Massey University Puts Essential Fatty Acids Under the Microscope

 Research supporting the multiple benefits of Omega 3s is of such importance that Massey University’s Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health have held a symposium to put omega-3 fatty acids under the stethoscope to examine their relationship to health.

 The Massey University Omega-3 Symposium showcased the knowledge, research and expertise of two key speakers; Peter Clough - technical director of premium nutritional oils company - Efamol®, considered a leading authority on the production and utilisation of essential fatty acids and also the Honorary Secretary of ISSFAL
(International Society for the Study of Fats and Lipids), the leading academic authority in this field and Dr Alex Richardson; one of the world’s leading authorities on the links between omega 3 fatty acids and children’s development, cognition, behaviour and mood. A Senior Research Fellow at Oxford University, Alex is highly regarded for her passion and research into the role that fatty acids play in both developmental and psychiatric disorders. She is the author of the highly acclaimed book on child nutrition - “They are what you feed them” and is also the founder
director of educational website, Food and Behaviour Research.

With Peter Clough at the helm of research and development at Efamol® and expert advice from the likes of Alex Richardson, Efamol® is always at the forefront of scientific research in numerous well designed clinical studies. One of these was the DOMInO trial1. This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, utilised high docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), derived from fish oil – in 2,399 pregnant women,
and had significant results:

• Reduced post natal depression by 36% compared to the general population.
• Reduced the risk of having a baby with developmental delays by 60%.
• Reduced the risk of pre-term delivery by 50%.
• Reduced the risk of low birth weight by 36%.

A subsequent follow-up segment of the DOMInO trial2 showed similarly excellent results; supplementation with the same product in women whose unborn children had elevated risk of developing allergies, showed that supplementation resulted in:

• 36% less likely of developing eczema
• 50% less likely to develop an allergy to egg proteins

Also presented at the Massey University Omega 3 Symposium was, Efamol® backed “NZ first” clinical research led by Professor Welma Stonehouse3 that found that supplementing with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), derived from fish oil, not only improved memory in otherwise healthy adults but the speed at
which is it recalled. A number of memory measures improved as a result of supplementation but key findings included:

• 15% faster speed of working memory in men
• 7% improvement in the speed of episodic memory (delayed word recognition) in women

Lead Investigator Professor Welma Stonehouse comments:
“The cognitive functions shown to be affected by the DHA-rich fish oil, namely memory and working memory, are among the most important functions of our brains for numerous everyday activities, such as working, driving, shopping, studying, playing sports, etc. Maintaining brain health and getting your brain to perform at its optimal capacity is just as vital as maintaining physical wellbeing and health.”

So whether you are expecting and want the very best for your little one or you just want to maintain healthy cognition through the ages, make sure you utilise the research backed expertise of Efamol® and get some high DHA fish oil into you!