Fish oil pills may help teenagers stave off schizophrenia

There may finally be a way to stop people progressing beyond the first signs of schizophrenia – fish oil. When people with early-stage symptoms took omega-3 supplements for three months, they had much lower rates of progression than those who did not, according to one small-scale trial.

People with schizophrenia are usually diagnosed in their teens or 20s, but may experience symptoms for years beforehand, such as minor delusions or paranoid thoughts. Only about a third of people with such symptoms do go on to develop psychosis, however, and antipsychotic drugs can cause nasty side effects, so these are rarely given as a preventative.

Fish oil supplements, which contain polyunsaturated fatty acids like omega-3, may be a benign alternative. These fatty acids may normally help dampen inflammation in the brain and protect neurons from damage, and lower levels in the brain have been implicated in several mental illnesses.

Tests have found that people with schizophrenia have lower levels of these fatty acids in their blood cells, suggesting the same could be true for their brain cells. Fish oil supplements have been investigated as a treatment for adults with schizophrenia, but so far results have been mixed – four trials found no benefit while another four found a small reduction in symptoms.

But a study that gave omega-3 fish oil pills to younger people suggests that what matters is catching the condition in time. The trial followed 81 people aged 13 to 25 with early signs of schizophrenia. Roughly half took fish oil pills and half took placebo tablets for three months. A year later, those given fish oils were less likely to have developed psychosis.

New trajectory

That was seven years ago. The researchers have now followed up 71 of the participants and found that just 10 per cent of those given fish oils went on to develop schizophrenia, compared with 40 per cent of the placebo group. “We may have put them on a different trajectory,” says team member Paul Amminger of the University of Melbourne, Australia.

The results are striking, says David Taylor of the Maudsley Hospital in London. But he cautions that this was a small trial and the results need to be reproduced.

Nigel Barnes of Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust in the UK agrees that the study needs repeating with a larger group, but says that it’s reasonable for people to give fish oils a try. However, he warns that over-the-counter products may not have the right dose of the right fatty acids to be of use.

Amminger says the best approach for those at risk of developing schizophrenia would probably be to combine fish oil supplements with talking therapies.

Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2053882-fish-oil-pills-may-help-teenagers-stave-off-schizophrenia/

Fish Oil Market Supplemented by Diverse Health Benefits

Fish oil is contributive to various nutritive benefits, which is why an increasing number of health enthusiasts are vying for inclusion of Omega 3-rich fish oil in their diets.

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A recent statistic revealed by the National Centre for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) states that fish oil is considered to be the most popular natural product by nearly 7.8% (18.8 million) of adults in America. This is a due to the fact that the fish oil boasts of a variety of nutritional properties, which make it extremely viable in different food, pharmaceutical, pet food, and aquaculture applications. People are showing a greater inclination towards reaping the health benefits of fish oil, as there is growing health awareness in the world populace about it. It has gained popularity as a food supplement in nutritive diets, thus promising optimal health after ingestion. Omega 3 fatty acids that are a main component of fish oil, aid in reduction of risk of heart problems, rheumatoid arthritis, and depression. It also promotes prenatal health, healthy skin, and treats schizophrenia. The impressive medicinal advantages offered by the consumption of fish oil, as well as its usage in aqua feed and pet foods have led to the emergence of its market on a global level.

Allied Market Research has recently conducted an extensive study of the Global Fish Oil Market. It has explored the industry by source species and application types. The major drivers, restraints, opportunities and threat to the market are listed in the report. The study provides a quantitative analysis of the current market and estimations through the forecast period 2014–2020. It lists out the different segments in the industry and the market growth in different regions is depicted with relevant statistics. Fish oil and Omega 3 fatty acids possess huge potential in the market, with its consumption reaching massive levels.

Know the Latest Research in Omega 3 at : https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/omega-3-market

Fish oil extremely popular as an aqua feed 

Fish farming, or aquaculture, is another industry that is growing on a large scale. This has led to an increased demand for aqua feeds such as fishmeal and fish oil. There is greater focus on overall health of not just humans, but animals too. Omega 3 fish oil is a valuable marine ingredient that positively contributes to better health and well-being in animals too. This is one of the main reasons why it is used as an aqua feed. China is one of the largest consumer market for fish oil, since it has higher concentration of aquaculture industry. However, increasing dependency on fishmeal and fish oil as aqua feed has raised sustainability issues, and researchers are trying to find alternatives to fish oil and Omega 3 fatty acids, as this can put a huge pressure on the industry. The highlight is on meeting the needs of aquaculture, without having to compromise on the demand for human food supplements derived from Omega 3.

Genetic damage caused by fructose reversed by Omega 3 consumption

In many Western countries, the population show a greater tendency to depend on unhealthy diets that are heavily sprinkled with fructose. Fructose, a type of sugar, is a common ingredient in many fruits as well as packaged food products. Though many medical researchers consider it better than sucrose, overconsumption of dietary fructose can have potential side-effects in the long run. Excessive ingestion of fructose is associated with rising prevalence of obesity, diabetes mellitus, chronic diarrhea, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. It is known to also have caused abnormal changes in brain gene patterns as well. It increases the incidence of brain disorders, such as Alzheimer’s and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). However, researchers at University of California, LA, have discovered that an Omega 3 fatty acid, known as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), has the potential to reverse the harmful effects of fructose. It naturally occurs in the brain membranes, but in very limited quantities. Intake of Omega 3 supplements is necessary to fight the risk of brain diseases. The researchers have tested the effects of fructose and DHA in rats, by experimenting with dosages of plain water, fructose water, and DHA. Over time, they reached conclusion that DHA strongly eliminated the adverse effects of fructose.

“DHA changes not just one or two genes; it seems to push the entire gene pattern back to normal, which is remarkable,” said Xia Yang, a senior author of the study and a UCLA assistant professor of integrative biology and physiology. “And we can see why it has such a powerful effect.” Omega 3 strengthens the brain synapses, and it enhances learning and memory. Similar studies are testimony to the fact that there is major market potential to be tapped for fish oil market in pharmaceuticals.

Pet food enriched by fish oil

Apart from serving as functional food, supplements and aqua feeds in aquaculture, fish oil is also widely preferred in pharmaceutical industry. It is a good supplement for pet food too. Not only does it promote good heart health in cats and dogs, but also ensures a shiny, healthy coat, and reduces shedding. It is also known to reduce inflammation caused by allergies in pets. Pet owners are raving about the various advantages of feeding their pets with Omega 3 supplements. This has led to a growth of the fish oil market in the pet food segment.

The world fish oil market sources its main component from different fish, such as anchovies, mackerels, sardines, cod, herring and menhaden, with anchovy being the largest sources. The industry is spread widely over different regions of North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA. Major companies involved in this field include Omega Protein Corporation, Colpex International, Copeinca ASA, and FMC Corporation. There is heavy competition in the market, as the key players are focusing on product diversification to attract customers towards their product lines. Companies are vying to acquire related businesses, to expand their customer reach by offering different products. This has helped in creating a dynamic market with major potential for growth. The industry faces certain challenges, such as adverse climatic conditions for breeding fish, and demand–supply gap for Omega 3 fish oil. However, with so many stakeholders involved in the development of this sector, the world fish oil market is expected to overcome these problems and emerge as a smoothly functioning industry.