As the number of omega-3 sources in the market increases, including fish, krill, squid, algae, and plant, suppliers are increasingly using the omega-3 form to differentiate their products. But where does the science currently stand, which questions remain, and is cost a factor?… Read full article.
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Fish Oil Saved Our Son – Bobby Ghassemi’s story
In March 2010, high school student Bobby Ghassemi was in a terrible car accident and airlifted to a nearby hospital. He had experienced severe brain trauma and was considered more dead than alive.
Bobby family believes an experimental treatment using high doses of fish oil helped him recover from his traumatic brain injury. His father, Peter Ghassemi, was frustrated at lack of progress and desperate for help. A friend connected him with Dr. Michael Lewis, the Founder of the Brain Health Education and Research Institute. Here is there story:
Maybe the most important blog I could write – Dr. Lewis Blog
Itʼs been an exceptional past few weeks, mostly because I continue to hear from people who are desperate for something, anything, to help a loved one in a coma from a brain injury, traumatic or anoxic. However, there have been a couple situations recently that have really upset me, mainly because of the use of science by doctors as a roadblock not to do anything for their patients. Continue reading
Flax Seed is good… but fish oil is better – Dr. Lewis Blog
I’m often asked if a person should take flax seed since it is very high in omega-3s. And yes, flax seed is a good source of short-chain 18-carbon length (ALA) omega-3s and a fantastic food. However, the elongation process to make 20 and 22 carbon length (EPA and DHA) in mammals is very poor (<1%) and even worse in the face of competition with omega-6s. Subsequently, flax does very little for the brain where DHA is the most important of the omega-3s. Continue reading
The Story of Selah – Dr. Lewis Blog
It’s been eight weeks since the Sanjay Gupta MD show featured how fish oil was used to help Bobby Ghassemi recover from a severe traumatic brain injury two years ago. I had a chance to see Bobby this weekend along with his family. He is doing great, even better than when I saw him in March. His father, Peter, reminded me that all we asked of the family is to help spread the word about using omega-3s for TBI. In addition to the CNN segment < http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/19/health/fish-oil-brain-injuries > that received almost 12,000 recommends on Facebook, the Ghassemi family has received numerous calls asking for help and guidance in similar situations. Continue reading
Following CNN Article and TV Segment – Dr. Lewis Blog
It’s been a few weeks since the Sanjay Gupta MD segment aired on CNN and even longer since my last blog. The response to the CNN article and 8-minute segment that aired on October 20th and 21st has been fantastic. There have been over 11,000 “recommends” on Facebook, 883 “tweets, and 376 comments in response to the article. People from literally all around the world Continue reading
Fish oil saves life of boy with brain injury
(NaturalNews) In March 2010, high school student Bobby Ghassemi was taken out of his crashed vehicle and airlifted to a nearby Virginia hospital more dead than alive with severe brain trauma.
He was so much more dead than alive that the physician who eventually advised the Ghassemi family on using fish oil, Dr. Michael Lewis said, “For all intents and purposes, he was dead on the scene.”
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/037671_fish_oil_brain_injury_lifesaving.html#ixzz2AK0Y0rfH
We are making a difference! DoD funding a three-year omega-3 clinical trial looking to reduce suicide among veterans.
Research published last year by Brain Health Education and Research Institute’s Michael Lewis, MD, in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry reported that active duty military with lower blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids were 62% more likely to have committed suicide compared to those with higher levels. The case-control study was reported widely in the news including CNN and the front page of the USA Today. Since then, Dr. Lewis and his NIH collaborator and psychiatrist, Joseph Hibbeln, MD, have been advocating for a prospective study to further evaluate their seminal findings.
This week, the military announced they are funding a three-year study to do just that. In cooperation with the NIH, researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina led by Bernadette Marriott, PhD, a professor in the Clinical Neuroscience Division of the Institute of Psychiatry, will test whether omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oils can relieve the anxieties and quiet the suicidal thoughts plaguing many combat veterans.
“The potential good versus the potential extraordinarily low risk and low cost make this a type of intervention that can be – if findings are warranted – rolled out extremely fast and on a large scale,” said Dr. Ron Acierno, a co-investigator on the project at USC. “Omega-3s are among the primary fatty acids in the brain… They’re responsible for neural generation and neural repair – for new neurons to be made and for broken ones to be fixed.”According to Dr. Hibbeln, “Research conducted in our lab [at the NIH] during the last 20 years points to a fundamental role for omega-3 fatty acids in protecting against major depression, substance abuse and other problems. Here we hope to be successful in understanding if omega-3 may play a role in reducing risk of severe suicidal behaviors among U.S. military veterans.”
While Dr. Lewis is not directly involved in this project, he adds, “It is great to know that the results of my research and one of the directions we’ve been asking the military to pursue are paying off. My good friend and US Public Health Service physician, Joe Hibbeln, was able to submit the proposal to DoD after my retirement from the Army and arranged for Medical University of South Carolina to take the lead. MUSC has the potential to do a fantastic job with this and we hope that the results will be quick and positive so we can start making a dent in the problem of military suicide with something simple and inexpensive as omega-3s.”
Another co-principal investigator of the study, Hugh Myrick, MD, said, “This study represents a novel intervention that could reduce the risk for suicide. If the results are positive, the impact on veterans, our current military personnel, and society will be immeasurable.”
Medical University of South Carolina Press Release: http://academicdepartments.musc.edu/musc/news/res_news/oct12_army_omega3.htm
Michael D. Lewis, MD; Joseph R. Hibbeln, MD; Jeremiah E. Johnson, RD; Yu Hong Lin, PhD; Duk Y. Hyun, BS; and James D. Loewke, BS. Suicide Deaths of Active-Duty US Military and Omega-3 Fatty-Acid Status: A Case-Control Comparison. J Clin Psychiatry 2011;72(12):1585–1590. http://article.psychiatrist.com/dao_1-login.asp?ID=10007556&RSID=64983014079774
http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Research/US-military-Low-omega-3-levels-may-boost-suicide-risk
Omega-3 supplementation versus eating wild caught Alaskan salmon – Dr. Lewis Blog
I was having a discussion with a friend the other day about supplementation versus eating wild caught Alaskan salmon. As you can imagine, this type of conversation usually get pretty testy as opinions overrule. Yes, it would be great if everyone could get everything they need from what they eat, but at some point, Continue reading
Neuroprotection – Dr. Lewis Blog
I often get phone calls and emails asking advice what someone should do after a concussion or other brain injury. In January, I received the email below from a concerned mom who attended one of my talks:
“My son is an Army EOD (bomb guy) and will be deployed to Afghanistan this February. I’d love to recommend to him that he boost his omega-3 intake before deployment Continue reading
Omega-3s show potential to protect against brain trauma
The potential benefits of omega-3s to reduce the long-term effects of brain trauma may be optimized by early administration, ‘in the emergency department or sooner’, says a new report.
Co-written by Dr. Michael Lewis, the founder of the Brain Health Education and Research Institute, Parviz Ghassemi, and Joseph Hibbeln, MD, and published in The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, the study is the first report of the use of omega-3s following a severe traumatic brain injury.
Read the full article here:
http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Research/Omega-3s-show-potential-to-protect-against-brain-trauma
It’s Football Season! – Dr. Lewis Blog
My 12-year son started tackle football practice this week, full pads, helmets, and everything. Given my focus on concussions and TBI over the past couple of years, how could I let my son play football?!! There is risk in all sports. But in my mind, the benefits far outweigh the risks. Life is a team sport Continue reading
Concussion Advice Your Kid’s Doctor Won’t Tell You
Missy Chase Lapine, creator of the Sneaky Chef series of books, wrote a wonderful article about how she added omega-3s to her daughter’s food after a concussion. She learned about using omega-3s from Dr. Michael Lewis, founder of the Brain Health Education & Research Institute.
New School programs tackle concussions
With about 4,000 New York children treated at hospitals each year for sports-related concussions, according to the state Health Department, the state and school districts are taking steps to increase awareness of concussion symptoms and implement policies to ensure proper treatment and prevent re-injury. The state Legislature enacted a law during the summer that requires school districts to adopt concussion management policies, and now school districts are reassessing existing policies or drafting new ones before the law takes effect July 1.
The Concussion Management and Awareness Act is part of a broader response to the problem of concussions in the past several years that has gained momentum with publicity over the long term damage caused by repeated concussions among NFL player
Read full article in the Journal News
Dr. Oz Recommends 5 Nutrients – Especially Omega-3s
Dr. Oz recommends 5 key nutrients we don’t usually get enough of in our diet. Number 5, and most important on his list (he even says it’s his favorite of the 5) is Omega-3 fatty acids! He explains it’s great for so many things, but especially important for the brain and memory function.
Listen to Dr. Lewis being interviewed by Dr. Garko on Let’s Talk Nutrition National Radio Show
Dr. Lewis was the special guest of Dr. Garko on TalkZone’s “Let’s Talk Nutrition” for the full two hour show Wednesday, March 28th. It was an amazing show with tremendous information to help understand the correlation between TBI and Omega-3s.
Here are links to recordings of the two one-hour segments of the show:
Dr. Lewis interview 1st hr
Dr. Lewis interview 2nd hr
(Please note – These links may not play in Chrome Browser due to a limitation in the browser software. Please use Internet Explorer, Firefox or Safari)
Nutrition: Brainpower Tied to Omega-3 Levels
Low blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids are associated with smaller brain volume and poorer performance on tests of mental acuity, even in people without apparent dementia, according to a new study.
In the analysis, published online Monday in the journal Neurology, scientists examined 1,575 dementia-free men and women whose average age was 67. The researchers analyzed the fatty acids of the subjects’ red blood cells, a more reliable measurement than a plasma blood test or an estimate based on diet. They used an M.R.I. scan to measure brain volume and white matter hyperintensities, a radiological finding indicative of vascular damage.
Read full article at the NY Times
Omega-3s and the Sago Mine Accident Miracle
Neurosurgeon Dr. Julian Bailes is often at the cutting edge of the latest treatments for people with brain injuries. Former NFL players and other notable people with brain injuries—including Randal McCloy Jr., the sole surviving miner in the 2006 Sago Mine disaster in West Virginia—have received his care. Dr. Oz talks with Dr. Bailes about how he used omega-3 fatty acids, a common nutritional supplement, to aid in Randal’s brain recovery.
Read more at Oprah.com: http://www.oprah.com/health/Amazing-Omega-3s#ixzz1qQPdLsKe
Brain Food, Fox Medical Team Explains
Research shows our memory starts slipping before we even hit 30. And by our 40’s and 50’s we start realizing we’re not quite as sharp as we used to be. But, a new study shows if you want to give your brain a boost, you might want to start by eating more fish.
A 60-year-old brain is not going to be as sharp as a 20-year-old brain.
As we get older, our brains are getting older, too. But a new study published in the journal Neurology shows certain foods may help you turn back the clock a little.
We need fat – but the right kind
London – Are you feeding your brain the right kind of fatty diet? Dairy products such as cheese and milk are among the most reviled of foods, with many experts saying their links to heart disease and obesity mean we should shun them when possible.
But new research has caused controversy by suggesting that, in fact, dairy food could be essential for a healthy brain.
The study, by US and Australian researchers, involving 1,000 adults, found those who regularly have dairy products such as milk, cheese and yoghurt score better on tests of mental ability than people who never, or rarely, consume dairy.
Although the research, published in the International Dairy Journal, needs following-up, as it did not conclusively establish the link between dairy and fatty diets and brain power, it highlights an intriguing line of research.