Can Fish Oil Fight Depression?

Omega-3 may fight depression: Montreal StudyBy Katherine Wilton, Montreal Gazette June 21, 2010MONTREAL - Omega-3 supplements have proven effective in treating depressed patients who do not also suffer from an anxiety disorder, a study involving Montreal researchers has found.The study explored the effectiveness of fighting depression with Omega-3 supplements rather than anti-depressant drugs such as Prozac or Paxil.”Many of these (alternative) treatments have not been adequately evaluated,” said Francois Lesperance, director of the study and head of psychiatry at the Universite de Montreal hospital centre.A total of 432 participants in Quebec and Ontario took part in the four-year study. For eight weeks, half of the participants took three capsules a day of Omega-3 Emotional Balance, a fish oil supplement with high concentrations of EPA, the fats found in fish. The other half took three capsules of a placebo consisting of sunflower oil flavoured with fish oil.At several stages during the eight weeks, participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire that evaluated their symptoms of depression.”Overall, we found there was a small trend favouring Omega-3 over placebo, but it was not statistically significant,” said Nancy Frasure-Smith, a McGill University psychiatry professor involved in the study,However, a subgroup of depressed patients who didn’t also suffer from an anxiety disorder saw their depression symptoms decrease after taking the Omega-3 supplements compared with those who took the placebo.Other, smaller, studies have suggested that a deficit in polyunsaturated fatty acids of the Omega-3 group may predispose individuals to disorders such as depression.The results of the Canadian study do not mean that depressed people will feel better if they eat large quantities of fish, which is high in Omega-3 fatty acids, researchers noted. The fish oil supplement used in the study had higher concentrations of Omega-3 than is available from an average diet.Lesperance said it is difficult to study whether dietary intervention can prevent depression or other diseases, because these types of studies are complicated to carry out in a controlled setting.He said a depressed patient who wants to try the supplements should first consult with their doctor.This is the first large study examining the impact of Omega-3 supplements on depression. It was conducted by researchers at the Universite de Montreal, McGill, Queen’s and the Universite Laval.The study was published this month in the online Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. About 70 per cent of the cost of the study was covered by the French firm isodisnatura, which manufactures the Omega-3 supplements.In Canada, about 11 per cent of men and 16 per cent of women will suffer from depression at some point in their lives.###Source: Montreal Gazette###Blog Author recommends SeaLogix Fish Oil for a pure, pharmaceutical grade fish oil.###

Glucosamine Plus Addition of Fish Oil Improves Joint Discomfort

Omega-3 plus glucosamine ‘superior’ for joint health: Study
By Stephen Daniells, 30-Nov-2009

Combining omega-3 fatty acids with glucosamine achieves better improvements in joint health than glucosamine alone, says a new study from Germany.

The study, published in the journal Advances in Therapy, is said to be the first clinical trial to employ the combination of glucosamine omega-3 fatty acids in people suffering from osteoarthritis. UK-based Seven Seas funded the study.

Approximately seven million people in the UK alone are reported to have long-term health problems associated with arthritis. Around 206 million working days were lost in the UK in 1999-2000, equal to £18 billion (€26 billion) of lost productivity.

Talking to NutraIngredients, lead author and president of the CRO which performed the trial, Analyze & Realize, Dr Joerg Gruenwald said: “In a randomized controlled clinical trial with 177 patients with osteoarthritis, we could prove that the combination of glucosamine sulfate and omega-3-fatty acid is superior to glucosamine alone.

“Using the classical WOMAC pain score we could show 27 per cent more responders (80 per cent reduction of WOMAC pain score) in the combination group compared to glucosamine alone, this difference was statistically significant,” he added.

The joint health market is dominated by glucosamine, which is extracted from the shell of crabs, lobster and shrimps. Cargill also markets a non-animal, non-shellfish derived product. The ingredient is often used in combination with chondroitin sulphate, extracted from animal cartilage, such as sharks.

According to the Nutrition Business Journal, US sales for these combined supplements were $810 million (€563 million) in 2005.

Study Details

Dr Gruenwald and his co-workers recruited 177 people with moderate-to-severe hip or knee osteoarthritis and randomly assigned them to receive either a glucosamine sulfate supplement (1500 milligrams per day) or glucosamine plus omega-3 fatty acids (providing 444 mg of fish oil, of which 200 mg were omega-3-fatty acids).

“Because the patients studied had moderate-to-severe knee or hip osteoarthritis pain, a placebo group was not used for ethical reasons,” explained the researchers.

After 26 weeks of supplementation, the researchers tested pain levels using the established Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthrosis index (WOMAC) score.

While there was no significant difference between the number of responders in each group when a minimal pain reduction of at least 20 per cent was used, significant differences were observed when a higher responder criterion of at least 80 pain reduction was used.

Indeed, the combination product reduced morning stiffness and pain in the hips and knees by between 48.5 and 55.6 per cent, compared to 41.7 to 55.3 per cent in the glucosamine only group.

Commenting on the potential mechanism, Dr Gruenwald and his co-workers note that the ingredient probably acted synergistically. “Omega-3 fatty acids inhibit the inflammation process in OA, whereas glucosamine sulfate further supports the rebuilding of lost cartilage substance,” they stated.

Source: Advances in Therapy
Volume 26, Issue 9, Pages 858-871
“Effect of glucosamine sulfate with or without omega-3 fatty acids in patients with osteoarthritis”
Authors: J. Gruenwald, E. Petzold, R. Busch, H.-P. Petzold, H.-J. Graubaum

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For our recommended choice for an Omega 3 Fatty Acid in the form of fish oil, visit: Pharmaceutical Grade Fish Oil

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Fish Oil Supports Healthy Hearts, Brains Joints and More

A flood of scientific evidence about fish oil points to a startling conclusion that taking high-dose fish oils, which are very rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids, helps support a healthy heart, a healthy brain, a healthy immune system, healthy joint movement, healthy kidneys and much more.

Each grade of fish oil is distinguished from the other by its purity and concentration of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. Crude fish oils are the least expensive and could contain some levels of contaminants including PCBs, DDT and organic mercury.

When choosing a high dose fish oil remember that knowledge is power and not all fish oils are manufactured the same. Some fish oils may even be dangerous when taken in high doses.

With many choices of fish oil available, and with so many pro and con opinions written about each, it is easy to become confused. So when it comes time for you to choose a fish oil make sure you do your homework and choose wisely so that you get the maximum health benefits.

When choosing a fish oil that you will be ingesting in high doses it is crucial that you choose one that is pure and free of contaminants, toxins, and mercury. How can you, the consumer, tell the difference?

Currently there are three grades of fish oil available on the market today:

• Cod Liver Oil
• Health-food grade fish oil, and
• Pharmaceutical-grade, ultra-refined fish oil

Cod Liver Oil

Cod Liver Oil is the lowest quality fish oil and like the name implies it is manufactured from the livers of Cod fish. It has the lowest concentration of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids and may contain the highest levels of contaminants such as organic mercury, PCB’s, and DDT. Cod Liver Oil may also contain a high level of Vitamin A.

Cod Liver Oil is not recommended for high dose consumption. A typical serving of Cod Liver Oil contains 500 mg. of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids.

Health-food Grade Fish Oils

Most health-food grade fish oils are manufactured from fish body oils. Fish oils can be manufactured from a single fish species or from several fish species.

Fish size and their relative rank in the food chain can help us understand the level of contaminants that may be found in health-food grade fish oils. Small fish, such as sardines and anchovies, don’t live long so are less prone to accumulate environmental pollutants. Larger fish, such as salmon and mackerel, are predatory species that live longer so they could contain higher levels of pollutants. If the label says it comes from a particular species of fish, such as salmon, then you can be sure that it probably is health-food grade fish oil.

A slightly more purified type of health-food grade fish oil is available which includes oils that have been subjected to a limited amount of molecular distillation to remove some of the cholesterol. These types of fish oils are usually labeled as “cholesterol-free”.

“Fish Oil Concentrate” is yet another type of health-food grade fish oil. Fish oil concentrates consist of ethyl esters of the fish oil that have been subjected to fractional cooling. The solidified saturated fats are removed leaving behind a more concentrated solution of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. A typical one-gram capsule of thermally fractionated health-food grade fish oil contains up to 500 mg. of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids.

Typical health-food grade fish oils may contain varying amounts of contaminants. In addition, the fractional cooling method does not necessarily remove all the PCB’s or the long-chain monoene fatty acids that may give rise to gastric distress. Due to the varying amounts of contaminants that could still be contained in health-food grade, it is questionable as to whether it is safe at high levels. A typical one-gram capsule of health-food grade fish oil contains approximately 300 mg. of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids.

Pharmaceutical-grade Fish Oil — the newest generation of fish oil.

Pharmaceutical-grade fish oils start with thermally fractionated health-food grade fish oils. These oils are then distilled, using a highly complex refining technology, into fractions rich in long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. According to manufacturers, it typically takes about 100 gallons of health-food grade fish oil to make one gallon of pharmaceutical-grade fish oil.

Individual fractions are then combined to provide a 2:1 ratio of Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) for the finished fish oil product. Scientific studies conducted with pharmaceutical-grade fish oils that used a 2:1 ratio of EPA and DHA reported significant clinical benefits.

Pharmaceutical-grade fish oils are exceptionally low in long-chain monoenes, PCB’s and other pollutants. Pharmaceutical-grade fish oil is believed to be the safest to take in high doses. A typical one-gram capsule of pharmaceutical-grade fish oil will have a minimum of 600 mg. of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids.

Pharmaceutical-grade fish oils are a fairly new product and a good-quality source may be difficult to find. In addition, pharmaceutical-grade fish oils definitely cost more – sometimes twice as much. This increased cost is an outcome of the complex process used to remove impurities. Each step in the refining process adds additional production costs.

For instance, SeaLogix Pharmaceutical Grade Fish Oil from Trilogy International, starts with health food grade fish oil which then goes through nine additional steps to make it pharmaceutical grade quality. Pharmaceutical-grade fish oils generally taste better and the amount of long-chain monoenes, which cause gastric distress, are dramatically reduced.

For more information about where to purchase SeaLogix Ultra Refined Fish Oil Supplement, please visit http://www.CardioResults.com or call To Your Health at 503-244-5941.