking supplements. Some kinds of food are better than others at providing usable EPA and DHA. Salmon is better than cod liver oil. Cooked salmon is more effective than smoked salmon. For those who decide that cod (or cod liver oil) is the fish of choice, it should be noted that some studies have shown a much lower effective rise in blood serum omega 3 from cod versus other fish, something for which there is no current explanation 1. It does indicate, however, that the source of your omega 3 fatty acids does matter, and just “eating fish” may not be a silver bullet.

Even if more cod-liver oil by weight is taken, the effectiveness of cooked salmon is better at raising omega 3 levels in the blood. Both EPA and DHA levels increased significantly after only eight weeks of a test study. Although cod liver oil raises omega 3 levels in the blood, the increase is not as significant as when the nutrient is taken as food.

Although salmon ranks at the top of the food choice list, other fish products are also helpful to increase omega 3 levels in the blood. Sardines offer 56 percent of the recommended daily intake. Baked or broiled halibut offers about one-quarter of your need for omega 3 each day. Shrimp, snapper and scallops each are good for about fifteen percent of your daily allotment of the nutrient.

Vegetarians don’t suffer lack of the nutrient. In fact, a small serving of flax seeds can produce EPA and DHA needs at more than 146 percent of daily requirements. Ground flax seeds can be sprinkled over other foods to add the nutrient to your diet. Flax seed oil can be used for cooking. Walnuts can be used for snacks and provide nearly one hundred percent of the daily needs. Just these two foods in small amounts offer more than enough omega 3 to protect your nutritional needs.

At more than forty percent of your daily needs, cooked soybeans are another way for vegetarians to get the nutrients that they need each day. Another vegetarian choice is raw tofu. Tofu comes in at about fifteen percent of your needs.

Those who are conducting studies of the nutrient believe that it is better absorbed when it is obtained from fish. The reason given is that omega 3 from fish comes in the form of triglycerides. When the body absorbs the food, omega 3 is transformed by the body to ester form as the need arises. When you use fish oil supplements, they are usually in the form of ethyl ester.

Food sources of omega three fatty acids are easy to add to the daily dietary foods that you would use anyway. Planning menus that include fish a couple times per week is easy to do. You can use nuts as snacks instead of sugary concoctions.


Sources

1Elvevoll EO, Barstad H, Breimo ES, Brox J, Eilertsen KE, Lund T, Olsen JO, Osterud B. Enhanced incorporation of n-3 fatty acids from fish compared with fish oils. Lipids. 2006 Dec;41(12):1109-14. PMID:17269556.

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Posted in Fish Oil, Food, Health | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

The role of fish oil supplements in the quest for better health

People who may not normally include pills in their dietary regimen often swear by fish oil supplements. The primary reason for fish oil supplements is the myriad of health benefits. Omega 3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids for maintaining good health and required during physical development and day to day maintenance of the body. The benefits of the nutrients are scientifically proven in many studies. This is not always the case with claims for other supplement effectiveness. Fish oil has no side effects and is more pure than actual fish in some cases, as most of the contaminants, such as mercury and other toxins, have been removed during the manufacturing process through a process called molecular distillation.


Omega 3 fatty acids include two major types as well as another eight that are somewhat less well known. DHA is docosahexaenoic acid and EPA is eicosapentaenoic acid. This is a poly unsaturated long-chain fat. This is an essential acid. It is not produced by the body. It must be obtained through the diet. It is because most dietary intake does not contain an adequate level of either fatty acid.

Some of the benefits for taking these capsules include reduction of triglyceride levels in the blood and lowering the risk of a heart event. Dangerous variations in heart rhythms are less likely to occur when you are taking supplements. The risk of strokes is reduced as is the risk for high blood pressure. The buildup of atherosclerotic plaques. Those who suffer pain and stiffness due to Rheumatoid arthritis will find relief from symptoms.

Using a supplement has been shown to prevent or improve symptoms of such conditions of depression, Alzheimer’s dementia and disease, ADHD, heart disease, hyperactivity, cancer, diabetes and arthritis. The ability to think more clearly and to concentrate better. Trainers and coaches as well as nutrition experts recommend this supplement for anyone wanting to lose fat, improve fitness level, build muscle and improve athletic ability.

Other people claim to see better, remember details more effectively, have a happier overall outlook and suffer less back pain. Regardless of whether or not you believe the anecdotal evidence brought by those who take the supplements, it’s hard to argue with a series of scientific studies and clinical trials that support the statements.

The recommended dosage according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is not more than three grams of DHA and EPA combined daily. At a level of three grams, the supplements can be taken even by breast-feeding women and those who are pregnant. It is unwise and unsafe to take more than three grams daily. Overdosing can possibly increase the likelihood of bleeding. It can prevent the blood from clotting. Too high doses can also affect the body’s ability to handle infection.

You shouldn’t mix taking of fish oil with other medications that lower blood pressure. The combination can cause the blood pressure to drop too low. For those who have weakened immune systems, the taking of supplements including omega 3 fatty acids could, in some cases, further reduce the body’s infection fighting capacity.


Fish oil supplements are readily available anywhere vitamins and supplements are sold. They are typically processed from mackerel, salmon, tuna, cod and small pelagic species. Interestingly, they can also be made from whale blubber, but still may be labeled “fish oil” even though whales are mammals. No matter what the source is, omega 3 fatty acids from fish oil are a simple and effective way to maintain good health throughout a person’s life. They are safe, effective, and particularly advantageous for those who do not include a lot of seafood in their diet on a regular basis.

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The Benefits Of Omega 3 Fatty Acids During Pregnancy

There is no other time in a woman’s life when she is more concerned with her nutrition than before and during her pregnancy. Every woman wants her child to have the best possible start in life. During the last two decades, one of the most significant medical advances in the topic of fetal health is the role of Omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3 (n-3) polyunsaturated long-chain fatty acids are required for the development and growth of the central nervous system. Yet, they are not synthesized in the body and must be acquired from the food that you eat. The two major sources are fish or flax seed oil.


Most modern adults do not get enough omega 3 fatty acids (such as DHA and EPA)in the diet. Usually the levels of omega 3 deteriorate after the first pregnancy because there are no steps taken to replace the stores of the nutrients needed for the developing child. Each subsequent pregnancy causes the omega 3 levels to further deteriorate.

When the fetus does not get enough of this essential nutrient there can be problems with the visual and neurological development for as long as four years. It is estimated that approximately one-fifth of the brain’s store of fatty acids. Recent research recommends adding supplements to the diet of pregnant women. This is key in improving the cognitive and visual function of the youngster.

The woman who neglects adequate nutrition in this family of fatty acids is more likely to suffer the medical complication of pre-eclampsia. This condition is also known as toxemia. Pre-eclampsia affects up to ten percent of all pregnancy and is characterized by perinatal mortality, fetal growth retardation, preterm delivery and maternal mortality. Lower stores of omega 3 nutrients is linked to a higher risk of developing pre-eclampsia.

Another benefit to both mother and child is the help that omega 3 nutrients provide to lower the risk of pre-term labor or pre-term delivery. If a woman has lower omega 3 levels, it is important to supplement the nutrient as early in the pregnancy as possible. This type of complication can be catastrophic. Adding the nutrients to the diet of the mother is believed to reduce incidents of post-partum depression.


Usually, getting needed stores of essential nutrients is done through eating a balanced and healthful choice of foods. In this instance, eating fish might be considered as the natural way to add more fatty acids to your pre-natal diet. However, studies are concluding that levels of mercury in fish are higher than a safe range for pregnant women to take, so there are some suggestions about avoiding fish higher up the food chain. The large predator fish such as mackerel, shark, fresh tuna and swordfish. Light tuna that is canned is considered to be safe.

Because mercury is a potent natural toxin that is potentially dangerous for babies. It can cause cognitive development delays and other health complications for growing children. It is suggested that pregnant women take omega 3 in a capsule form such as fish oil pills. Omega 3 is part of the formulation of two different pre-natal vitamin brands. Supplementation of the same nutrients in infant formula is recommended. If the mother is breast feeding, she should take supplements to pass the nutrients on to the baby in the milk.

Omega 3 fatty acids can be included in your diet well before you become pregnant, and as they provide benefits to the mother as well, there is no reason not to. The better your health is, the more healthy your baby will be in the end. Building up the level of omega 3 nutrients is one essential component to better maternal health.

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Posted in Health, Pregnancy | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Fish oil may prevent weight loss due to chemotherapy

Omega 3 fatty acids, in the form of fish oil, have been found to prevent muscle and weight loss in individuals who are undergoing chemotherapy. A study published in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, has shown fish oil to assist in preventing malnutrition often associated with cancer treatments. Patients undergoing chemotherapy often lose muscle mass, and suffer from malnutrition brought on by adverse reactions from the chemotherapy drugs. This can lead to fatigue, serious quality of life issues, and in some cases, lead to a shorter life expectancy as some severely weakened individuals may not be subsequent candidates for radiation treatment due to their condition.


Trial studies suggested that supplementing patients diets with fish oil could help patients maintain weight during treatments, but larger clinical studies had proven inconclusive. More recently, researchers supplemented a number of patients with 2.2 grams of fish oil per day, against a control group with no fish oil supplementation. Muscle and other tissues were measured periodically throughout the treatments, which lasted 10 weeks. They found that those patients who took fish oil maintained their weight, while the control group lost an average of 2.3 kilograms (5.1 pounds) over the same period of time.

“Fish oil may prevent loss of weight and muscle by interfering with some of the pathways that are altered in advanced cancer,” said Dr. Vera Mazurak, PhD, of the University of Alberta in Edmonton. As fish oil is an entirely safe substance, it does not interfere with treatment, and may be beneficial for many forms of cancer treatment, and individuals such as the elderly, who are also at risk for muscle loss.

For cancer patients, the researchers concluded that omega 3 fatty acids, particularly fish oil, provide a benefit over standard care. “This holds great promise because currently there is no effective treatment for cancer-related malnutrition,” Dr. Mazurak added.


Source:
Murphy, R. A., Mourtzakis, M., Chu, Q. S. C., Baracos, V. E., Reiman, T. and Mazurak, V. C. , Supplementation with fish oil increases first-line chemotherapy efficacy in patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer. Cancer, n/a. doi: 10.1002/cncr.25933

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