New research published in Translational Psychiatry, found higher blood levels of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in the blood of adolescents is associated with reduced risks of developing psychotic disorders in early adulthood.
Over 3,800 individuals who participated in the Bristol’s Children of the 90’s health study, were assessed for generalized anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, and psychotic disorder at the age of 17 and then again at the age of 24. Blood samples and measured Omega-6 Fatty Acid levels were collected by researchers. Omega-6 Fatty Acid levels are believed to increase inflammation in the body while Omega-3 Fatty Acids are known to reduce inflammation.
At age 17 there was little evidence showing that Fatty Acids were associated with mental disorders, however, researchers found that at age 24 participants with generalized anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, and psychotic disorder had higher blood levels of Omega-6 than Omega-3 when compared to participants who did not have mental disorders. Additionally in one group of over 2,700 participants who were tracked over time, adolescents with higher levels of DHA (One of the Omega-3 Fatty Acids), at age 17, were 56% less likely to develop a mental disorder at age 24.
In the average modern Western diet the ratio between Omega-6 and Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids may be as high as 10 to 1. Humans seemed to have evolved on a diet with a more balanced ratio between Omega-6 and Omega 3 Essential Fatty Acids. There is a lot of evidence that shows low-grade inflammation is associated with both the presence and/or risk of mental disorders like depression and schizophrenia. The actual way inflammation contributes to the development of mental disorders is a complex one, but may involve hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity, neurodegeneration, and neurotransmission. A lower ration of Omega-6 to Omega-3 Fatty Acids may aid in reductions in inflammation and could be a possible course of action to modulate the inflammatory processes.
Further studies are called for.
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.
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