Latest Findings

Vitamin D and Omega-3 TriaL (VITAL Study):

VITAL investigated whether taking daily vitamin D3 and/or EPA+DHA (omega-3-acid ethyl esters) reduces the risk of major cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. These events were specifically defined as the composite of myocardial infarction (MI), stroke and CVD death. VITAL also looked at total invasive cancer in people who do not have a prior history of these illnesses. This is the first large-scale primary prevention trial — subjects included 25,871 men and women — looking at heart disease as an outcome.
 

SALT LAKE CITY, Jan. 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- A study published in the European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology titled "Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Prevention of Early Preterm Delivery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Studies," found omega-3 supplement consumption was associated with a 58 percent decrease in the likelihood of early preterm birth (babies born before 34 weeks) and a 17 percent decrease in any preterm delivery (babies born before 37 weeks).

The Lancet has published a new Global Burden of Disease report. Its contributors estimate that low EPA and DHA intakes caused 1.03 million deaths globally in 2013 and 22.4 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost. They also note that low omega-3 intakes is one of the top 25 global risk factors for death and DALYs. The 2010 version of the paper has been described as the most authoritative work on the causes of ill health, so this update is significant.

Total normal brain and hippocampus volumes were directly associated with levels of omega-3 fatty acids in a study of more than 1000 postmenopausal women.

The study, published online in Neurology on January 22, was conducted by a team led by James Pottala, PhD, University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls.

"These results are consistent with the idea that higher omega-3 levels may slow the loss of brain volume that occurs as we age," senior author, William Harris, PhD, also from the University of South Dakota, told Medscape Medical News. 

A higher level of serum long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) — an objective biomarker of fish intake — is linked to a lower long-term risk for type 2 diabetes, according to the results of a new prospective, population-based cohort study.