Healthy Minds and Brain Using Nature's Medicine

Naturopathic Fun Facts

By Sarah A LoBisco, ND

Fish Oil and Children

Omega-3 fatty acids are an important building block to healthy brain function. In a recent meta-analysis involving 699 children with ADHD, researchers found a small but significant positive effect in children who supplemented with high dose EPA fish oil. They concluded:

Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation, particularly with higher doses of eicosapentaenoic acid, was modestly effective in the treatment of ADHD. The relative efficacy of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation was modest compared with currently available pharmacotherapies for ADHD such as psychostimulants, atomoxetine, or α(2) agonists. However, given its relatively benign side-effect profile and evidence of modest efficacy, it may be reasonable to use omega-3 fatty supplementation to augment traditional pharmacologic interventions or for families who decline other psychopharmacologic options.

Bloch MH, Qawasmi A. Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation for the treatment of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptomatology: systematic review and meta-analysis (abstract).J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry (online). 2011 Oct;50(10):991-1000. Epub 2011 Aug 12.Accessed July 2012 at: PMID: 21961774

Spice and Fat Help Nerve Health (Science Daily)

Our not-so-furry friends provided clues into how fish oil and curry spice might modulate degenerative nerve changes. Specifically, the little critters on rat feed supplemented with these ingredients preserved their walking ability after spinal-cord injury!

ScienceDaily (June 26, 2012) -- UCLA researchers discovered that a diet enriched with a popular omega-3 fatty acid and an ingredient in curry spice preserved walking ability in rats with spinal-cord injury. Published June 26 in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, the findings suggest that these dietary supplements help repair nerve cells and maintain neurological function after degenerative damage to the neck.

Science Daily. Curry Spice, Omega-3 Fatty Acid Preserve Walking Ability Following Spinal-Cord Injury. June 26, 2012. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/06/120626113930.htm?+Brain+News%29

Source Article: Holly LT, Blaskiewicz D, Wu A, Feng C, Ying Z, Gomez-Pinilla F. Dietary therapy to promote neuroprotection in chronic spinal cord injury. Laboratory investigation. Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, Published online June 26, 2012, ahead of print DOI: 10.3171/2012.5.SPINE1216

Alzheimer's and Green Tea (J of Medicinal Food)

Another study in brain health showed the benefits of green tea extract and l-theanine (LGNC-07) on subjects affected with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Specifically, the following randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study compared a group of ninety-one MCI subjects who received the brain elixir verses those who didn't. The subjects were evaluated by comparing pre and post cognitive exam scores along with a brain EEG. Those who received the intervention had more favorable outcomes. According to the researchers:

Brain theta waves, an indicator of cognitive alertness, were increased significantly in the temporal, frontal, parietal, and occipital areas after 3 hours in the eye-open and reading states. Therefore, this study suggests that LGNC-07 has potential as an intervention for cognitive improvement.