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Marine OMEGA-3 fatty acids in the prevention of cardiovascular disease
This comprehensive review analyzed a number of population studies, meta-analyses, and randomized controlled trials to make a comprehensive analysis of the effect of omega-3 fatty acids on various physiological effects, such as cardiovascular disease and the factors that relate to that. These include factors such as HDL levels, cardiac function, and blood pressure, among others. The researchers who authored this study then conclude that based on their research that omega-3 fatty acids have a beneficial effect on many of these factors, with the strongest evidence arising from a dietary intake of fish. They also saw that high doses of these compounds didn't have any adverse effects. The strength of this study was that they reviewed many strong studies (including randomized controlled trials and even other meta-analyses and reviews) to get these findings. Weaknesses however include that certain factors only had one or two studies cited for them, meaning that more research on the effects of these compounds such as plaque stabilization is probably needed to make more definite conclusions. This article definitely supports consuming omega-3 fatty acids[1]
Fish consumption and omega-3 fatty acid supplementation for prevention or treatment of cognitive decline, dementia or Alzheimer's disease in older adults - any news?
This review looked at a number of studies in an effort to find any work on omega-3 fatty acids and its effects on attenuating Alzheimer's Disease (it analyzed studies from 2015 - November 2016). In their discussion, the researchers note that the debate is still ongoing and that work is still needed to be done, but what they found from 12 observational and intervention studies that they analyzed was that RCTs were hard to perform (because if no cognitive deterioration occurs in any of the subjects, then no effect can be found), and there was conflicting evidence. Overall, they recommended more testing on the subject. The strength of this study was that it was a review, but the weakness was that the RCT they analyzed found no differences, because there was no cognitive deterioration in any of the subjects (thus there was no potential effect to find). It seems that this study is optimistic for finding an effect of omega-3 fatty acid (since it said that existing knowledge indicates that the compound could have an effect), but is relatively neutral, as it calls for more testing and admits conflicting information.[2]
Metabolism and functional effects of plant-derived omega-3 fatty acids in humans
This study, in an effort to find another source of omega-3 fatty acids (as fish, the main source, is as of yet not a very sustainable source of food), looked at plants and their alpha-linoleic acid, which can potentially convert itself into EPA and DHA, the main omega-3 fatty acid compounds. After analyzing some studies (this was another review), they found some potential for ALA to convert itself into EPA and DHA, which was promising. However, this effect was seen more for the conversion into EPA, and not DHA. In general though, most ALA doesn't convert into either, but is lost through oxidation. ALA though does have additional potential health effects in itself (one study found an effect on lowering LDL-cholesterol and cholesterol in the blood), so it also may be promising in and of itself. The strength of this study was that it was a review (reviewing multiple studies to find new conclusions), but the weaknesses were also identified by the authors as well — in the studies they analyzed, not all groups were tested (including non-healthy individuals, children, and the elderly), and they realized that the effect of sex on conversion of ALA into EPA and DHA should be researched further (one study found that young women had more a conversion rate than young men). Also, more work needed to be done on SDA, or stearidonic acid, another compound that is heavily found in plants. This study seems to support the notion that omega-3 fatty acids are good for you, since the main argument of this article was to find compounds that convert to those substances.[3]
Human health risk associated with brominated flame-retardants (BFRs)
This review aimed to find the potential drawbacks of consuming seafood, as pollutants known as brominated flame-retardants have a high concentration in seafood (although they are found in many other sources, such as house dust, meat, and dairy products). Furthermore, the researchers noted that toddlers and infants consuming high levels of fish and even crude fish oil may be exceeding the daily amount for these substances, which may pose potential health problems. They concluded that in animal studies, they faced effects to their neurological, endocrine, and behavioral functions at exposure levels similar to what humans get exposed to, and said that recent epidemiological human studies found potentially similar effects. The strength of this study was that it was a review, but the weaknesses of this study included the fact that multiple other sources had high amounts of this compound (in the US especially, BFR exposure was mostly due to meat, then seafood in terms of diet alone), so it was hard to see the effect of consuming fish and crude fish oil alone. This means that more research was needed. This study seems to warn against potentially consuming large amounts of fish and fish oil in toddlers and infants due to potential deleterious effects.[4]