Posted on 11/15/2006 1:31:05 AM PST by neverdem
A substance found in fish oil may be associated with a significantly reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s and other dementias, researchers reported yesterday.
The scientists found that people with the highest blood levels of an omega-3 fatty acid called docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, were about half as likely to develop dementia as those with lower levels.
The substance is one of several omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids found in fatty fish and, in small amounts, in some meats. It is also sold in fish oil or DHA supplements. The researchers looked for a reduced risk associated with seven other omega-3 fatty acids, but only DHA had any effect.
The study, in the November issue of The Archives of Neurology, used data from the Framingham Heart Study to follow 899 initially healthy participants, with a median age of 76, for an average of more than nine years.
The scientists assessed DHA and fish intake using a questionnaire and obtained complete dietary data on more than half the subjects. They took blood samples from all the participants to determine serum levels of fatty acids.
Ninety-nine people developed dementia over the course of the study, including 71 cases of Alzheimer’s disease. The average level of DHA among all the participants was 3.6 percent of all fatty acids, and the top 25 percent of the population had values above 4.2 percent. People in this top one-quarter in DHA levels had a 47 percent reduced risk of developing dementia, even after controlling for body mass index, diabetes, hypertension, smoking status and other known or suspected risks. Risk reduction was apparent only at that top level of DHA — those in the bottom three-quarters in DHA level showed no detectable difference in risk.
People who ate two or more servings of fish a week...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
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mark
Just something to consider before OD'ing on the stuff.
In Europe It’s Fish Oil After Heart Attacks, but Not in U.S.
Is anybody home?
I take a minor dose but I need to up it. My cholesterol was 216/42 on my last test. I bet I get put on Lipitor next week.
bump
Small fish, like salmon and sardines, have very little mercury, I have read.
What is a large fish where you come from? Grouper? LOL
Well, shark and tuna are large fish, so contain more mercury.
somehow, this seems related...
Giant prehistoric fish packed quite a bite
Reuters | Tue Nov 28, 9:34 PM ET | By Will Dunham
Posted on 11/29/2006 12:45:05 PM EST by Redcitizen
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