Fish Oil Omega-3 Health Benefits

Neurologist

Ophthalmologist

Cardiologist

Dermatologist

Rheumatologist

Immunologist

Gastroenterologist

Hematologist

Perinatologist

My Omega-3 Professor, Dr. Dyerberg

Omega-3s in the Womb

Mama, you’re

growing a little

fathead!

A gram a day,

I say!

Eat enough

omega-3s for

both of us.

Omega-3 EPA/DHA Happy Mothers

• Depressed mothers have lower O-3 levels.

• Increased O-3 in 3rd trimester: less PPD

• Theory of PPD: O-3 deficiency

• Baby drains mother.

• Psychoneuroendrocrinology

Lin, J Clin Psychiatry 2007, 68:1056

Omega-3 EPA/DHA During Pregnancy - Babies

• Improved cognitive abilities,

age 4 years

• Improved visual acuity

• Less allergies, eczema

• Slightly increased birth size

and weight

Helland, Pediatrics 2003;111

Pediatric Research 2005;57

Brain Most Affected by Nutrition

• Brain grows most during pregnancy and first year.

• Brain 60% Fat

• 20% DHA

• Omega-3 is to brain like calcium is to bone.

• Brain cell membrane fluidity

• Myelin development

• “Fathead”

Myelin and Oligodendrocytes

Omega-3’s Feed the Brain

DHA Dietary Deficiency Impairs Synapse Development

DHA 6.6 ± 0.7% 0.5 ± 0.1%

DPAn-6 0.4 ± 0.1% 4.7 ± 0.1%Hippocampal

Fatty Acids

Cao et al. J. Neurochem. 2009

Adequate Deficient

30 µm

Mother mice fed adequate or deficient diets, embryo neurons harvested day 18

Synapes in

Hippocampal

Neurons

Omega-3 EPA/DHA: The Membrane Molecule

• Omega-3 EPA/DHA –

a “cell conditioner”,

like hair conditioner

makes hair soft and

flexible.

• Optimal cell signaling

Seafood is “See Food”

Seafood is “See Food”

Epidemic of Ds: Seafood is School Food

• ADD, ADHD, OCD, BPD, ASD

• 78% of children 4-8 years old are omega-3 deficient

• Improved attention and learning with O-3 supplementation

• Dosage: 1000 mg of EPA/DHA/day

• D’s = deficiency of neurohormones: serotonin, dopamine

• ADHD children: lower blood levels of DHA

• Children with highest blood omega-3, better attention, learning

• Dyslexia improvement

• Less aggressive behavior

• Improvement with omega-3 more effective, safer than Rx

The Omega-3 Effect, Sears

How Omega-3s EPA/DHA Help School Children

Before supplements

Richardson, AP and P. Montgomery Pediatrics, 2005. 115(5): p. 1360-6.

Oxford-Durham Study

1 month after EPA 558mg/DHA174mg

Improved: Reading, Spelling, Writing

8-year-old Joe: “My head feels clear.”

Omega-3’s are Grow Food for Teen Brains

Salmon says: Omega-3s are smart to take!

Teens: What Science Says

• Lower risk of metabolic syndrome

• Lower BMI’s (seafood, not only

supplements), high satiety factor

• Less mood disorders

• PDAY study: 20% of 15-19 y/o have fatty

streaks in aorta

• Omega-3s lower BP in overweight teens

Daisy Study: Omega-3s Lessen Diabetic Risk

• Diabetes Autoimmunity Study in the Young

• 1700 children at risk for diabetes

• Highest RBC omega-3 level, least type I

diabetes

• CDC: 1:3 children destined to diabetes

High-Energy Muscles

How Much Omega-3 EPA/DHA?

• Pregnancy and lactation: 1000 mg/day EPA/DHA

• Infants and toddlers: 300 mg/day EPA/DHA

• Children and Teens: 500-1000 mg/day EPA/DHA

• Omega-3s from seafood better than from flax

• 6oz wild Salmon twice a week: 600 mg/day

• Neurological disorders: 2-5 grams

• Cardiovascular disease: 1-4 grams

• “itis” illnesses: 3-4 grams, 3 months

Dosage for Pregnant Mother: 1000 mg/day

• Average: only 150 mg/day

• Recommended: 500 mg EPA/DHA minimum

• Baby’s growing brain: 70-200 mg DHA/day

• Mother’s blood volume increases 40%: 100mg

• Extra maternal tissue growth and healing:

200mg

• No safety issues with 1000mg.

Dosage for Infants: 300 mg/day

• 6 m/o baby: 760 mL (27 oz) breastmilk

yields 300 mg DHA/day

A Gram a Day, I Say!

A gram a

day!

Reading Omega-3 Labels

Supplements: EPA + DHA or DHA Only?

• Science supports both EPA and DHA

• Trust Nature:

– Breast milk contains both EPA and DHA,

approximately 1:2 depending on mother’s diet

– Salmon 1:1.4 EPA/DHA

• DHA and EPA complementary

• DHA for cell structure; EPA for cell maintenance

Measuring Omega-3s in Medical Practice

RBC Omega-3 Index vs

Daily Omega-3 Intake

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

0 2 4 6 8 10 12

RBC Omega-3 Index (%)

Daily O

meg

a-3

In

take .

(m

g/d

ay)

Measuring Omega-3s in Medical Practice

After 1000 mg DHA daily for 2 months

Before

Don’t Be an i-Bod; Change Your Oil

• Inflammatory

balance

• More oils:

fish, flax, olive,

coconut

• Less oils:

hydrogenated,

saturated, meat

I’m here to help put

out your “itis” fires.

I help balance

your inflammation.

Science Says: Go Fish!

Inflammation-balancing effects of omega-3s

• Brain: Improves learning and behavior in kids,

mellows moods, prevents Alzheimer’s, improves

thinking, helps heal neurodegenerative diseases,

lessens stroke

• Eyes: Improves vision, moistens dry eyes, delays

age-related macular degeneration

• Ears: Delays age-related hearing loss

• Gums: Helps gingivitis

• Gut: Lessens colitis and irritable bowel syndrome

• Immune System: Lessens auto-immune disease

Science Says: Go Fish!

Inflammation-balancing effects of omega-3s

• Heart: Steadies irregular heartbeat, lessens clots in

vessels, balances high blood pressure, softens

atherosclerosis

• Lungs: Alleviates asthma, bronchitis

• Skin: Heals dermatitis

• Joints: Alleviates arthritis

• Penis: Enhances blood vessel health for erectile

function

The Healing Power of Omega-3s

Nutritional Armor for the Warfighter. 2009.

http://videocast.nih.gov/summary.asp?File=15352