A new meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT’s) found supplementing with Omega-3, EPA and DHA, could reduce Cognitive Decline in the elderly even more so for individuals already suffering from mild Cognitive Impairment.
The meta-analysis included 18 RCT’s. 5 types of intervention were assessed:
Micronutrient Supplementation
Essential Fatty Acids Supplementation
Chicken Essence Supplementation
Nutraceuticals
Nutritional and Lifestyle Counseling
Only B Vitamins and Essential Fatty Acids supplementation showed any significant reduction in Cognitive Decline.
Participants supplementing with B Vitamins found that individuals with increased Homocysteine Levels benefited more with supplementation than individuals with normal Homocysteine Levels. Homocysteine is an amino acid often linked to Alzheimer’s disease and Heart Disease when found in high levels in a person’s blood. The participants supplementing with Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids, EPA and DHA, also saw improved orientation and attention especially in the people already having mild Cognitive Impairment.
No significant reductions in Cognitive Decline were seen in the other 3 interventions assessed, chicken essence supplementation, nutraceticals or nutritional and lifestyle counseling.
Researchers concluded larger, high-quality, long-term trials are needed to reinforce supplementation with B Vitamins and Omega-3 as an inexpensive option for improving Cognitive Impairment.
Now here is a little basic information about B Vitamins:
Collectively, all B-Vitamins are called B-Complex. The Vitamins B-1, B-2 and B-6 should be taken in equal strengths, as should Choline and Inositol. B-Complex Vitamins are active providing the body with energy, basically by converting carbohydrates into glucose which the body then burns to produce energy. B Complex Vitamins are also vital in the metabolism of protein and fat. The B Vitamins are necessary for normal functioning of the central nervous system and may be the single most important factor for the health of nerves. During times of stress the nervous system can become depleted of B Vitamins. Stressful situations include physical or emotional overwork, infection or injury, fad or poor dieting, excessive alcohol or drug use and intense sports and workout. Other B- Vitamin functions include muscle tone maintenance in the gastrointestinal tract as well as skin, hair, eyes, mouth and liver health. A B- Vitamin deficiency can cause fatigue or low energy levels, affect the inability to handle stress, nervousness and result in poor hair and skin condition.
B-Vitamins are water soluble which means they are not stored but remain within cells and in the bloodstream for just a few hours. What is not used in this short period of time is excreted from the body as waste. Most people take a controlled released form of water soluble supplements to insure the most absorption. Controlled release is a process used in manufacturing water soluble supplements that provide a prolonged dispersion of these water soluble vitamins throughout the day (Up to 12 hours). Controlled release allows the water soluble nutrients to be released into the bloodstream more slowly, over a prolonged period of time, at a rate that allows tissues to efficiently absorb and utilize them.
Here is some additional information about Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids:
Chemically a fatty acid is an organic acid with an acid group at one end of its molecule and a methyl at the other end. Fatty acids are categorized in the Omega groups 3, 6 or 9 according to the location of their last double bond.
An Essential Fatty Acid is a fatty acid that the body cannot manufacture by itself, in other words they must be obtained through supplementation or through foods. There are 2 fatty acids that are designated as essential fatty acids: linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid. There are more fatty acids than these 2 specific essential fatty acids found in the Omega 3-6-9 groups but a healthy body may be able to manufacture them as long as there is enough linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid, so they are considered non-essential fatty acids. There are however certain health benefits to be obtained by intaking some of the non-essential fatty acids directly, especially in the case of the Omega 3 fatty acids.
The Need for More Omega 3
Humans evolved on a diet that had approximately a 1:1 ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids (EFA), today our Western diet contains a ratio of 15:1 – 16.7:1. A typical Western diet is deficient in Omega-3 Fatty Acids and has an overabundance of Omega-6 Fatty Acids when compared to the diet in which humans evolved and their genetic patterns were established. In a study done by The Harvard School of Public Health over 96,000 deaths in the US were attributed to being caused by an Omega-3 deficiency. Other research shows that excessive amounts of Omega-6 fatty acids and high Omega-6/Omega-3 ratios promote many types of diseases like autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, cancer and cardiovascular disease. It is obvious that increasing Omega-3 Fatty Acid intake is necessary for a healthier population.
Molecular Distillation
The public was made aware of excessive levels of mercury, a neurotoxic heavy metal, as well as PCBs and other toxic organic compounds found in certain fish species from a well-publicized federal advisory in 2001. It was determined that fish oil supplements could also be subject to excessive levels of these neurotoxins. It makes choosing a “CLEAN” fish oil even more important than ever. For this very reason Viva Vitamins uses pure, high quality, molecularly distilled Omega-3 EPA/DHA fish oil in the products they manufacture. Molecular distillation is a process where all heavy metals and PCBs are virtually removed from the fish oil. Additionally extensive testing is performed to verify that all federal standards of purity have not just been met but have been surpassed.
ASK US. WE KNOW. NOBODY KNOWS NUTRITION LIKE WE DO. NOBODY!
