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Healthnotes Newswire (July 31, 2008)—Premature babies are at risk for complications in their mental development, but new evidence shows that their brains may get a boost from fatty acids: A study in Pediatrics reports that breast milk supplemented with omega-3 DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and omega-6 AA (arachidonic acid) may improve brain development in premature infants.DHA and AA are two types of fatty acids essential for many bodily functions including brain, eye, and nervous system development. The optimal amounts of these fatty acids for premature infants has not been determined, but researchers suggest that increasing the amounts in early infancy may reduce the risk of developmental problems later in life.

Learning disabilities and school-related problems are more common among premature infants than full-term infants. Prior studies, however, have shown that premature infants who are breast-fed have higher IQs than babies receiving formula milk. This finding was attributed to higher concentrations of DHA found in human milk compared with formula milk. The authors of the new study considered the possibility that increasing the DHA content of human milk and adding AA could further improve preemies’ brain development.

Study results encouraging

In the study, 141 premature infants weighing less than 1,500 grams (about 3 pounds) were randomly assigned to receive human breast milk supplemented with either 32 mg of DHA and 31 mg of AA per 100 ml of milk, or breast milk supplemented with soy oil and medium-chain triglyceride oil. Infants received more than 100 ml of human milk per kilogram of body weight per day beginning on the first or second day of birth and continuing until discharge from the hospital (an average of nine weeks).

At six months of age, infants who received the human milk supplemented with DHA and AA were better at problem-solving and were better able to discriminate between familiar and unfamiliar objects compared with infants in the control group.

“There is growing evidence that DHA and AA have specific functions related to memory and problem-solving,” said Christine Henriksen, PhD, lead author of the study from the Department of Nutrition at the University of Oslo, Norway. Dr. Henriksen and her colleagues point out that these functions are critical for being able to focus, be attentive, learn, and process information. Further research is needed to understand the long-term impact of supplementing with fatty acids on school performance and attention capacity later in life.

Ensure you eat your EFAs

Babies are dependent on breast milk and/or fortified formula milk for DHA and AA, but there are other important sources of essential fatty acids (EFAs) to consider as the child grows older. In addition, recent research has shown that it is important for pregnant women to eat plenty of fatty acids in order to help optimize their baby’s brain function. You can find them in these sources:

• Fatty fish such as salmon, halibut, and tuna are good sources of DHA, which is also found in smaller amounts in eggs. Pregnant women should balance the need for fatty acids from fish with reducing exposure to mercury by limiting the amount of fish they eat and avoiding fish high in mercury content.

• AA is found in meat, chicken, and eggs.

• Some people may benefit from supplements that contain fatty acids. Check with your doctor about the appropriateness of using supplements to further enrich your diet.

(Pediatrics 2008;121:1137–45)

Healthnotes Newswire (June 5, 2008)—Skin affected by eczema might seem to be crying out for creams and salves to ease itching and inflammation, but what’s on the inside might be more important than what’s on the outside. A new study found that supplementing with the omega-3 fatty acid DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) helped relieve symptoms in people with eczema.

In the study, published in the British Journal of Dermatology, 44 adults with eczema received either 5.35 grams of DHA per day or placebo for eight weeks. At the study’s beginning, mid point, and end, scores were given to each person based on symptom severity, including the size of the affected area, redness, swelling, crusting, scabbing due to scratching, thickening, dryness, itching, and sleeplessness.

Symptom scores in people using DHA improved over the course of the study, but scores for those in the placebo group did not change significantly. In particular, the size of the affected area decreased 42% in the DHA group but did not change in the placebo group.

Eczema is a common inflammatory skin condition that is typically treated with topical and occasionally oral steroids. People with eczema often have other inflammatory conditions such as asthma, allergies, and food sensitivities. Many people with eczema notice that flare-ups can be triggered or exacerbated by stress.

DHA and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) are the omega-3 fatty acids found primarily in fish. Their anti-inflammatory effects are well established, and a number of studies have found that fish oil or EPA-DHA combinations are effective in treating conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, asthma, and cardiovascular disease. One previous study found that taking about 2 teaspoons of fish oil per day reduced symptoms in people with eczema.

“Our findings suggest that DHA might be helpful in supporting the standard treatment of eczema,” commented the principal investigator of the study, Dr. Margitta Worm, at the Charite-Universitatsmedizin in Berlin, Germany. “This is the first study to look at DHA alone in the treatment of eczema, so more research is needed to confirm our findings and identify the amount that would result in greatest improvement.”

Save your skin

People with eczema can take the following steps to reduce their symptoms:

• Identify food sensitivities and avoid reactive foods. Some of the most common reactive foods in people with eczema are wheat and other grains with gluten, dairy, eggs, and corn, including corn syrup.

• Manage stress through exercise and relaxation.

• Supplement with 3 grams per day of evening primrose oil or 2 or 3 teaspoons per day of sunflower or safflower oil, which have anti-inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids.

• Eat plenty of cold-water fish that are rich in EPA and DHA such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines, and herring. Or consider a supplement with these omega-3 fatty acids.

(Br J Dermatol 2008;158:786–92)

Healthnotes Newswire (May 29, 2008)—Sometimes one of the many emotional and physical changes women experience as they prepare to give birth, depression during and after pregnancy has very few treatment options that are considered safe for pregnant and nursing mothers. Fortunately, a new study found that supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids from fish can safely relieve pregnancy-related depression.

The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, followed the progress of 36 pregnant women who began experiencing major depression during their second and third trimesters. They were given either 2.2 grams of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) plus 1.2 grams of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) per day or a placebo for eight weeks.

Depression symptoms began to diminish within the first two weeks after starting treatment. The women using the omega-3 supplements saw greater improvement than the women in the placebo group, and this difference was more dramatic at weeks six and eight.

Hoping for a happy, healthy pregnancy

Mothers-to-be and their doctors are often anxious about using medications during pregnancy out of concern for the developing fetus. There is evidence that antidepressant medications might be associated with a higher rate of complications around childbirth, including premature delivery and low birth weight in newborns. On the other hand, untreated depression in pregnancy can also pose problems for the mother and baby.

Low levels of EPA and DHA have been linked to increased risk of depression, and several studies have foundthat omega-3 fatty acids from fish can be helpful. Pregnant women have lower levels of these fatty acids, as well as a number of other nutrients, because the growing fetus draws nutrients from the mother. Some studies have suggested that omega-3 fatty acid supplementation during pregnancy might benefit the fetus because these fatty acids are essential for normal neurological development.

“Mothers and their healthcare providers want treatments for pregnancy-related depression that are harmless for both the infant and mother, during pregnancy and nursing,” said lead study author Dr. Kuan-Pin Su at the Mind–Body Interface Center of the China Medical University Hospital, Taiwan. “In light of our findings, omega-3 fatty acids are a promising treatment option for depression during pregnancy. Further research will help to determine optimal dosage and ratio of EPA and DHA in treating depression during pregnancy and breast-feeding.”

Getting omega-3s in the diet

EPA and DHA are produced by cold-water fish such as salmon, tuna, and herring. Expecting mothers should steer clear of fish with high levels of mercury, a heavy metal contaminant that can cause neurological problems. Best bets include canned chunk light tuna, pink salmon, and herring, which are low in mercury and rich in EPA and DHA. The Natural Resource Defense Council, using data from the US Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency, has determined that as much as 12 ounces of canned chunk light tuna per week can safely be eaten during pregnancy.

Another way to get EPA and DHA is by eating omega-3 eggs, which come from chickens that have been fed a diet high in flax meal. Flaxseeds are rich in an omega-3 fatty acid that is converted to EPA and DHA by the chicken.

Mothers-to-be can increase their chance of being healthy throughout pregnancy by staying well-nourished; eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts and seeds; avoiding alcohol, refined sugar, and excessive caffeine; and staying physically active. Including some cold-water fish and omega-3 eggs, and possibly taking an EPA/DHA supplement, might also help them avoid pregnancy-related depression.

(J Clin Psychiatry 2008:e1–e8)