Emma McGowan NatureCity author & contributor

Researchers from Wayne State University in Detroit have released a study suggesting that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids and protein may increase serum albumin levels and reduce inflammation in individuals undergoing dialysis. Malnutrition and chronic inflammation can be very dangerous for dialysis patients.

Dialysis is the process of removing excess water from the blood when someone has suffered from kidney failure. When serum levels of the protein albumin are abnormally low it can be an indicator of chronic malnutrition. This can occur as a result of a loss of albumin in the urine due to kidney damage.

The results of the study were published in the March 2012 issue of Vascular Health Risk Management.

Participants in the study included 63 adults receiving dialysis treatment with serum albumin levels that were less than or equal to 3.9 g/dL. The normal range of serum albumin levels is 3.4 – 5.4 g/dL.

Over the course of 6 months, half of the group consumed a 30 mL liquid protein supplement plus 2.4 g of omega-3′s while the other half was given a placebo three times daily. At the conclusion of the study, the researchers noted increased levels of C-reactive protein—a marker of inflammation—in the placebo group but not in the supplement group. They also noted higher serum albumin levels compared to baseline in the supplement group.

They concluded that supplementation with protein and omega-3′s could improve nutrition and inflammation in people undergoing dialysis.

Omega-3s have been linked to an impressive number of other health benefits, including improved brain health, alleviating arthritis pain, better mood, improved joint mobility, helping with age-related macular degeneration, and aiding your immune system.

Because omega-3 fatty acids are not found naturally in the human body, it is especially important to make sure that they are a part of your daily diet. Oily, dark fish such as tuna and salmon are high in DHA and EPA omega-3s, while ALA omega-3 fatty acids are plant derived and can be found in flaxseed oil, vegetable oil, and walnuts.

If you don’t like fish or you’re worried about the high mercury levels found in some fish, consider taking a daily high quality supplement that has been tested for purity and potency.

Scott Greenberg, NatureCity author & contributor

Numerous studies have linked omega-3 essential fatty acid consumption with brain health and the latest suggests that eating foods rich in omega-3s – especially fish, chicken, salad dressing and nuts – could reduce blood levels of beta-amyloid, a protein that has been associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

The findings of the study, which was conducted by researchers with Columbia University Medical Center, were published online ahead of print on May 2, 2012, in the journal Neurology.

Participants included 1,219 people who were over the age of 65 and had no previous diagnoses of dementia. Over the course of 1.2 years, the participants provided information about their diets and the researchers tested their blood for beta-amyloid.

The researchers also examined levels of 10 nutrients, including saturated fatty acids and omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Participants who consumed one gram of omega-3 per week above the average consumed by all participants had 20 to 30% lower beta-amyloid levels. One gram of omega-3 is equivalent to half a fillet of salmon. None of the other nutrients seemed to have an effect on beta-amyloid.

Omega-3 essential fatty acids have been linked to numerous health benefits, including combating diabetes, lowering cholesterol, improving vision and relieving depression.

If you’re looking to increase your fish oil intake, try adding darker fish, such as salmon or tuna, to your diet. If you don’t like the taste of fish or are just finding it hard to work it into your meal plans, consider taking a high quality supplement. Make sure your supplement is tested for purity and potency in order to avoid harmful mercury levels.

Sarah McGowan-Freije, NatureCity author & contributor

Previous studies have linked omega-3 essential fatty acids with improved heart health and now a new study suggests that omega-3 supplementation may help repair some of the damage done to the hearts of tobacco smokers.

The research was published online ahead of print on November 17, 2011, in the International Journal of Cardiology.

Researchers at the University of Athens Medical School recruited 20 healthy adult smokers for the randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over trial. Over a twelve week period they were assigned either 2 g per day of omega-3 essential fatty acids or a placebo. After the twelve weeks they switched interventions for another 12 weeks.

Measurements of arterial function were taken right before, right after, and 20 minutes after the participant smoked a cigarette at day 1, day 28 and day 84. The researchers also checked levels of biomarkers of damage to the arterial structure.

Participants in the omega-3 essential fatty acid group showed improved arterial stiffness and slightly less smoking-induced damage to the elasticity of the blood vessels.

n addition to heart health, omega-3s have been linked to an impressive number of health benefits, including improved brain health, alleviating arthritis pain, better moods, improved joint mobility, helping with age-related macular degeneration, and aiding your immune system.

Because omega-3 fatty acids are not found naturally in the human body, it is especially important to make sure that they are a part of your daily diet. Oily, dark fish such as tuna and salmon are high in DHA and EPA omega-3s, while ALA omega-3 fatty acids are plant derived and can be found in flaxseed oil, vegetable oil, and walnuts.

If you don’t like fish or you’re worried about the high mercury levels found in some fish, consider taking a daily high quality supplement that has been tested for purity and potency.

Emma McGowan NatureCity author & contributor

Studies regarding the heart health benefits of omega-3 essential fatty acids have been making news since the 1970s. Another such study, published in the April 2012 issue of Atherosclerosis, suggests omega-3 essential fatty acids may help blood vessels function properly.

The researchers were based at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College.

This large meta-analysis examined data from 16 studies that included 901 individuals. They found that people who consumed omega-3 supplements ranging from 0.45 grams to 4.5 grams daily for an average of 56 days showed a 2.3% improvement in flow-mediated dilation (FMD). FMD is the measure of the ability of the blood vessel to relax.

They did not, however, note improvements at higher dosages.

Additionally, these results were seen only in people with cardiovascular disease or at risk of cardiovascular disease. The researchers believe this could be because people with healthy hearts already have well functioning FMD, meaning that no improvements are possible or necessary.

While unsure of the exact mechanism behind these results, the researchers believe it is possible that the omega-3’s play a role in reducing the levels of inflammatory biomarkers involved in damage to vascular cells.

In addition to heart health, omega-3s have been linked to an impressive number of health benefits, including improved brain health, alleviating arthritis pain, better moods, improved joint mobility, helping with age related macular degeneration, and aiding your immune system.

Because omega-3 fatty-acids are not found naturally in the human body, it is especially important to make sure that they are a part of your daily diet. Oily, dark fish such as tuna and salmon are high in DHA and EPA omega-3s, while ALA omega-3 fatty-acids are plant derived and can be found in flaxseed oil, vegetable oil, and walnuts.

If you don’t like fish or you’re worried about the high mercury levels found in some fish, consider taking a daily high quality supplement that has been tested for purity and potency.

Scott Greenberg, NatureCity author & contributor

Numerous studies have linked omega-3 essential fatty acid intake with a reduced risk of age-related macular degeneration, many of which we’ve previously discussed. A new study, published in the April 2012 issue of Neurobiology of Aging suggests that omega-3 essential fatty acids may also improve vision in mature adults.

The Swinburne University, Australia, based researchers conducted a triple-blind placebo-controlled randomized repeated-measures trial with 74 adults between the ages of 45 and 77. They received either 1000 mg of tuna oil which contained 252 mg of DHA, 60 mg EPA and 10 mg vitamin E or a soybean oil placebo daily for 90 days.

Visual acuity and plasma levels of DHA were determined at the beginning of the study and after 90 days of supplementation. The participants who received the tuna oil supplement were found to have significantly raised plasma levels of DHA as well as significant improvement in eyesight. For participants with corrected vision, those who received the tuna oil had markedly better visual acuity compared to those in the placebo group.

In addition to eye health, omega-3s have been linked to an impressive number of health benefits, including improved heart health, alleviating arthritis pain, improvements in mood, improved joint mobility, helping with age-related macular degeneration, brain health and aiding your immune system.

Because omega-3 fatty-acids are not created by the human body, it is essential that you make sure they’re part of your daily diet. Oily, dark fish such as tuna and salmon are high in DHA and EPA omega-3s, while ALA omega-3 fatty-acids are plant derived and can be found in flaxseed oil, vegetable oil, and walnuts.

If you’re worried about the high mercury content that can be found in fish, or you feel like you’re just not getting enough of these foods in your diet, consider a high quality supplement that has been tested for purity and potency.

Sarah McGowan-Freije, NatureCity author & contributor

Atrial fibrillation, the most common irregular heart beat found in adults, increases the risk of congestive heart failure and stroke. Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health conducted the first study to examine the effects of omega-3 essential fatty acids on the heart rhythms of more mature adults. They found that omega-3′s could reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation.

The study was published January 26, 2012, in the journal Circulation.

Study participants included 3,326 adults with an average age of 74. Between 1992 and 2006, 789 cases of atrial fibrillation were identified. After adjusting for risk factors, the researchers noted that the individuals with the highest intake of both total omega-3 essential fatty acids and DHA had a 25% reduction in the risk of atrial fibrillation.

In general, each 1% higher intake level of total omega-3 essential fatty acids was associated with a 9% decreased risk of atrial fibrillation. The researchers did not, however, note any association between EPA and DPA levels and atrial fibrillation.

In addition to heart health, omega-3s have been linked to an impressive number of health benefits, including improved brain health, alleviating arthritis pain, better moods, improved joint mobility, helping reduce the risk of age related macular degeneration, and aiding your immune system.

Because our bodies cannot make omega-3 fatty-acids, it is especially important to make sure that they are a part of your daily diet. Oily, dark fish such as tuna and salmon are high in DHA and EPA omega-3s, while ALA omega-3 fatty-acids are plant derived and can be found in flaxseed oil, vegetable oil, and walnuts.

Scott Greenberg, NatureCity author & contributor

A lack of omega-3 essential fatty-acids may result in faster aging of your brain and a reduction in its memory and thinking capabilities, according to a study published in the February 28, 2012, issue of Neurology.

For this study, the University of California based researchers recruited 1,575 participants with an average age of 67. None of the participants had been diagnosed with dementia at the onset of the study.

The researchers administered MRI brain scans to measure the volume of the participant’s brains. They also took blood samples to determine the levels of omega-3 essential fatty-acids in their red blood cells and measured body mass. The participants also completed tests to determine mental functioning.

They found that the participants with the lowest levels of DHA (bottom 25%) had lower brain volume when compared with the brains of participants with higher levels of DHA. The lower brain volume was equivalent to two years of structural brain aging.

Additionally, participants with the lowest levels of all omega-3 fatty acids (bottom 25%) scored lower on the mental functioning tests such as problem solving, multi-tasking and abstract thinking.

In addition to brain health, omega-3s have been linked to an impressive number of health benefits, including improved heart health, alleviating arthritis pain, better moods, improved joint mobility, helping with age related macular degeneration, and aiding your immune system.

Because omega-3 fatty-acids are not found naturally in the human body, it is especially important to make sure that they are a part of your daily diet. Oily, dark fish such as tuna and salmon are high in DHA and EPA omega-3s, while ALA omega-3 fatty-acids are plant derived and can be found in flaxseed oil, vegetable oil, and walnuts.

Emma McGowan NatureCity author & contributor

In a large scale Danish study that included 20,000 participants, researchers have found that the shortening of telomeres – the tiny caps on the end of DNA strands—can increase your risk of having a heart attack and dying prematurely.

The study was published in the March, 2012 edition of Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. It was conducted by researchers at the University of Copenhagen, who measured telomere lengths using participants DNA samples. They tracked changes in telomere length over time, sometimes for as long as 19 years.

They found that participants with shortened telomeres had a 50% increase in the risk of a heart attack and a 25% increase in the risk of dying prematurely.

The researchers noted that shortened telomeres are not just a result of old age; they can also result from lifestyle factors. Their study showed that smoking and obesity lead to shortened telomeres.

Previous studies have shown that there may be ways to slow the shortening of telomeres. One such study, conducted by researchers at Stanford University and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, showed that individuals with heart disease and a high intake level of marine omega-3 essential fatty-acids had a slower rate of telomere shortening.

A study published in 2009 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that consuming vitamins C, E and D are all associated with longer telomeres. Additionally, a study from the Washington School of Medicine suggests that resveratrol repairs DNA damage. Resveratrol is the nutrient found in red wine, grapes, grape seed extracts, and peanuts.

Scott Greenberg, NatureCity author & contributor

Osteoporosis is a major affliction that affects 44 million Americans and is characterized by low bone mass. Researchers have discovered that a supplement containing a combination of the soy isoflavone genistein, omega-3 essential fatty-acids, and vitamins D3 and K1 may increase bone density and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

The researchers are with Creighton University and DSM Nutritional Products. Their study was published online ahead of print on February 3, 2012, in the European Journal of Nutrition

70 women with an average age of 55 were recruited for the study. The women received either a supplement blend or a placebo for 6 months. The supplement contained 30 milligrams of genistein, 800 IU of vitamin D3, 150 micrograms of vitamin K1, and one gram of omega-3 polyunsaturated essential fatty-acids. The omega-3s contained EPA essential fatty-acids and DHA essential fatty-acids with a ratio of 2 to 1.

At the conclusion of the study, the supplement group showed a 0.1% maintenance in bone mineral density (BMD) in the femoral neck, whereas the placebo group showed a decrease in BMD of 1.2%. Additionally, the supplement group had a 2.3% increase in BMD at the Ward’s triangle part of the hip bone, with the placebo group showing a 1.1% decrease.

Other biomarkers of bone health, including alkaline phosphatase and N-telopeptide, increased in the supplement group when compared to levels at the onset of the study. The supplement group also saw higher levels at the conclusion of the study compared to the placebo group.

Osteoporosis affects 4 times as many women as men, however it is an affliction that can strike either gender. In addition to the nutrients listed here, calcium, vitamin K2 and ashwaganda extract have been shown to improve bone health. All of these nutrients are difficult to obtain through diet alone but a daily high quality supplement can boost your blood levels and potentially help reduce the risk of fractures.

Emma McGowan NatureCity author & contributor

Retinitis pigmentosa is a debilitating disease that usually leaves people blind by the age of 60. It starts with night blindness in the teenage years, progresses through loss of peripheral vision, to tunnel vision, and finally to blindness. Researchers at Harvard University believe they have found the first effective treatment for this condition.

The findings of their study were published online ahead of print on February 13, 2012, in the Archives of Ophtamlmology.

The study examined data from three clinical trials that included 357 individuals with typical retinitis pigmentosa. Over the course of 4 to 6 years, the participants received 15,000 IU per day of vitamin A. Food frequency questionnaires were utilized to determine omega-3 fatty-acid intake levels.

The researchers discovered that consuming at least 200 mg of omega-3 fatty-acids correlated with a 40% slower decline in distance visual acuity. It also correlated with a nearly 50% slower rate of decline in central visual field sensitivity. These results could translate into 18 more years of vision for people with retinitis pigmentosa.

The retina contains rods and cones that act as photoreceptors and transfer light to vision centers in the brain. Rods are specialized to perceive dim light and detect movement and register shapes. Cones function best in bright daylight and allow people to see colors and fine details.

Rods and cones die in the retinas of people with retinitis pigmentosa. Research has shown that rod degeneration results from a deficiency of vitamin A. The researchers believe vitamin A combined with omega-3’s helps people with retinitis pigmentosa by slowing rod degeneration. They suggest taking vitamin A to replenish the rods and omega-3’s to improve delivery of vitamin A to cones.

In addition to eye health, omega-3s have been linked to an impressive number of health benefits, including age-related cognitive decline, improved heart health, alleviating arthritis pain, better moods, improved joint mobility, and aiding your immune system.

Vitamin A has been shown to improve diarrhea and the symptoms of respiratory disease, to slow the growth of pancreatic cancer cells, and to reduce the risk of measles. People who are deficient in vitamin A are also at risk for vision problems and many chronic diseases.