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Aquaculture accounts for 50 percent of fish consumed globally

September 8, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, September 8 (ANI): A new report by an international team of researchers has determined that aquaculture, once a fledgling industry, now accounts for 50 percent of the fish consumed globally.

The findings are published in the Sept. 7 online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

“Aquaculture is set to reach a landmark in 2009, supplying half of the total fish and shellfish for human consumption,” according to the authors.

Between 1995 and 2007, global production of farmed fish nearly tripled in volume, in part because of rising consumer demand for long-chain omega-3 fatty acids.

Oily fish, such as salmon, are a major source of these omega-3s, which are effective in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, according to the National Institutes of Health.

“The huge expansion is being driven by demand,” said lead author Rosamond L. Naylor, a professor of environmental Earth system science at Stanford University and director of the Stanford Program on Food Security and the Environment.

“As long as we are a health-conscious population trying to get our most healthy oils from fish, we are going to be demanding more of aquaculture and putting a lot of pressure on marine fisheries to meet that need,” Naylor added.

To maximize growth and enhance flavor, aquaculture farms use large quantities of fishmeal and fish oil made from less valuable wild-caught species, including anchoveta and sardine.

“With the production of farmed fish eclipsing that of wild fish, another major transition is also underway: Aquaculture’s share of global fishmeal and fish oil consumption more than doubled over the past decade to 68 percent and 88 percent, respectively,” said the authors.

In 2006, aquaculture production was 51.7 million metric tons, and about 20 million metric tons of wild fish were harvested for the production of fishmeal.

“It can take up to 5 pounds of wild fish to produce 1 pound of salmon, and we eat a lot of salmon,” said Naylor, the William Wrigley Senior Fellow at Stanford’s Woods Institute for the Environment and Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies.

One way to make salmon farming more environmentally sustainable is to simply lower the amount of fish oil in the salmon’s diet.

According to the authors, a mere 4 percent reduction in fish oil would significantly reduce the amount of wild fish needed to produce 1 pound of salmon from 5 pounds to just 3.9 pounds. (ANI)

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Alzheimer’s patients may not benefit from eating ‘brain food’ fish

July 13, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, July 13 (ANI): People with Alzheimer’s disease may not benefit from eating fish, even though it is considered to be a “brain food”, say American researchers.

Two pieces of research have shown that the chances of getting the disease may be reduced, or its progression prevented, by consuming a fish-based diet, but further work is needed.

Two studies were carried out to determine the effects of DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid found in oily fish.

While studies conducted in the past have suggested that fish oil rich in omega-3 can protect the brain from age-related dementia, the new research has cast doubt on the claims.

Funded by the Alzheimer’s Disease Co-operative Study (ADCS), the first trial lasted 18 months, during which it compared the effects of DHA and a dummy placebo on 402 volunteers with an average age of 76 who had been diagnosed with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s.

The researchers associated with the trial say that, at the end of the study, there was nothing to conclusively show that omega-3 supplements improved participants’ memory and mental performance scores.

The second trial ran for six months, during which a DHA manufacturer tested one of its products on a group of 485 healthy people.

It did show some improvement in one test of memory and learning. However, those participating in the trial did not have Alzheimer’s disease or any other form of dementia.

The findings of both trials were presented at the International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease (ICAD) in Vienna.

“These trial results do not support the routine use of DHA for patients with Alzheimer’s,” the Scotsman quoted Dr. Joseph Quinn, from Oregon Health and Sciences University, who led the ADCS study, as saying.

However, the researchers presenting the findings did say that there was some evidence that DHA might help people with a particular genetic make-up.

“These studies show that using omega-3 fatty acids as a treatment late on may not be effective against Alzheimer’s,” Dr Simon Ridley, research manager at the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, said.

“But with previous population studies suggesting that fish oils could reduce dementia risk, getting oily fish, such as mackerel, herring, salmon and sardines into our weekly menus could still be good advice.

“This shouldn’t spell the end of research into omega-3, however. It could be that omega-3 given very early in the disease process could make a difference, but for that to happen we must drive forward studies that improve our methods of diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease,” he added.

Dr William Thies, chief medical and scientific officer at the Alzheimer’s Association, said: “These two studies – and other recent Alzheimer’s therapy trials – raise the possibility that treatments for Alzheimer’s must be given very early in the disease for them to be truly effective. For that to happen, we need to get much better at early detection of Alzheimer’s.” (ANI)

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Fish oil supplements can cut memory loss in the elderly

July 13, 2009 By admin 2 Comments

London, July 13 (ANI): A study carried out by American bioscience company Martek suggests that taking fish oil supplements can reduce memory loss in old age.

Dr Karin Yurko-Mauro, a researcher associated with the company, has revealed that taking a supplement of omega 3 for six months had a beneficial effect on people with age-related forgetfulness and loss of learning ability during the study.

The research team tested the affect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the most commonly found in fish oil, on 485 healthy people with an average age of 70, and found that memory and general brain function increased significantly.

According to the study report, taking 900mg capsules every day was found to be the equivalent of turning back the clock three years.

The researchers hope that future studies will provide promising results suggesting that the fatty acid may help stave off Alzheimer’s disease, if new techniques can be found to diagnose it before it take holds.

Dr Yurko-Mauro said that the participants who took the supplements had “almost double the reduction in errors on a test that measures learning and memory performance.”

“The benefit is roughly equivalent to having the learning and memory skills of someone three years younger,” the Telegraph quoted him as saying.

Dr. William Thies, Chief Medical and Scientific Officer at the Alzheimer’s Association, feels that it is “too early” to make a recommendation about use of DHA supplements to prevent loss of mental function.

“In high doses, DHA does have side effects, so you would want to see a benefit to justify the risk you are taking. We need more work for that,” he said.

A presentation on the study was made at the international Alzheimer’s Association meeting in Vienna, Austria. (ANI)

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Omega Nebula’s ‘watercolors’ revealed in new image

July 8, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Munich, July 8 (ANI): A new image captured by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) has reveled the Omega Nebula, a stellar nursery where infant stars illuminate and sculpt a vast pastel fantasy of dust and gas, in all its glory.

The Omega Nebula, sometimes called the Swan Nebula, is a dazzling stellar nursery located about 5500 light-years away towards the constellation of Sagittarius (the Archer).

An active star-forming region of gas and dust about 15 light-years across, the nebula has recently spawned a cluster of massive, hot stars.

The intense light and strong winds from these hulking infants have carved remarkable filigree structures in the gas and dust.

When seen through a small telescope, the nebula has a shape that reminds some observers of the final letter of the Greek alphabet, omega, while others see a swan with its distinctive long, curved neck.

Swiss astronomer Jean-Philippe Loys de Cheseaux discovered the nebula around 1745. The French comet hunter Charles Messier independently rediscovered it about twenty years later and included it as number 17 in his famous catalogue.

In a small telescope, the Omega Nebula appears as an enigmatic ghostly bar of light set against the star fields of the Milky Way.

In recent years, astronomers have discovered that the Omega Nebula is one of the youngest and most massive star-forming regions in the Milky Way.

Active star-birth started a few million years ago and continues through today.

The newly released image, obtained with the EMMI instrument attached to the ESO 3.58-metre New Technology Telescope (NTT) at La Silla, Chile, shows the central region of the Omega Nebula in exquisite detail.

The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has also imaged small parts of this nebula.

At the left of the image, a huge and strangely box-shaped cloud of dust covers the glowing gas.

The fascinating palette of subtle color shades across the image comes from the presence of different gases (mostly hydrogen, but also oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur) that are glowing under the fierce ultraviolet light radiated by the hot young stars. (ANI)

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Salmona, tuna ‘protects against age-related macular degeneration’

June 20, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, June 19 (ANI): Omega-3 fatty acids found in fatty fish such as tuna and salmon may help prevent age-related macular degeneration (AMD) progression, depending upon the stage of the disease, suggest researchers.

AMD is a progressive disease that attacks central vision, resulting in a gradual loss of eyesight and, in some cases, blindness

During the study, the research team from Laboratory for Nutrition and Vision Research (LNVR) and Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) at Tufts University calculated the intakes of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) among 2,924 patients aged 55 to 80 years.

The findings revealed that taking supplements of antioxidants plus zinc prevents progression of late-stage AMD.

“In our study, we observed participants with early stages of AMD in the placebo group benefited from higher intake of DHA, but it appears that the high-dose supplements of the antioxidants and/or the minerals somehow interfered with the benefits of DHA against early AMD progression,” said senior author Dr Allen Taylor, director of the LNVR at the USDA HNRCA.

The antioxidant supplements did not seem to interfere with the protective effects of DHA and EPA against progression to advanced stages of AMD.

The study also showed that participants who consumed higher amounts of DHA and EPA appeared to have lower risk of progression to both wet and dry forms of advanced AMD.

“Data from the present study also shows the supplements and omega-3 fatty acids collaborate with low-dietary glycemic index (dGI) diets against progression to advanced AMD,” said corresponding author Chung-Jung Chiu, DDS, PhD, a scientist in the LNVR and an assistant professor at TUSM.

“Our previous research suggests a low-GI diet may prevent AMD from progressing to the advanced stage,” Chiu added.

The researchers suggest that eating two to three servings of fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, shellfish, and herring every week would achieve the recommended daily intake of DHA and EPA, however, further research is required to conclude dietary recommendations for people with AMD.

The study appears in the British Journal of Ophthalmology. (ANI)

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Elle Macpherson’s secret to looking 20 at 45 revealed

May 4, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, May 4 (ANI): Aussie supermodel Elle Macpherson’s secret to looking like a twenty something at the age of 45 has been revealed by her personal trainer James Duigan.

Macpherson has attracted a lot of interest with her killer figure and Duigan was contacted to find out the reason for her great shape.

The trainer first revealed that Macpherson is a person who swears by fish oil, and it is one of the reasons she is so trim.

“They’re great for helping your body burn fat, especially around your stomach and waist,” the Mirror quoted him as saying.

In fact, the latest study, from the Mayo clinic in Minnesota in the US, reveals that the omega-3 fatty acid contained in these oils helps suppress appetite and encourages the body to burn fat around the mid-section.

Secondly the model moves around a lot, whether she’s cycling her kids to school in West London, or surfing in her native Australia, is always on the move.

“She makes exercise a part of her day,” Duigan said.

“When she was in Sydney recently, she was cycling and surfing all the time. It’s important to stay active at weekends and holidays but, like Elle, you can make it fun,” he explained.

Thirdly Macpherson does not want to be skinny, she is happy to have a few extra pounds on her body.

“A few pounds show a lot on my body but it’s OK. I believe women look good with a bit of softness to them,” the model once said.

Although she’s very slim, Macpherson always kept her curves during her modelling career, which is probably why she’s so fit now.

“If you yo-yo diet or starve yourself, your metabolism suffers greatly,” says nutritionist Carina Norris.

“It catches up with you in later life and you’ll find it harder to keep a steady weight. It’s far better to eat well and move around a bit instead of messing with your metabolism,” she added.

Fourthly, Macpherson believes in her organic diet, and even says so.

“I would encourage everyone to give it a go,” she said.

Studies show that organic food contains more nutrients – and the more nutrients your body absorbs, the less hungry it feels, however, it can be pricey, so just add the odd organic item to your basket when you can.

Fifthly, she likes to meditate, as it allows her to take time out to focus on her mind.

“Keeping stress at bay is one of the best things you can do for your body and waistline,” Duigan said.

Stress is closely linked with stomach fat – studies show that when we’re stressed, our bodies release cortisol, a hormone that encourages our body to store fat around our waist and tummies. (ANI)

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Omega-3 fatty acids, low glycemic index diet protects against age-related macular degeneration

May 4, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, May 2 (ANI): Researchers from Tufts University have found that a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids and low glycemic index food can significantly reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

The team led by Dr Chung-Jung Chiu, of the Laboratory for Nutrition and ision Research, and Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Centre on Aging at Tufts University showed that nutrients, including vitamins C and E, zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin, omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA), as well as low-GI foods can protect against AMD.

During the study, each dietary factor was assigned a percentile score, and factor scores were added up to find each participant’s compound score.

The compound scores were related to participants’ AMD risk.

“Although the compound score may be a useful new tool for assessing nutrients in relation to AMD, specific dietary recommendations should be made only after our results are confirmed by clinical trials or prospective studies,” said Dr. Chiu.

Preventing AMD and delaying disease progression would best preserve people’s quality of life while containing healthcare system cost and care challenges.

Food sources of nutrients that support good general and eye health include: citrus fruits, vegetable oils, nuts, whole grains, dark green leafy vegetables, and cold water fish.

The study appears in Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology (Academy). (ANI)

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Michael Phelps’ attempt at deconstructing Omega timepiece

April 24, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New York, Apr 24 (ANI): American swimmer Michael Phelps was recently seen donning an eye loupe as he made an attempt at deconstructing an Omega timepiece.

Phelps, 23, who is the ambassador for Omega, was at the flagship opening of OMEGA New York Flagship Boutique on April 22, where he deconstructed the timepiece with guidance from the watchmakers.

“If I’m able to successfully put this watch back together, I get to keep it, right?” the New York Daily News quoted him as saying.

After his in-depth timepiece inspection, he shopped for a Mother’s Day gift for his mom, Debbie. (ANI)

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Michael Phelps: I’m not dating anybody

April 24, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, Apr 24 (ANI): Olympic star Michael Phelps has denied reports suggesting that he’s romancing controversial Miss California contestant Carrie Prejean.

“I’m not dating anybody,” he told Usmagazine.com Wednesday at the opening of the Omega flagship boutique in NYC.

“I’m single. My private life stays private,” he added.

As for Prejean’s anti-gay marriage answer during the Miss USA competition, Phelps said: “That’s the cool thing about America – everybody has their opinion.”

“I’m not saying I support her,” Phelps then added.

“I’m not saying I don’t support her,” he said. (ANI)

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Fish oil could help prevent Parkinson’s disease

April 20, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, Apr 20 (ANI): Incorporating an omega three fatty acid- found in fish oil- in the diet could help prevent diseases like Parkinson’s and Huntington’s.

Dr. Nicolas Bazan, form the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, showed that the omega three fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), prevented the misfolding of a protein resulting from a gene mutation in neurodegenerative diseases.

For the study, researchers developed a cell model with a mutation of the Ataxin-1 gene.

The defective Ataxin-1 gene induces the misfolding of the protein produced by the gene, which fails to get properly processed by the cell machinery and thus results in tangled clumps of toxic protein that eventually kill the cell.

The Ataxin-1 misfolding defect could cause Spinocerebellar Ataxia- a disabling disorder that affects speech, eye movement, and hand coordination at early ages of life.

Researchers found that DHA could protect cells from this defect.

Previously, researchers had discovered that neuroprotectin D1 (NPD1)-a naturally occurring molecule in the human brain that is derived from DHA-also promotes brain cell survival.

In this system NPD1 could set free the dying cells with the pathological type of Ataxin-1, keeping their integrity intact.

“These experiments provide proof of principle that neuroprotectin D1 can be applied therapeutically to combat various neurodegenerative diseases,” said Bazan.

He added: “Furthermore, this study provides the basis of new therapeutic approaches to manipulate retinal pigment epithelial cells to be used as a source of NPD1 to treat patients with disorders characterized by this mutation like Parkinson’s, Retinitis Pigmentosa and some forms of Alzheimer’s Disease.”

The study was presented at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Nouvelle C Room, at the American Society for Nutrition, Experimental Biology 2009 Annual Meeting. (ANI)

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Vegetable- and nut-intake and Mediterranean diet linked to lower heart disease risk

April 14, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, April 14 (ANI): Vegetable and nut intake and a Mediterranean dietary pattern seem to lower the risk of heart disease, according to a review of past studies.

However, the review also suggests that the consumption of trans-fatty acids and foods with a high glycemic index may be harmful to heart health.

Dr. Andrew Mente and his colleagues at the Population Health Research Institute carried out a systematic search for articles investigating dietary factors in relation to heart disease, published between 1950 and June 2007.

The researchers identified 146 prospective cohort studies that looked back on the habits of a particular group of individuals, and 43 randomised controlled trials wherein participants were randomly assigned to a dietary intervention or a control group.

They said that upon pooling the study results and applying a predefined algorithm, “we identified strong evidence of a causal elationship for protective factors, including intake of vegetables, nuts and monounsaturated fatty acids and editerranean, prudent and high-quality dietary patterns, and harmful factors, including intake of trans-fatty acids and foods with a high glycemic index or load and a western dietary pattern.”

They write: “Among these dietary exposures, however, only a Mediterranean dietary pattern has been studied in randomised controlled trials and significantly associated with coronary heart disease.”

The research team also found modest relationships supporting a causal relationship between intake of several other foods and vitamins and heart disease risk, including fish, omega-3 fatty acids from marine sources, folate, whole grains, alcohol, fruits, fibre and dietary vitamins E and C and beta carotene.

The study also supported causal relationships between vitamin E and ascorbic acid supplements, saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids and total fats, alpha-linoleic acid, meat, eggs and milk.

“The modest or weak evidence of these dietary exposures is mostly consistent with the findings of randomised controlled trials, although randomised controlled trials have yet to be conducted for several factors,” the authors write.

“Taken together, these findings support a causal relationship between only a few dietary exposures and coronary heart disease, whereas the evidence for most individual nutrients or foods is too modest to be conclusive.

“Although investigations of dietary components may help to shed light on mechanisms behind the benefits of dietary patterns, it is unlikely that modifying the intake of a few nutrients or foods would substantially influence coronary outcomes,” they conclude. “Our findings support the strategy of investigating dietary patterns in cohort studies and randomized controlled trials for common and complex chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease,” they add.

The study has been published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. (ANI)

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Pope leads Catholics into Easter

April 12, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Benedict led the world’s Catholics into Easter on Saturday night, urging them to rise the above “confusions of this age” by following Church teachings.

The German-born pontiff, marking the fourth Easter of his pontificate, began the Easter eve service in the atrium of a darkened St Peter’s Basilica, where he carved the Greek letters Alpha and Omega on a large candle.

The basilica became a sea of flickers as thousands of people gathered inside the largest church in Christendom lit candles before the lights were turned on.

The gesture symbolizes the darkness in the world after Christ’s death and the light of resurrection.

“God’s creation … begins with the biblical command: ‘Let there be light’. Where there is light, life is born, chaos can be transformed into cosmos,” the pope said.

In his sermon, the pope noted that in Jesus’s time, many followers were so confused “amid the contradictory messages of that time, they did not know which way to turn.”

“What great compassion (Jesus Christ) must feel in our own time too — on account of all the endless talk that people hide behind, while in reality they are confused,” the pope said.

The night mass was the last event in a hectic week before Sunday’s main Easter service.

The ceremonies commemorate Jesus Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection, and mark the climax of the Christian calendar.

The pope listened on Friday to meditations on the tragedies and disasters that test faith, during a Good Friday procession in Rome. The ceremony took place hours after Italians buried victims of Monday’s devastating earthquake.

The pontiff offered a special prayer for quake survivors, asking they find hope, despite a disaster that killed at least 293 people and left almost 40,000 homeless.

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Compounds from fish oil may resolve periodontal inflammation

April 6, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, April 6 (ANI): Boston University scientists say that they have discovered a new family of biologically active products of omega-3 fatty acids, which can resolve periodontal inflammation and restore the gums to health.

The researchers point out that oil from fish contains eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), both of which are omega-3 fatty acids.

They underscore the fact that these omega-3 fatty acids are often used to help people with various inflammatory conditions.

In a previous study, the researchers have already found that compounds derived from EPA provide protection against soft tissue and bone loss associated with gum disease, and restore the lost soft tissue and bone to healthy levels.

In their latest study, the Boston researchers conducted experiments to test the actions of compounds biosynthesized from DHA in regulating tissue destruction and resolution of inflammation in gum disease.

For their study, the researchers used the bacteria that cause human gum disease to stimulate a condition characterized by tissue inflammation and bone loss in rabbits.

The researchers found that compounds belonging to the two categories showed similar results in resolving periodontal inflammation and tissue regeneration.

These findings attain significance as the prevention of periodontal disease has been limited to successful oral hygiene and regular professional care to date, and despite such preventive actions, in susceptible individuals with a high inflammatory response, plaque control is not enough to prevent disease.

The Boston team made a presentation on their findings at the 87th General Session of the International Association for Dental Research. (ANI)

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Omega 3 fatty acids protect against obesity related liver problems

February 13, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, Feb 13 (ANI): Diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids protect the liver from damage caused by obesity and the insulin resistance it provokes, according to a new study.

The findings are important to clinicians for providing education to obese patients about how to prevent medical complications of obesity, while guiding weight loss.

“Our study shows for the first time that lipids called protectins and resolvins derived from omega-3 fatty acids can actually reduce the instance of liver complications, such as hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance, in obese people,” stated Joan Claria, a professor from the University of Barcelona and one of the researchers involved in the work.

The researchers found that two types of lipids in omega-3 fatty acids-protectins and resolvins-were the cause of the protective effect.

To reach this conclusion, they studied four groups of mice with an altered gene making them obese and diabetic. One group was given an omega-3-enriched diet and the second group was given a control diet.

The third group was given docosahexaenoic acid, and the fourth received only the lipid resolvin. After five weeks, blood serum and liver samples from the test mice were examined.

The researchers found that the mice given the omega-3-rich diet exhibited less hepatic inflammation and improved insulin tolerance. This was due to the formation of protectins and resolvins from omega-3 fatty acids.

Gerald Weissmann, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of The FASEB Journal, said:

“Doctors are always looking for simple and easy ways to counter the harmful effects of obesity, and the great thing about this study is that the information can be used at dinner tonight.”

“It’s not unlikely that eating lots more fish or a simple switch to canola oil will make a difference,” Weissmann added.

The study is published online in The FASEB Journal. (ANI)

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Fish oils prevent ‘bad’ cholesterol accumulation in arteries

February 7, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, February 6 (ANI): Scientists at Columbia University Medical Center have found yet another reason why eating fish can be beneficial.

Dr. Richard J. Deckelbaum, Director of the Columbia Institute of Human Nutrition, has found that a diet rich in fish oils can prevent the accumulation of fat in the aorta, the main artery leaving the heart.

The researcher says that the beneficial actions of fish oil, which block cholesterol build-up in arteries, are even found at high fat intakes.

Fish are generally rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are known to provide many health benefits, such as helping to prevent mental illness and delaying some of the disabilities associated with aging.

Eating tuna, sardines, salmon and other so-called cold water fish seems to protect people against clogged arteries.

Omega-3 fatty acids are also known to lower triglycerides, a type of fat often found in the bloodstream.

The current study was carried out in three separate populations of mice-one was fed a balanced diet, one a diet resembling a “Western” diet high in saturated fat, and a third was fed a high fish fat diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

The researchers observed that the fatty acids contained in fish oil markedly inhibit the entry of “bad” cholesterol (LDL) into arteries, and, consequently, much less cholesterol collects in these vessels.

According to them, this is related to the ability of those fatty acids to markedly decrease lipoprotein lipase, a molecule that traps LDL in the arterial wall.

The research team say that their finding may help improve the scientific understanding of omega-3 fatty acids’ benefits on heart health.

Dr. Deckelbaum says that people can obtain these health benefits by increasing fish intake, or by using supplements that contain the “long-chain” fatty acids, EPA and DHA, which are found in cold water fish.

The research was published by the American Heart Association’s Arteriolosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. (ANI)

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Omega-6 fatty acids boost heart health

January 27, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Washington, Jan 27 (ANI): Omega-6 fatty acids found in vegetable oils, nuts and seeds are good for your heart, says a new study.

The research has been published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

The association has recommended that people aim for at least 5 percent to 10 percent of calories from omega-6 fatty acids.

Recommended daily servings of omega-6 depend on physical activity level, age and gender, but range from 12 to 22 grams per day.

Omega-6, and the similarly-named omega-3 fatty acids (found in fattier fish such as tuna, mackerel and salmon), are called polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), and can have health benefits when consumed in the recommended amounts, especially when used to replace saturated fats or trans fats in the diet. Omega-6 and omega-3 PUFA play a crucial role in heart and brain function and in normal growth and development.

PUFA are “essential” fats that your body needs but can’t produce, so you must get them from food.

“Of course, as with any news about a single nutrient, it’s important to remember to focus on an overall healthy dietary pattern – one nutrient or one type of food isn’t a cure-all,” said William Harris, Ph.D., lead author of the advisory.

To reach the conclusion, the advisory reviewed a meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials, and more than two dozen observational, cohort, case/control and ecological reports.

Observational studies showed that people who ate the most omega-6 fatty acids usually had the least heart disease. Other studies examined blood levels of omega-6 in heart patients compared with healthy people and found that patients with heart disease had lower levels of omega-6 in their blood.

In controlled trials in which researchers randomly assigned people to consume diets containing high versus low levels of omega-6 and then recorded the number of heart attacks over several years, those assigned to the higher omega-6 diets had less heart disease.

A meta-analysis of several trials indicated that replacing saturated fats with PUFA lowered risk for heart disease events by 24 percent.

“When saturated fat in the diet is replaced by omega-6 PUFA, the blood cholesterol levels go down. This may be part of the reason why higher omega-6 diets are heart-healthy,” Harris said. (ANI)

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Trouts, a lucrative proposition in Kashmir

January 20, 2009 By Rajesh Leave a Comment

Rajouri, Jan 20 (ANI): Trout fish cultivation has gained fillip in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri District as the State Fisheries Department is successfully harnessing the potential to produce trout, a valuable commercial fish.

Trout, both brown and the rainbow species, is a coldwater fish found aplenty in the Beas, Sutlej and Ravi rivers flowing in from the upper reaches of the Himalayan range.

In 1984, a trout fish-farming project was set up at Kokernag, 79 kilometres south of Srinagar with assistance of the European Economic Community (EEC).

The project was successful and emerged as Asia’s largest trout farm.

The Kokernag farm has now restocked trout fishes in the valley’s streams and the trout production has increased manifold.

Consequently, quality trout is available at State’s fishery centres at much cheaper rates as compared to other trout producing nations of Asia.

The Fisheries Department is propagating trout farming in the cold-water rivers for the promotion of sport fishing to attract more tourists from abroad.

“We cultivate fish in the still waters. In fish farming, the investment is less as compared to the profits we generate. We have more than 100 units engaged in the farming in the Rajouri District alone. And we earn minimum 20 to 30 thousand through one Kanal,” said Qasim Lone, Assistant Director,isheries Department, Jammu and Kashmir.

Commanding massive demand within India and abroad, 10,000 to 150,000 of trout fish are being exported. This is apart from the amateur anglers and tourists netting this fish.

“We export nearly ten thousand to fifteen thousand a fish every year.We want more of our trout fish to be exported. We also get support from the Jammu and Kashmir Government,” said Mohammed Iqbal, a private fish firm owner.

Trout is highly nutritious. It is said that an average-sized trout contains about 1.8 grams of Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid that is needed for the development of brain and retina in infants.

This fish also contains 20 percent protein, Vitamin A, B, B1, C2 and D and forms the basis of healthy, low fat and fibre-rich diet.

The saga of trout in Kashmir valley dates back to the era of British colonial rule.

It is believed that trout was introduced here for angling by an Englishman named Frank Mitchell in 1899.

He reared the trout in premises of his private carpet factory at Bagh-e-Dilawar Khan (Garden of Dilawar Khan) located in old city Srinagar.

Later,he established the first trout hatchery at Harwan, situated on the outskirts of Srinagar in 1901,which today has become a prospective proposition. By Tahir Nadeem Khan (ANI)

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