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In the News: Omega-3s & Mood, Vitamin E & Lung Health, Resveratrol & Insulin

Fish Oil May Ease Depression and Anxiety

The findings of two new studies add to the growing body of evidence suggesting that fish oil may positively affect mood, behavior and mental well-being.

In the first study (1), university researchers from Australia recruited 50 people aged 65 and older with mild cognitive impairment to participate in a 6-month long trial. Volunteers received supplements of EPA-rich fish oil, DHA-rich oil, or linoleic oil daily.

Those assigned to the predominately EPA fatty acid group scored better than the linoleic acid group on the Geriatric Depression Scale – a validated questionnaire commonly used to identify depression in older people. The DHA-rich group, on the other hand, displayed improvements in verbal fluency.

These results, according to the study’s authors, indicate that both EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids are important for fighting symptoms of depression and boosting neurological function. Since symptoms of depression may increase the risk of progressing from mild cognitive impairment to dementia, the researchers also call for larger and longer trials to see whether fish oil can reduce the risk of dementia in this population.

Evaluating the effects of fish oil in healthy young adults was the objective of the second study (2). Ohio State University investigators enlisted 68 medical students who were given either high dose EPA plus DHA or a placebo.

Results showed a 14% reduction in levels of an inflammatory biomarker, and a 20% decrease in anxiety symptoms with the omega-3 supplement. Inflammation is believed to be involved in hormonal stress responses, and those hormones could influence a key brain region for fear and anxiety.

Vitamin E Could Decrease Lung Disease Risk

Daily supplements of vitamin E might reduce the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by about 10% in women over 45, according to a study from Cornell University (3). COPD, which causes wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and other symptoms, affects about 12 million Americans according to the National Institutes of Health.

Oxidative stress in lung tissue, the result of oxidants outnumbering antioxidants, is believed to contribute to COPD. In addition, population health studies consistently report that higher antioxidant blood levels are associated with lower risk of COPD and asthma.

The researchers analyzed data from over 38,500 women who took part in the Women’s Health Study (WHS). In the WHS, women received either 600 IU of vitamin E every other day plus 100 mg of aspirin every other day, or placebos. The finding of a 10% risk reduction was observed in both smokers and non-smokers.

Resveratrol May Boost Insulin Sensitivity

Could an antioxidant found in red wine, grapes and peanuts affect the efficiency of insulin? Though more study is needed, results from a pilot study (4) conducted in 19 type 2 diabetic men, suggests that resveratrol could prove to be helpful.

The patients took 5 mg of resveratrol or placebo twice daily for 4 weeks. Those getting resveratrol had far fewer signs of oxidative stress, and higher levels of a protein that triggers cells to take up and use the sugar glucose. Oxidative stress is thought to be a factor in insulin resistance, which renders cells less able to absorb glucose circulating in the blood stream.

References

1. Sinn N, et al. Effects of n-3 fatty acids, EPA v. DHA, on depressive symptoms, quality of life, memory and executive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a 6-month randomised controlled trial. Br J Nutr 2011 Sep 20:1-12. [Epub ahead of print].
2. Kiecolt-Glaser JK, et al. Omega-3 supplementation lowers inflammation and anxiety in medical students: a randomized controlled trial. Brain Behav Immunity 2011 Jul 19. [Epub ahead of print].
3. Agler AH, et al. Randomised vitamin E supplementation and risk of chronic lung disease the Women’s Health Study. Torax 66:320-25, 2011.
4. Brasnyo P, et al. Resveratrol improves insulin sensitivity, reduces oxidative stress and activates the Akt pathway in type 2 diabetic patients. Br J Nutr 106:383-9, 2011.