In the News: Omega-3s, Antioxidants and GLA

Omega-3s, Zinc & "C" May Ease Asthma

Results of new research suggest that a combination of fish oil, zinc and vitamin C can improve the symptoms of bronchial asthma in children (1). Asthma, which affects nearly 20 million Americans, is on the rise according to the American Lung Association.

In this double-blind study, 60 asthmatic children were supplemented with 300 mg of EPA and DHA, 15 mg of zinc, 200 mg of ascorbic acid, a combination of all the nutrients or a placebo for 6 week periods. Lung function was measured, as were markers of inflammation. Symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath and the use of rescue inhalers were measured in a standardized test.

The researchers found significant improvement in all the tests when the nutrients were given one at a time. However all three nutrients combined produced the best results.

Omega-3s & Better Blood Pressure in Dieters

One of the many benefits of weight loss is often blood pressure reduction, and results of a recent study suggest that the omega-3s can result in even better reductions - at least in those who have low levels of the omega-3 DHA stored in their cell membranes (2). Low levels of cellular omega-3 are believed to reflect infrequent intake of these important fatty acids.

All of the 324 overweight study participants, aged 20-40, were put on weight loss diets and divided into 4 different groups. One group ate salmon 3 times weekly, while another consumed cod, which is lower in omega-3 content. The third group was given supplements providing about 495 mg of EPA and DHA daily, while the forth group was assigned to a placebo and ate no seafood.

All of the study subjects lost weight - a little over 11 pounds on average. Blood pressure also went down overall, but reductions were greater in those eating salmon or receiving the daily omega-3 supplement compared to people in the cod-consuming group and in placebo-takers who had low stores of the omega-3 to begin with. These observations are in line with a number of other study findings that indicate blood pressure reductions with greater EPA and DHA intake.

GLA Makes Contact Wear More Comfortable

Contact lens wearers commonly experience a feeling of dryness in their eyes. As a result, many people wear their lenses less often or discontinue their use altogether. A recent double-blind, placebo-controlled study examined the effects of 300 mg of supplemental GLA daily in 76 women with contact lens-related dry eye (3). The participants all wore soft contact lens.

The women in the GLA group experienced significant improvement in the sensation of dryness and overall lens comfort at 3 months and at 6 months, when the study ended. Tear meniscus height - a relatively new measurement of tear production - was also greater in the GLA supplementers compared to placebo.

Antioxidants, Exercise Boost Bones in Women

The results of a pilot study in 34 post-menopausal women suggest that a combination of antioxidant supplements and resistance training may help protect against bone loss. The women were assigned to 1 of 4 groups: 1) antioxidants plus exercise; 2) antioxidants and no exercise; 3) placebo plus exercise; or 4) placebo and no exercise. The antioxidants consisted of 600 IU vitamin E and 1,000 mg of vitamin C daily.

At the end of 6 months, measures of bone density revealed that only those women not exercising and getting the placebo experienced significant bone loss in the spine. In contrast, the bone density of those who exercised or took the antioxidants remained constant. These preliminary findings are promising and lend support to previous links seen between higher intake of antioxidants (e.g. lycopene) and better bone density in the spine of women and, for men, in the hip.

References

1. Al Biltagi M, et al. Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C and zinc supplementation in asthmatic children: a randomized, self-controlled study. Acta Pediatrica 98:737-42, 2009.
   
2. Ramel A, et al. Moderate consumption of fatty fish reduces diastolic blood pressure in overweight and obese European young adults during energy restriction. Nutrition [Epub May 30, 2009].
   
3. Kokke KH, et al. Oral omega-6 essential fatty acid treatment in contract lens association dry eye. Contact Lens Anterior Eye 31:141-6, 2008.
   
4. Chuin A, et al. Effect of combined antioxidants compared to resistance training on BMD in elderly women: a pilot study. Osteoporosis Inter 20:1253-8, 2009.