Friday, March 9, 2007

Omega 3 might build grey matter in the brain and improve mood

Omega-3 may build grey matter NutraIngredients.com 3/9/07 "Sarah Conklin, PhD, and colleagues from the University of Pittsburgh's Cardiovascular Behavioral Medicine Program conducted a study involving 55 healthy adults, and found that those who had high levels of omega-3 intake also had higher levels of grey matter in areas of the brain associated with emotional arousal and regulation...Although the finding suggests that omega-3 may promote structural improvement in areas of the brain related to mood and emotions (the bilateral anterior cingulate cortex, the right amygdala and the right hippocampus), the researchers said that more research is needed to ascertain whether eating fish actually causes changes in the brain...builds on a study she presented at the same meeting last year, in which she found that people who had lower blood levels of omega-3 were more likely to have a negative outlook and be more impulsive.Those with higher blood levels were found to be more agreeable and less likely to report mild to moderate depression"

USAToday on this story - implying DHA is the fatty acid responsible for the benefit.

This coming on the heels of the meta study indicating that omega 3 fatty acids are of no help with depression. What's a person to do? Wait for the next round of studies... of which this is one. Of course there are other reasons to take omega 3 supplements.

Maybe a better bet to build grey matter is with cocoa.

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