May Reduce The Risk Of Heart Disease
By reducing markers associated with an increased risk of developing heart disease high triglycerides, cholesterol, and blood pressure omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of heart disease, according to a review analyzing existing studies.
The same review concluded that high-dose daily supplementation with 4 g of purified EPA in people with elevated triglycerides levels led to a 25% reduction in cardiovascular events.
In their , Prof. Fereidoon Shahidi, professor of biochemistry at Memorial University, Canada, and Prof. Priyatharini Ambigaipalan, currently at the School of Science and Engineering Technology at Durham College, also in Canada, identified evidence of health benefits from omega-3 in noncardiovascular health conditions.
Medications For Parkinson’s Disease
After youve received a diagnosis of Parkinsons disease, your doctor will develop a treatment plan based on the diseases progression at the time you were diagnosed. Current pharmaceutical treatments include:
- Levodopa is a primary treatment for movement, tremors, and stiffness. Levodopa helps nerve cells make dopamine. This medication is also taken with carbidopa so that levodopa can reach the brain and stop or reduce side effects from the drug, such as vomiting, nausea, and low blood pressure.
- Dopamine agonists mimic dopamine in the brain but are not as effective as levodopa in controlling symptoms like muscle movement and rigidity.
- Catechol O-methyltransferase inhibitors block an enzyme that breaks down dopamine. They are taken with levodopa and slow the bodys ability to get rid of levodopa.
- MAO B inhibitors block monoamine oxidase B , a brain enzyme that breaks down dopamine. This allows dopamine to have longer-lasting effects.
- Anticholinergics aid in reducing tremors and muscle stiffness.
- Amantadine was first developed as an antiviral agent and can reduce involuntary movements caused by levodopa.
- Istradefylline is an adenosine A2A receptor antagonist. It is used for people taking carbidopa and levodopa but who experience off symptoms.
These drugs can have a variety of side effects. Be sure to discuss your medications with your doctor so you understand how and when to take them, what side effects may occur, and when to report any concerning side effects.
What Do We Know About The Safety Of Omega
- Side effects of omega-3 supplements are usually mild. They include unpleasant taste, bad breath, bad-smelling sweat, headache, and gastrointestinal symptoms such as heartburn, nausea, and diarrhea.
- Several large studies have linked higher blood levels of long-chain omega-3s with higher risks of prostate cancer. However, other research has shown that men who frequently eat seafood have lower prostate cancer death rates and that dietary intakes of long-chain omega-3s arenât associated with prostate cancer risk. The reason for these apparently conflicting findings is unclear.
- Omega-3 supplements may interact with drugs that affect blood clotting.
- Itâs uncertain whether people with seafood allergies can safely take fish oil supplements.
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The same team has now investigated the effects of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E supplements on the expression of genes involved in inflammation and body metabolism in patients with Parkinsons disease. Gene expression is the process by which information in a gene is synthesized to create a working product, like a protein.
The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial assessed the effect of dietary supplements in 40 patients for a period of 12 weeks.
Study participants were randomly divided into two groups: one taking 1,000 mg of omega-3 fatty acids from flaxseed oil together with 400 IU of vitamin E supplements daily and another taking a placebo. The expression of genes involved in inflammation and body metabolism was measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells collected from patients.
After 12 weeks, PBMCs from patients taking daily dietary supplements had lower activity of TNF-alpha, but not of other genes involved in inflammation, such as IL-1 and interleukin-8 , compared with those on a placebo.
Therefore, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E co-supplementation due to their beneficial effects on inflammatory markers may be useful to control neurological symptoms in a population with PD , the researchers wrote.
In addition, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E supplements enhanced the activity of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma , a gene involved in lipid and insulin metabolism.
Fish Oil And Parkinsons Disease What Does The Research Say
Research studies focusing on the role of fish oil in Parkinsons disease is rather limited.
Nevertheless, evidence collected thus far has unveiled a relationship between dietary intake of fish oil and the incidence of the disease. Several epidemiological studies have revealed that stick to a diet containing fish oil is associated with a reduced incidence of Parkinsons disease.
A follow-up study based on interviewing 131,368 people for their food intake reported that consumption of a diet rich in fish oil is associated with a decreased risk of Parkinsons disease .
Similarly, another epidemiological study involving over 5000 patients verified that ingestion of a diet rich in fish oil is directly associated to a lower risk of Parkinsons disease development .
In addition, laboratory research on animals also suggests a possible link between fish oil and Parkinsons disease. For example, fish oil consumption has been shown to restore the dopamine levels in the brain of traumatic brain injury , which is associated with an increased risk of Parkinsons disease. In a laboratory study conducted in rats showed that oral supplementation of fish oil for 7 days caused restoration of dopamine neurotransmission deficits after TBI .
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Improve Tolerance To Cancer Treatment
Omega-3 fatty acids may improve the efficacy and tolerance of chemotherapy and is a potential supportive treatment to people undergoing cancer treatment.
More specifically, daily supplementation with EPA and DHA helped patients with head and neck cancers and to maintain body weight and reduce cancer-related muscle loss.
What Are The Side Effects
Fish oil is generally safe and is not associated with adverse effects when consumed in moderate amount. However, high dose may cause some complications in the body. Some of the side effects that have been frequently reported are diarrhea, nausea, and heartburn. Its long-term use may also cause organ dysfunction and promote aging .
Disclaimer: The information shared here should not be taken as medical advice. The opinions presented here are not intended to treat any health conditions. For your specific medical problem, consult with your health care provider.
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Vitamin C And Vitamin E
Vitamin C is found in fruit, vegetables, and the livers of animals. Vitamin E is an antioxidant found in vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, leafy greens, bell peppers, and avocados.
An 18-year study followed 41,058 subjects in Sweden. Within that population, there were 465 cases of Parkinson’s disease. Researchers evaluated vitamin C and E to determine whether antioxidants and total non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity were linked to a lower risk of Parkinsons disease.
Whats The Bottom Line
How much do we know about omega-3 fatty acids ?Extensive research has been done on omega-3s, especially the types found in seafood and fish oil supplements.
What do we know about the effectiveness of omega-3 supplements?
- Research indicates that omega-3 supplements donât reduce the risk of heart disease. However, people who eat seafood one to four times a week are less likely to die of heart disease.
- High doses of omega-3s can reduce levels of triglycerides.
- Omega-3 supplements may help relieve symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.
- Omega-3 supplements have not been convincingly shown to slow the progression of the eye disease age-related macular degeneration.
- For most other conditions for which omega-3 supplements have been studied, the evidence is inconclusive or doesnât indicate that omega-3s are beneficial.
What do we know about the safety of omega-3 supplements?
- Omega-3s usually produce only mild side effects, if any.
- Thereâs conflicting evidence on whether omega-3s might influence the risk of prostate cancer.
- If youâre taking medicine that affects blood clotting or if youâre allergic to fish or shellfish, consult your health care provider before taking omega-3 supplements.
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Can Its Consumption Treat Parkinsons Disease Symptoms
There is some evidence from animal studies indicating that consuming fish oil may be beneficial in Parkinsons disease. In laboratory studies performed in mice, rats and monkeys have confirmed that fish oil consumption can protect the brain from developing Parkinsons disease-like symptoms when exposed to neurotoxins .
However, the evidence regarding its therapeutic effects in human is still lacking. To date, no clinical studies have shown that fish oil consumption can treat the classical symptoms of Parkinsons disease in patients.
Only one study, involving 29 Parkinsons patients, showed that fish oil supplementation can improve depressive symptoms in Parkinsons disease. In this study, the patients were given either placebo or fish oil supplements for 3 months. After completion of the study, patients supplemented with fish oil showed a significant decrease in the score of depression rating scales, which are used to find the severity of depression .
Vitamins For Parkinson’s Disease
Verywell / Michela Buttignol
Apart from traditional pharmaceutical treatments, if you have Parkinsons disease, your doctor may recommend vitamins with antioxidant properties. While it is best to get these from food sources as part of a healthy, balanced diet, some people need to take supplements. These vitamins include:
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Vitamin E Vitamin C And Natural Foods
Scientists have also examined Vitamin E, Vitamin C and health foods to evaluate oxidative properties. Vitamin E can fight damage in the brain caused by free radicals and has been suggested to lower the risk of PD. However, researchers conducted an extensive and thorough study more than 10 years ago and failed to find any evidence that Vitamin E slows the progression of PD or manages symptoms.
However, a recent study published in Neurology, revealed that those with high Vitamin E and C consumption might be associated to a lower risk of PD. Additional research is still needed to better understand this association. Vitamin E has few side effects, and many people with PD continue to take it in high doses of 400 IU or more.
Researchers are also examining if health foods, such as fermented papaya and blueberries, play a role in slowing nerve cell death. Scientists are optimistic about the research, but do not have conclusive data at this time to recommend these supplements to treat PD.
Vitamin B12 And Folate
Vitamin B12 is an antioxidant. It helps keep red blood cells and nerve cells healthy and helps produce DNA. Sources of vitamin B12 are typically red meat, chicken, sardines, eggs, fortified cereals and bread, and nutritional yeast.
Researchers discovered that patients with early-onset Parkinson’s disease had lower vitamin B12 levels, which reduced motor and cognitive functions. In some cases, taking a multivitamin that included vitamin B12 slowed the loss of those functions.
Folate is found in organ meats , yeast, and leafy green vegetables. Folate plays several roles in the body and brain.
Both B12 and folate are involved in the metabolism of homocysteine, an amino acid. High levels of homocysteine are seen in various cognitive disorders. Studies show that Parkinson’s disease patients taking levodopa for the condition are also more likely to have elevated homocysteine.
In one meta-data analysis, researchers investigated the correlations between cognitive function , homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12 levels in patients with Parkinson’s disease. They discovered that patients with cognitive dysfunction had high levels of homocysteine and lower levels of folate and vitamin B12.
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Weighing The Therapeutic Potential Of Omega
Olivier Kerdiles, a doctoral student at Université Laval, is exploring the possibility that diet and exercise could prevent the onset of Parkinsons disease as well as reduce the loss of neurons and even reverse other negative effects. He is studying omega-3, a group of fatty acids known to be beneficial to our metabolism, which might also contribute to the health of neurons by maintaining their ability to produce the vital agent dopamine, which transmits signals from the brain to the body. His research is made possible through a Graduate Student Award from Parkinson Canada National Research Program for $30,000 over 2 years.
While most of the worlds research community seeks to develop sophisticated drugs that could prevent or correct the problems associated with Parkinsons disease, Olivier Kerdiles is considering whether something as simple as dietary intake might accomplish these goals.
While doing his masters degree in France, Kerdiles worked on standard pharmacological treatments such as L-DOPA, but since coming to Canada for his doctoral studies he has examined the role of nutrition and exercise.
Kerdiles wants to assess whether the capacity to generate dopamine is restored in the previously damaged neurons.
In many cases you develop a drug but then years later you realize that there are too many side effects for it to be useful, he says. Then you have to explain this problem to the patients you had told you were helping with this drug.
Could The Synergy Of Omega
While most of the worlds research community seeks to develop sophisticated drugs that could prevent or correct the problems associated with Parkinsons disease, Olivier Kerdiles is considering whether something as simple as dietary intake might accomplish these goals.
While doing his masters degree in France, Kerdiles worked on standard pharmacological treatments such as L-DOPA, but since coming to Canada for his doctoral studies he has examined the role of nutrition and exercise.
Kerdiles is looking at the role of omega-3, a group of fatty acids found in many foods that is a component of healthy metabolism. Kerdiles and his colleagues are exploring the possibility that this agent, in combination with exercise, could not only protect people from the onset of Parkinsons disease, but might also reverse some of the neurological damage that has already occurred.
Kerdiles works with different groups of mice, some with symptoms of Parkinsons, and others that have none. Members of various groups receive omega-3 and the opportunity to exercise together as well as separately while others do not. The researchers then compare the health outcomes of these different mice, looking particularly at the levels of dopamine in brain cells, since dopamine is the vital agent that helps these nervous system cells send messages from the brain to the muscles.
Kerdiles wants to assess whether the capacity to generate dopamine is restored in the previously damaged neurons.
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How Much Do You Know About Parkinsons Disease
Parkinsons Disease is suspected of being caused by either genetics or exposure to certain toxins and viruses, but there is no solid proof that these things actively cause PD to develop. Although science currently lacks an explanation for why PD develops, enough research has been conducted to determine how it develops.
PD starts in a part of the mid-brain called substantia nigra. Its a bundle of neurons that are darkly pigmented with melanin. Here, the neurotransmitter dopamine is synthesized. Dopamine is more commonly associated with depression because it is linked with moods and emotions, but it has many functions other than controlling moods. In fact, it plays a big role in movement and motor coordination.
The situation starts to go bad when neurons in the substantia nigra start dying. Without these neurons, dopamine stops being synthesized. Each neuron that dies means there will be less dopamine in the brain. A lack of dopamine then leads to bradykinesia , dyskinesia or tremors, postural issues, and slurred speech the hallmarks of Parkinsons Disease. This is a progressive disease, so the lack of neurons and dopamine gets worse over time.
Good Results From Omega 3 And 6
Very interesting. Actual results behind pay wall, though. Perhaps it will show up in the public domain after a while.
I can’t see it all either, but I agree that omega-3 and 6 are important. There have been many studies showing that higher levels of omega-3, at least, are conducive to a longer life. There are a couple of things I’ve learned that I’ll just throw out there, without bothering to find studies, so take them as intended suggestions to look into if you find them interesting.
First, the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 in your diet should be close to 1-to-1, but you’ll probably never get it that low because omega-6 is much more ubiquitous in our modern food. Cutting out anything with added vegetable oil is a good start.
Second, you should probably take an omega-3 supplement to get closer to that ratio, but these days the fish oil supplements are largely contaminated with mercury, so you’re best off taking an algae-based omega-3 supplement. Fun fact: no fish has ever produced an ounce of omega-3! All omega-3 comes from algae. The fish eat the algae and you eat the fish . By taking algae-based omega-3 supplements you’re getting the same omega-3 but without the “middleman”, so you just avoid the contamination.
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Reduce Risk Of Death By Heart Disease
Prof. Shahidi and Prof. Ambigaipalan also found that the consumption of omega-3 fatty acids does not reduce the risk of adverse heart disease-related outcomes, such as sudden cardiac death, heart attack, or stroke, even in individuals without a history of disease.
Although omega-3 fats lower the risk of developing heart disease by lowering triglyceride, the bad cholesterol LDL, and blood pressure, a meta-analysis of over 80,000 individuals found that their supplementation prevented death from all causes nor heart disease.
Dha Supplementation To Support Brain Health
Docosahexaenoic acid is an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid that is particularly abundant in the brain and retina. DHA is associated with supporting brain health. Lower levels of DHA have been associated with smaller hippocampal volumes, accumulation of amyloid plaques, and overall lower cognitive function.
DHA is largely derived from marine sources, and it has been correlated with a lower risk of dementia and Alzheimers disease in a dose-response meta-analysis that aggregated 21 studies with more than 180,000 participants. DHA may also provide protective effects on dopaminergic neurons, and it may be associated with a lower risk of Parkinsons disease. DHA is often paired in supplementation and research with eicosapentaenoic acid , another omega-3 fatty acid. Both DHA and EPA have been shown to promote synaptic plasticity and the inhibition of synaptic loss, and to support anti-oxidation processes.
Some metabolites of DHA have been shown to have anti-inflammatory and neuronal protective effects. A recent study assessed the effects of DHA and its metabolites on animals with Parkinsons disease induced by rotenone, a pesticide that inhibits mitochondrial function. The study results indicated that DHA metabolites improved motor dysfunction and induced nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 -regulating antioxidant genes, contributing to the possible protective effects of DHA against Parkinsons disease.
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