In the October 2006 Archives of Neurology regarding cognitive impairment ...
In this study, 204 patients with varying degrees of memory loss were randomized into two groups. One group received omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFA) with 1,700 mg of DHA and 600 mg of EPA daily for six months. The other group received placebo. At the end of the six-month trial, all patients were put on EFA for an additional six months. A total of 174 patients completed the entire study. It was found that for those with more advanced memory loss, omega-3 EFAs did not have any benefit. However, for a subgroup of patients with very mild memory loss, there was a significant reduction in memory decline for those supplementing with EFAs. How EFAs were able to confer benefit was not clear to the authors, but they felt it may be in some way related to the anti-inflammatory effects of the fish oil. They further postulated that those whose memory loss was too advanced could not be substantially assisted by the anti-inflammatory benefits of fish oil. The take home message is pretty clear. I've said this for many years. The best way to stay healthy is to eat healthy, exercise and take high quality supplements, including fish oil. Once you've allowed your health to decline, it becomes increasingly difficult to reverse the decline. The fact is, by the time you have advanced or severe memory loss, most of your brain cells have died and cannot be recovered. However, taking precautionary measures, such as supplementing with omega-3 EFAs, may very well mean the difference between suffering memory loss or not. Fish oil is also proven to promote a healthy mood, benefit cardiovascular health and help keep joints healthy. Before you go running off to load up on fish oil, I must point out that many fish oil products on the market do n't deliver the concentration of DHA and EPA utilized in this study. In fact, most fish oil products only contain a total of 300 mg of EPA and DHA per softgel. It's also important to read the label and look at how many softgels must be consumed to equal the supplement facts; some require you to take three or four to get the amount noted on the label. Taking standard fish oil would require consuming about eight softgels per day. I'd recommend you choose a molecularly distilled and concentrated fish oil supplement containing at least 600 mg per day of EPA & DHA per softgel; two to four per day provides the optimal amount, versus four to eight of the less potent.
Christopher Wiechert, C.N.C.
Christopher Wiechert's Healthblogger is for educational or informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose or provide treatment for any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health, you should always consult with a healthcare professional. If you decide to use this information on your own, it's your constitutional right, but I assume no responsibility.
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