Omega-3 and Alzheimer’s

A recent study published in July 2003 in Archives of Neurology showed that people who ate Omega 3 rich fish such as salmon once a week or more had a substantially lower risk of Alzheimer's disease. In fact, the seven-year study of 815 nursing home residents found those who reported eating fish at least once a week had a 60 percent lower risk of Alzheimer's compared to those who rarely or never ate fish.

This new finding is in sync with a growing body of scientific evidence that suggests people can reduce their risk of developing a number of killer diseases, such as heart disease, cancer and now Alzheimer's, if they ate a healthier diet - one rich in Omega 3 oils from fish, plus plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.

In an accompanying editorial, Robert Friedland, M.D. of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio, said a healthy diet containing fish could help ward off a host of ailments, not just Alzheimer's, though he warned of toxins such as mercury tainting some fish.

Most health experts agree that eating fish high in Omega 3 is a good idea, but they also warn that some people, particularly pregnant women and young children, should avoid fish high in methyl mercury, a harmful contaminant found in some fish. Swordfish, shark, tuna and other large predatory fish can contain lots of mercury, while salmon, flounder and cod generally do not have as much.

Dr. Friedland wrote: "A high antioxidant/low saturated fat diet pattern with a greater amount of fish, chicken, fruits, and vegetables and less red meat and dairy products is likely to lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease, as well as that for heart disease and stroke".

Dr. Friedland went on to say that fish oil supplements, which were not considered in this study, can also be a good source of omega-3 fatty acids.

If the mercury content in the fish you are eating is a concern or if you are just not eating enough omega 3 rich fish, you may want to consider our Omega 3 Enteric Coated Softgels. The enteric coating means no fishy after taste! More importantly, our fish oil partners are world leaders in sourcing raw material fish oils for nutritional supplement products. They have tight purchasing parameters related to pcb's and heavy metals and will not use oils for further refining if they find these types of materials in them. The strict manufacturing processes including molecular distillation ensure that these elements are not found in the finished oil. In addition, independent testing of our products insure our compliance with California Proposition 65 related to heavy metals and pcb's.