A new study, The Cares Study (Cognitive Impairements Study), found that combining Omega-3, Carotenoids like Lutein and Vitamin E could improve memory in cognitively healthy older adults.
Researcher’s recruited cognitively healthy adults over the age of 65 to participate in this double blind placebo controlled randomized clinical study. The study lasted 24 months. Participants were randomly assigned to a supplement group or a placebo group. The supplement group received a supplement containing 1 gram of Fish Oil (430mg of DHA and 90 mg of EPA), 22 mg of Carotenoids (10 mg of Lutein, 10 mg of meso-zeaxanthin and 2 mg of zeaxanthin) and 15 mg of Vitamin E. The placebo group received sunflower oil. Cognitive Function data, nutrition, health and lifestyle and demographics were statistically comparable between the placebo and the supplement groups at baseline.
Participants in the supplement group showed significantly fewer errors in various working memory tasks when compared with participants in the placebo group. It was found that as the cognitive load of the working memory tasks increased, the supplement group outperformed the placebo group. Additionally statistically significant improvements in tissue carotenoid concentrations were also seen in the supplement group compared to the placebo group. The magnitude of this change seen in tissue carotenoid concentrations was actually related to the magnitude of changes in working memory performance.
Researchers conclude increasing intake of Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids and Carotenoids could prove to be a benefit in reducing cognitive decline and dementia risks as people age. Further research is planned.
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.
Lutein is a photonutrient and is found in green leafy vegetables and egg yolks and has been mostly associated with reducing the risk of Age Related Macular Degeneration (ADM) and is oftentimes taken in combination with Zeaxanthin.
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