Benefits of Omega-3s

By David Goodman, PH.D.

What are the obvious health benefits of Omega-3s? Fish oils can be classified among the nutraceuticals prepared for the marketplace while Neptone qualifies as a functional whole food. Biologists know how PUFAs are found among the lipids that along with carbohydrates and proteins are essential for life. Often claims are made for the nutraceutical benefits of Omega-3s. A short list of potential benefits include blood pressure modulation and protection in areas as diverse as cardiovascular conditions; joint flexibility and pain; fetal and infant health; respiration and lung function; obesity and glucose modulation; brain growth and development; mental health; gastrointestinal inflammation; and ageing. Let us survey recent findings covered in 2008 and 2009.

Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Condition: Many scientists have tested the ability of fish oils alone to lower blood pressure and protect the heart. Generally in human subjects, supplements containing fish oils in the standard dose of 1,200 mg. of EPA and DHA can lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure by an average of 4.5 mm of Hg. Diets rich in fish oils can lower blood viscosity, reduce fibrinogen activity, and inhibit platelet aggregation. We can conclude from studies comprising tens of thousands of subjects tested on many continents that fish oil in humans and diets comprising oily fish diminishes the probability of coronary artery occlusion, heart attack and sudden death. FACT: Neptone extracted into an oil contains about 30% EPA and DHA among the fatty acids, placing it in first place among fish and shellfish, tied with anchovies.

Joint Flexibility and Pain: Swollen and inflamed joints respond to Omega-3 fatty acid enriched diet containing EPA and DHA. Often cited is the decline in inflammatory blood markers by about 20%. The reports are sufficiently common that scientists often recommend fish oils that are capable through their anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory powers to reduce the free radicals and cytokines along with eicosanoids that create joint pain. FACT: Neptone has, since 1967, been shown to be effective against joint pain and flexibility; reports target the Omega-3s and mucopolysaccharides, like chondroitin sulfate, to exert the primary actions.

Fetal and Infant Health: Rare is the mother whose obstetrician fails to notify her of the need for DHA during pregnancy and while breast feeding. DHA taken during pregnancy and post-birth seems to be essential for normal nerve growth. In fact, government guidelines urge mothers to supplement their child's diet before and after weaning.

FACT: Neptone provides the PUFAs required by pregnant and nursing mothers. Mothers report that they are satisfied that mussel powder also contains a chondroitin sulfate that is required for the proper growth and development of brain cells in the cerebellum.

Respiration and Lungs: Since EPA and DHA reduce free radical aggregates and inflammatory cytokines that often accompany lung disorders, these PUFAs have been found to be effective for clearing pulmonary obstructions and reducing breathing difficulties. Exercise-induced gasping for breath can also be reduced by a diet consisting of fish oils or oily fish like mackerel, blue-fin tuna, and wild salmon.

FACT: Neptone can be taken prophylactically to help keep airways patent.

Obesity and Glucose Modulation: Obesity in our nation has greatly increased along with the growth of fast-food chains since the 1950s. Obesity in populations whose diets are rich in Omega-3s and devoid of saturated fats and sugar excesses is rarely observed. In too many folks in the fast-food nation, obesity and glucose disorder seem closely related. Diets featuring large amounts of Omega-3s also assist in glucose tolerance. The consensus of scientists queried confirm that increased consumption of Omega-3s reduce the risk of conversion of insulin resistance to diabetes type II in obese individuals. More research is required to clarify the biochemical factors that contribute to both obesity and diabetes that can be modulated by fish oils.

FACT: Neptone also contains natural galactosamine, an isomer of glucosamine, in addition to Omega-3s that can exert glycemic control. The matter is as yet unresolved, but preliminary research appears promising.

Brain Growth and Development: Clearly the growth and development of normal healthy brains in children and adolescents requires a symphony of molecules playing along the membrane and within neuronal tissue. These molecules required for membrane structure, and also required for enzymes, peptides, hormones, transmitters and modulators must be working well for healthy nervous system function. Therefore it is of great interest that DHA is found in membrane phospholipids and the retina; EPA is found in cholesterol esters comprising membrane structures linked to phospholipids. You can reasonably conclude that Omega-3s protect phospholipids and stabilize nerve cell membranes. They protect the membranes from an enzyme PLA-2 that degrades them. PUFAs are known to keep membranes fluid as well, improving their performance. Membranes kept healthy more readily permit attachment of transmitters to them, and generate more energy on the mitochondria. They permit ion channels more easily to open and close while they maintain membrane integrity.

FACT: Neptone can provide the Omega-3 benefits, and through its mucopolysaccharides {glycosaminoglycans} permit the extensive development of neural networks.

Mental Health: Once upon a time, drugs organizing neural networks for treatment of mental and emotional disorders comprised the only molecular treatment modality. No longer. Things have changed. Now word of mouth spreads rapidly how Omega-3s are at least as effective in treatment of depression and mental illnesses. For about ten years, PUFAs are increasingly used for the treatment of mood swings. Schizophrenics too seem to experience less florid symptoms when placed on EPA and DHA. Early indications link psychosis to membrane disorders and the accumulation of free radicals and the inflammatory cytokines. Reports of amelioration of intrusive symptoms after Omega-3 diet in schizophrenia are becoming more abundant. Another area where fish oils are being tested is for the tantrums, hypermobility and short attention spans, called ADHD, in children. Preliminary reports indicate that perceived violent behavior in these children can be reduced.

FACT: Neptone, as we have noted earlier, seems to be surprisingly effective in children diagnosed with autism, where there is abundant evidence of inverse relationship of incidence with Omega-3 diet in national populations.

Gastrointestinal Inflammation: An abundance of studies has identified processes in the gastrointestinal tract related to release of oxygen and nitrogen free radicals, pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-1beta and TNF-alpha as well as end-stage breakdown products called eicosanoids from the breakdown of arachidonic acid in cell membranes. When inflammation struck elsewhere in the body like the joints and cardiac tissue, Omega-3s were effective in treating the symptoms and perhaps reversing disease progression. Therefore it is only reasonable to expect them to be effective against bowel inflammation like ulcerative colitis. Interestingly, in studies conducted in both Europe and Asia, the symptoms of these diseases were alleviated by Omega-3s and kept participants in remission, averting flare-ups.

FACT: Neptone has received commendations in the past for its ability to repair the inflamed gastric mucosa following treatment with NSAIDs like aspirin and ibuprofen).

Ageing: More and more older folks are hearing how brain inflammation and barrages of free radicals prematurely age the brain. They are aware of debilitating conditions that are the consequence of free radical and cytokine attacks on nerve cell membranes. EPA and DHA increasingly are being utilized to counter the release of neurodegenerative molecules. Animal studies and now clinical studies both confirm how the viability of neurons can be prolonged when a diet containing PUFAs, especially EPA, is consumed. Evidence is accumulating how Omega-3s can stop and reverse symptoms of brain-ageing, such as difficulty of new learning and memory loss. In the most dramatic studies, Omega-3s have been reported to reverse accumulation. The results of such studies, not unsurprisingly, are an increasing number of mature adults and scientists taking Omega-3s to slow ageing.

FACT: Neptone is gaining greater and greater acceptance as a nutraceutical and functional food to slow down the ageing clock. For Good Health at all stages of Life.

Conclusion, Author’s Comments

Certainly research into the whole body effects of the Omega-3s EPA and DHA remain a lively topic discussed in scientific journals and the Internet. The mainstream scientists understandably take joint positions enabling them to sell more favorite drugs like anti-depressants and statins. This paper is not to deny benefits, but merely to request that consumers carefully evaluate the facts. From our sojourn through two recent books on marine nutraceuticals and functional foods, we would recommend Omega-3s for cardiovascular conditions, joint pain and flexibility, gastrointestinal distress and other inflammatory disorders such as those affecting respiration and the lungs. Mothers can assist growth and development of their children both during the prenatal months and the early years postnatal by increasing their consumption of Omega-3s.

At the other end of life, Omega-3s test well against functional declines of ageing. “Slowing down the metabolic ageing clock” will allow a more joyous and fruitful maturity. Many folks believe they can escape overuse of anti-depression and anti-psychotic drugs by increasing intake of Omega-3s. Important work is in progress on Omega-3s on obesity and glucose normalization. Blood pressure can be reduced slightly but significantly, by taking Omega-3s. The future grows increasingly bright for practitioners and clients adopting a reasonable approach to supplementation with the favored Omega-3s, EPA and DHA.

For all the reasons discussed earlier, we pray that you acquire your Omega-3s and mucopolysaccharides from our protein and vitamin and mineral-packed natural functional food, Neptone. The facts speak for themselves and speak volumes.

References

Vazhiyil Venugopal. Marine Products for Healthcare: Functional and Bioactive Nutraceutical Compounds from the Ocean. (Boca Raton: CRC PRess) 2009. Comprises 15 chapters plus extensive Appendix. See especially, Chapter 5 on "Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Their Therapeutic Functions," pp. 143-184.

Colin Barrow and Fereidoon Shahidi (eds)., Marine Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods. (Boca Raton: CRC Press) 2008. Comprises 18 chapters including these primary sources: Chapter 2, Fereidoon Shahidi, "Omega-3 Oils: Sources, Applications and Health Effects," pp. 33-62; Chapter 3, Genevieve Young and Julie Conquer, "Omega-3s and Their Impact on Brain Health," pp. 63-90. Chapter 4, Cai Sung, "Omega-3 FAtty Acids in the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases Through Anti-Inflammation and Neuroprotection," pp. 91-114.