IANS, Washington, Updated: October 30, 2012 11:46 IST
University of Pittsburgh researchers have now determined that healthy young adults aged between 18 and 25 years can improve their working memory even further by increasing their Omega-3 fatty acid intake.
"Before seeing this data, I would have said it was impossible to move young healthy individuals above their cognitive best," Bita Moghaddam, project investigator and professor of neuroscience at Pittsburgh, was quoted as saying by the journal Public Library of Science One.
"We found that members of this population can enhance their working memory performance even further, despite their already being at the top of their cognitive game," added Moghaddam, according to a Pittsburgh statement.
Led by Rajesh Narendarn, project principal investigator and associate professor of radiology, the Pitt research team sought healthy young men and women from all ethnicities to boost their Omega-3 intake with supplements for six months.
Before they began taking the supplements, all participants underwent positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, and their blood samples were analyzed.
They were then asked to perform a working memory test in which they were shown a series of letters and numbers.
The young adults had to keep track of what appeared one, two, and three times prior, known as a simple "n-back test".
After six months of taking an Omega-3 supplement approved by the Federal Drug Administration - participants were asked to complete this series of outpatient procedures again.
It was during this last stage, during the working memory test and blood sampling, that the improved working memory of this population was revealed.
"It is really interesting that diets enriched with Omega-3 fatty acid can enhance cognition in highly functional young individuals," said Narendarn.
"Nevertheless, it was a bit disappointing that our imaging studies were unable to clarify the mechanisms by which it enhances working memory."
[Omega-3 is a classification of certain kinds of fatty acids that result from the breakdown of dietary fats in the body. They are used to form membranes surrounding each of our trillions of cells. Fish get omega-3 oils from the plankton they eat. The names of these omega-3 oils are EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid).Nature's Sunshine's Super Omega-3 EPA is a far more potent, and more competitive product compared to others on the market. With added Lemon oil to minimise any fishy after taste.
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Omega-3’s are known as Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) because they are required for good health. Omega-3 fatty acids are a form of polyunsaturated fat that our bodies require in order to maintain health.
- Years of clinical studies confirm that a diet rich in Omega 3 Fatty Acids is essential for a healthy immune system and cardiovascular system.
- Because your body is unable to produce EFA’s, your Essential Fatty Acid requirements must be met through your diet or through supplementation.
- These important nutrients can be found in flax seeds, marine fish and green leafy vegetables, but many people do not consume enough of these foods to meet the body’s needs.
- EFA’s are currently one of the most researched health products and science has demonstrated their wide ranging health benefits.
- They help nerve cells communicate with each other, which is an essential step in maintaining good mental health.
- Researchers have found that without a sufficient supply of these fatty acids, the body will use saturated fat to construct cell membranes. The result is older looking, less elastic skin that takes longer to heal and tends to show wrinkles more quickly.
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