Omega-3 Impact On Your Retina

Retinal Development  in Very-Low-Birth-Weight Infants Fed Diets Differing in Omega-3 Fatty Acids

file:///C:/Users/jbendell/Google%20Drive/AAAJunior/Research/Retina/2365.pdf

By David G. Birch, Eileen E. Birch, Dennis R. Hoffman, and Ricardo D. Uauy

To study the impact of fatty acids on the development of retinas, 81 infants were selected.  These 81 babies were on average about 5 weeks premature and once born werre selected to consume either natural breast milk or one of 3 formulas.  Formula A contained linoleic acid, but not many omega-3s.  Formula B contained linoleic acid, but no omega-3s.  Lastly, formula C, contained linoleic acid and omega-3s from marine oil.  These babies then went through full-field electroretinograms testing  about 30 weeks after being born.  These full-field ectroretinograms basically tested the functioning of the babies retinas.  The tests proved that omega-3s had a impact on the retinal development in babies.  For example, the Formula A babies tested significantly slower than the natural breast milk babies when tested for oscillatory movement. Oscillatory movement is basically the speed in which the eye is able to move.  Also though, no major difference were seen between all the babies in their cone b-waves and important part of retina health.

Borderline Personality Disorder Omega-3s

Article: Omega-3 Fatty Acid Treatment of Women With Borderline Personality Disorder: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study
Authors: Marcy C. Zanarini, Ed.D., and Frances R. Frankenburg, M.D.
Link: http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.ajp.160.1.167

This article described an experiment in which 30 females went through an 8-week, placebo controlled study of E-EPA for borderline personality disorder. 20 of the subjects recieved 1 g of E-EPA (while the others got placebo) and the E-EPA was superior to placebo in diminishing the agression and severity of the patients' depressive symptoms. Borderline personality disorder affects a person's mood and impulisive aggression, and most medications are only targeted towards some of the symptoms of the disorder so they do not work properly. However, omega-3 fatty acids are now recognized for their mental health benefits. EPA and DHA have important functions in the CNS because DHA is a major structural component of neuronal membranes and EPA has physiological functions that can affect neuronal activity. Biomedichal studies have shown that many patients with poor mental health had reduced levels of omega-3 fatty acids in red blood cell membranes. Overall the results of this trial suggest that EPA is a nutriceutical agent that could be beneficial to the treatment of women with borderline personality disorder. The women reported no clinically relevant side effects and these results were consistent with the findings of reports of omega-3 fatty acids as a treatment for bipolar disorder.

Research Topics: Molecular Basis

Retina development: Jack
Brain synapses: Kevin & Anthony
Recovery time post-workout: Lauren
Heart attack remodeling - Ellen
ADHD attentiveness - Nick
Oxygen transfer & capillary beds - Charlie
Mental disorder: borderline personality disorders - Taylor
Mental disorder: borderline personality disorders - Tessa
Cognitive function: Reading comprehension - Bajaj

Assignment:
Using Google Scholar, find journal articles relevant to your topic. The article should be in depth and detailed. It should be an article that you have to read, re-read, and re-read again to fully comprehend. The topic must be dealt with at a molecular level, specifically explaining the role or effect of fatty acids.

Post on the blog, the usual logistics and the connection (at a molecular level) with omega-3s and your topic. Be specific.This summary should be at least 8-10 sentences.

This is due October 3.

Textbook Presentation Slide: Lipids & Membranes

With each student taking a section of the lipid & membrane chapter, they created three slides and presented information within their section. This file is the result of their collaborative efforts.

Heart Attack Recovery

Title: Omega-3 Fatty Acids from Fish Oil, may aid healing after heart attack

Link: http://newsroom.heart.org/news/omega-3-fatty-acids-from-fish-oil-may-aid-healing-after-heart-attack

Author: Bobak Heydari

Summary: (8-10 sent)
The American Heart Association journal, Circulation, has reported that taking high doses of omega three fatty acids every day for 6 months after a heart attack will improve heart function and reduce scarring in the muscle that is undamaged.

Heart Attack Remodeling is what happens after a heart attack when the heart's shape and function is altered. It can possibly lead to heart failure. It was already known that omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil could improve survival for patients, but in the Omega-Remodel randomized clinical trial, it was discovered that the structure and condition of the tissue of the heart could also be improved post-heart attack.

The study involved 360 heart attack survivors. They all started the dosage of omega-3 or placebo within a month of the heart attack. In the trial, one group of patients took a placebo while another took 4 grams of omega-3 fatty acids every day for 6 months. Overall, they had a 5.8% reduction in the left ventricular end-systolic volume index (a marker used to predict the outcome of a patient after a heart attack) and a 5.6% reduction in measurement of scarred connective tissue, or fibrosis, formation in non-damaged heart muscle. Simply put, Omega-3 fatty acids allow the heart to contract better and reduces fibrosis. There was also a marked reduce in biomarkers for inflammation, which would mean that omega-3's are anti-inflammatory.



Connection: (4-6 sent) We already knew that omega-3's are good for heart, brain, and muscle health. In Anthony's first article, he talked a little bit about reduced fibrosis after heart attacks, and this article delves a little deeper into that. We know that fatty acids are an important part of cell membranes This is most likely is a vital part of maintaining flexibility in non-damaged parts of the heart tissue.

Omega-3, The New Superhero!

Title: 10 Reasons Every Lifter, Runner And Athlete Needs Omega-3S

Author: K. Aleisha Fetters

Link: http://www.mensfitness.com/nutrition/supplements/10-reasons-every-lifter-runner-and-athlete-needs-omega-3s-0

Summary: Overall, Omega-3 can also increase your recovery speed, increase your muscle growth over night, increase your reaction time, reduce muscle soreness, reduce injuries, and possibly achieve PR's faster than your normal pace (better sports performance). Specifically, muscles tear in your body and the Omega-3 specializes in repairing these tears, therefore, allowing a quicker recovery. After excercising, your body transforms the consumed protein into proteins for your muscles. That process is called protein synthesis; which is increased with Omega-3. Injuries are also prevented by decreasing the tissue degrading in your body therefore boosting the blood and oxygen flowing into your muscles. Not only does do these fatty acids boost your athletic performance, but they also maintain keeping the important organs in your body healthy. The human body cannot produce Omega-3's so we must rely on our diet. There are three types of Omega-3 fatty acids: EPA, DHA, and ALA. EPA and DHA are the chemically long chained fatty acids that you find from fish. ALA are short chained fatty acids that you find in avocados and nuts. While all these benefits may seem too god to be true, our body can only burn through DHA, so the other two fatty acids must be converted into DHA before use. This process in our body is inefficient because the conversion only yields less than 2% of how much the body started to react with.

Connection Summary: This article touched basis in the introduction to how there is already scientifically proven heart benefits from taking Omega-3. Many of us have also done some researches on how these fatty acids increase muscle strength and prevent injuries to multiple parts of the body. My first article specifically talked about how Omega-3 directly benefits the heart and its muscles. There seems to be a strong tie between the fatty acids and muscles in our body. And many other articles specifically focused on the DHA fatty acid because this demonstrates the most healing power out of all the other Omega-3 fatty acids.

Don't Be Sad, Eat Fish

Link: http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/omega-3s

Author: Mental Health America

Title: Omega-3s

Summary: Not only can omega-3s help your heart, they can help your mind as well. A diet high in omega-3s (as long as a healthy omega-3 to omega-6 ratio is maintained) can help alleviate the symptoms of various medical mental ailments. Of eight major sources who investigated the connection between omega-3s and depression, all eight sources concluded that there was "promising evidence for omega-3s in the treatment of depression". Five of those studies even recommended omega-3 supplementation for depression. The previously mentioned five sources also stated that omega-3s can help stabilize one's mood. This mood stabilization that results from consumption of omega-3s can be used to help with short-term symptoms of bipolar disorder. In addition to bipolar disorder and depression, scientists are also researching the potential benefits of omega-3s in helping to cure various other mental diseases such as dementia, schizophrenia, and dyslexia. The best way to get these health improving omega-3s is by eating non-predatory fish for about 2 meals a week. Many vegetarians and vegans have trouble getting a healthy amount of omega-3s in their diet, and their only chance to get the healthy dosage of omega-3s is through supplementary capsules. However you get your omega-3s, it is clear that you should make sure to get a healthy amount.

Connection: Already we have seen through the articles that everyone has provided that omega-3s can help improve your physical health, but now we see your mental health can be improved as well. From strengthening your eyesight to helping stop depression, it seems that there is nothing omega-3s can't do. Charlie had already mention that omega-3s can help with healing concussions, and now we see that omega-3s can affect the brain on a chemical level as well. These fascinating health benefits make me wonder why it isn't more of a priority to get people to consume more omega-3s and maintain a healthy omega-3 to omega-6 ratio.