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Health
News Archive 74 - Diet and Weight Loss
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Omega-3 For Weight Control
An article published in Lipids 2004
reviewed effects of omega-3s and weight control. The study reaffirms
research concluding the importance of omega-3s for general health and
weight control.
"It is well established that a diet rich in seafood prevents weight gain
but the mechanisms responsible for this effect has not been known," stated
Morten Bryhn, M.D., Ph.D., director of research and development for
Pronova Biocare, makers of EPAX® Omega-3 EPA/DHA. "This article presents
effects on weight reduction in obesity prone animals using different
omega-3 concentrates containing EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) or DHA (docosahexaenoic
acid). These animals behave very much like humans in the way that
overfeeding leads to severe obesity."
Data from the study clearly demonstrated that the omega-3 concentrate rich
in DHA increased oxidation of fat by activating genes that breaks down fat
in the mitochondriae and peroxisomes. These effects not only showed weight
reduction but they also showed weight gain prevention in animals given
free access to food. Additionally, the omega-3 concentrate not only
intensified breakdown of fat but also reduced the number of fat cells,
especially in the abdominal region. The effects were augmented in animals
on a concomitant 10% calorie reduction regimen.
This regimen has also been tested in a pilot study, presented at the North
American Association for Study of Obesity (NAASO) Annual Meeting, November
2004, including 20 women with severe obesity (Body Mass Index, BMI, more
than 40). The women were already on a very low calorie diet. The group
given the omega-3 concentrate reduced their weight by 20% more than the
group given placebo after only three weeks of treatment. BMI was reduced
by as much as 15%. The effects were highly impressive because of the short
treatment period.
"Being overweight is not only a problem of too much food and too little
exercise but also a problem of bombarding genes with signals leading to
fat accumulation. A diet rich in red meat and vegetable oils increases
accumulation of fat in fat tissue because of a chronic disarray of genes
responsible for handling fatty acids and carbohydrates," stated Dr. Bryhn.
"The number of fat cells increases and turnover of carbohydrates into fat
is facilitated. The net result is being overweight which leads to obesity
that is difficult to curb by calorie reduction and exercise only. Genes
are constantly programmed to a situation of starvation and they need to be
reprogrammed. Omega-3 fatty acids from seafood seem to do exactly that."
According to Dr. Bryhn, the process of reprogramming genes is slow so no
drastic effect is to be expected by taking DHA. Weight control should be a
combination of: reduced intake of red meat, saturated fat and foods
containing vegetable oils and carbohydrates, regular exercise and
increased intake of omega-3 fatty acids high in DHA.
The health benefits of marine omega-3 fatty acids are increasingly being
accepted worldwide. The scientific evidence continues to mount,
representing an opportunity for the treatment and prevention of common
diseases. The American Heart Association and the World Health Organization
both support the addition of omega-3 fatty acids to diets citing their
importance in maintaining good health.
References:
NAASO's 2004 Annual Meeting, Volume 12, October 2004, Supplement, Program
Abstracts. No 249-P. Weight Reduction with VLDC and N-3 PUFA Leads to
Higher Decrease of Weight and BMI in Severely Obese Women.
Ruzickova J, et al. Omega-3 PUFA of marin origin limit diet-induced
obesity in mice by reducing cellularity of adipose tissue. Lipids 2004;
39:1177-1185.
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