Omega 3 Fatty Acid News and Research

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Omega-3 is an essential fatty acid (EFA), consisting of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), and ALA (alpha-linolenic acid). Oily fish, including anchovies, sardines, mackerel, and salmon, are the only known natural sources of Omega-3 EPA/DHA. ALA is found in plants, such as flax and chia. It is important to note that only EPA and DHA contribute to the many health benefits associated with Omega-3. While the body can convert ALA into EPA/DHA, it does so very inefficiently (less than one percent), making it impossible to derive Omega-3-related health benefits from plant sources. Furthermore, although Omega-3 EPA/DHA is vital to overall good health, the human body is not able to produce it on its own, so supplementation is required, either by eating oily fish or foods fortified with Omega-3 EPA/DHA, or by taking fish oil supplements.

Algal DHA improves memory function in healthy aging adults: MIDAS

The Memory Improvement with Docosahexaenoic acid Study published online this week in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association showed that algal DHA improved memory function in healthy aging adults, providing a benefit roughly equivalent to having the learning and memory skills of someone three years younger.

4 May 2010

DHA supplements during lactation increases DHA status in preterm infants

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid, is essential for the growth and development of infants' brains. Very premature infants may be deficient in DHA because they miss out on the third trimester in utero when the fatty acid accumulates in tissues. In addition, their gastrointestinal system is immature, and health problems often increase the risk of malnutrition.

3 May 2010

OPAL study: Fish oil supplements offer no benefits for cognitive function in older people

The largest ever trial of fish oil supplements has found no evidence that they offer benefits for cognitive function in older people.

22 Apr 2010

DHA crucial for male fertility

According to a University of Illinois study, omega-3 fatty acids may be good for more than heart health. A little-known omega-3 may have implications for treating male infertility.

13 Apr 2010

Recipients of Pfizer Canada's third Neuropathic Pain Research Awards Competition announced

Pfizer Canada is pleased to announce the recipients of its third Neuropathic Pain Research Awards Competition, which aims to fund and support Canadian innovation within independent neuropathic pain research in the areas of basic biomedical, clinical and health sciences.

31 Mar 2010

New heart-healthy omega-3 crops on horizon

A new heart-healthy, essential omega-3 fatty acid is about to improve an American pantry staple: soybean oil. The new scientific advance will move biotechnology onto the average consumer's daily radar.

17 Mar 2010

Scientists show omega-3 fatty acid and its derivatives kill neuroblastoma cancer cells

The next treatment for cancer might come from fish says a new research report published in the March 2010 print edition of the FASEB Journal (http://www.fasebj.org). In the report, scientists show that the omega-3 fatty acid, "docosahexaenoic acid" or "DHA," and its derivatives in the body kill neuroblastoma cancer cells.

2 Mar 2010

Martek Biosciences completes the acquisition of Amerifit Brands from Charterhouse Group

Martek Biosciences Corporation announced today that it has completed the purchase of Amerifit Brands, Inc. from Charterhouse Group, Inc. in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $200 million. The acquisition was previously announced January 21, 2010.

15 Feb 2010

Upsher-Smith Laboratories introduces new formulation of PreNexa Rx prenatal vitamins

Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc. is pleased to announce the introduction of a new formulation of PreNexa® Rx prenatal vitamins. The new formulation contains an increased amount of algal-oil, plant-based docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), from 265 mg to 300 mg and increased vitamin D3, from 170 IU to 400 IU.

3 Feb 2010

USPTO grants Cenestra Health patent relating to high-purity omega-3 fatty acid formulations

Cenestra Health announced today that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued a key patent related to the company's high-purity omega-3 fatty acid formulations and their methods of use. U.S. Patent No. 7652068, entitled "Omega-3 Fatty Acid Formulations," covers a unique, high-purity formulation of the omega-3 fatty acids EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid).

27 Jan 2010

NTNU: 40% of two-year-olds report allergy-related disorders

Allergies and asthma are a continuing health problem in most developed countries, but just how do these ailments develop over the course of a childhood? In a population-based study designed to help answer this question, researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) found that 40 per cent - or two of five -- of nearly 5,000 two-year-olds had at least one reported allergy-related disorder. The most common symptom was wheezing, which was reported in 26 per cent of all children in the study, says Ingeborg Smidesang, a PhD candidate in the university's Faculty of Medicine, and the primary author of the study.

25 Jan 2010

Omega-3 fatty acids may protect against cellular aging in coronary heart disease patients

Patients with coronary heart disease who had higher omega-3 fatty acid blood levels had an associated lower rate of shortening of telomere length, a chromosome marker of biological aging, raising the possibility that these fatty acids may protect against cellular aging, according to a study in the January 20 issue of JAMA.

20 Jan 2010

Amarin commences enrollment in its AMR101 Phase 3 clinical trials for cardiovascular disease

Amarin Corporation plc, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on improving the treatment of cardiovascular disease, today announced that first patients were enrolled in the MARINE and ANCHOR Phase 3 clinical trials for AMR101, the Company's lead product candidate. These clinical trials are designed to demonstrate that AMR101 lowers triglyceride levels in patients with very high triglycerides (the MARINE Study) and high triglycerides in patients with mixed dyslipidemia being treated with statins (the ANCHOR Study).

11 Jan 2010

Nutrient mix shows potential to improve memory in Alzheimer's patients

In the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, patients typically suffer a major loss of the brain connections necessary for memory and information processing. Now, a combination of nutrients that was developed at MIT has shown the potential to improve memory in Alzheimer's patients by stimulating growth of new brain connections.

7 Jan 2010

Arcadia Biosciences' SONOVA 400 receives FDA approval as a dietary supplement ingredient

Arcadia Biosciences, Inc., an agricultural technology company focused on developing technologies and products that benefit the environment and human health, announced today that it has successfully completed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory process for SONOVA™ 400.

8 Dec 2009

Prenatal DHA, a product developed for pregnant women to ensure adequate DHA, introduced

Nordic Naturals Professional Exclusive Division announces Prenatal DHA, a product developed especially for pregnant women to ensure adequate DHA, an important omega-3 essential fatty acid and a vital nutrient for the new mother and developing baby.

5 Nov 2009

Dietary cholesterol is not a primary factor for coronary heart disease

Contrary to the established view, current data suggest that dietary cholesterol is not a primary factor of or causes heart disease - with the possible exception of the genetic forms of familial hypercholesterolemias. For instance, recent clinical trials evaluating the effect of cholesterol-lowering drugs on the development of chronic heart failure, diabetes and stroke have yielded disappointing results.

2 Nov 2009

Omega-3 fatty acid supplements do not improve levels of depression in heart disease patients

Contrary to the findings of some studies, new research indicates that augmenting antidepressant therapy with an omega-3 fatty acid supplement does not result in improvement in levels of depression in patients with coronary heart disease, according to a study in the October 21 issue of JAMA.

26 Oct 2009

Increase in omega-3 fatty acid levels can prevent strokes, according to research

Research led by Hernan A. Bazan, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Section of Vascular Surgery, at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans School of Medicine, has found that unstable carotid artery plaques - those in danger of rupturing and leading to a stroke - contain more inflammation and significantly less omega-3 fatty acids than asymptomatic plaques.

3 Oct 2009

Patent infringement lawsuit regarding DHA in functional foods ruled in favor of Martek

Martek Biosciences Corporation (Nasdaq: MATK) announced today that a panel of judges on the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has ruled in Martek's favor in appeal proceedings related to a patent infringement lawsuit between Martek and Lonza, Ltd., Nutrinova Inc. and Nutrinova Nutrition Specialties & Food Ingredients GmbH (collectively "Lonza").

9 Sep 2009