In the news: Omega-3 Supplements Benefit Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Brain Aging Measure Reversed by 2.8 Years

Biological brain aging was reversed among participants who were in a nutritional supplement program for an average of 13 months, a clinical study in Brain Science reported.*

The study included 47 people who were assigned lifestyle changes and 42 who were assigned an individually tailored program of supplements that included, but was not limited to, vitamins A, B complex, C and D, alpha-lipoic acid, CoQ10, magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, and Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus probiotics.

Brain biological age was estimated before and after the intervention using a quantitative electroencephalogram.

Participants who consumed the supplements had a brain biological age that averaged 2.83 years younger than the age measured at the beginning of the intervention. Those in the lifestyle group had a brain age that averaged only 0.02 years younger than it was at the start of the study.

Editor’s Note: “...brain biological age deceleration, and even reversal, with accompanying improvements in mental–physical health comorbidities, is possible in humans using accessible interventions, such as lifestyle changes or nutraceutical supplementation, within a practical time frame,” the authors concluded.

* Brain Sci. 2023 Mar 21;13(3):520.

Meta-Analysis Affirms Pain-Relieving Property of PEA

A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials affirmed the association between supplementing with palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), a naturally occurring fatty acid amide, and improvements in chronic pain, functional status, and quality of life.*

The research team selected 11 double-blind randomized controlled clinical trials that included 774 men and women with chronic pain.

The conditions responsible for their chronic pain included gynecologic disorders, neurologic diseases, temporomandibular joint arthritis, knee arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, and others.

The studies evaluated the effects of oral PEA in doses of 300–1,200 mg per day administered in one or two doses. Treatment periods ranged from 10 days to 12 months.

Pooled analysis of the studies found a reduction in pain intensity among participants who received PEA compared to the control group. No major side effects were attributed to PEA in any study.

Editor's Note: "PEA is a well-tolerated approach for chronic pain," the researchers stated.

* Nutrients 2023, 15(6), 1350.

Overactive Bladder Improvement Linked to Higher Vitamin D Levels

A systematic review and meta-analysis showed an association between higher vitamin D levels and a lower risk of overactive bladder or urinary incontinence. A decreased risk of incontinence was also revealed among people who used vitamin D supplements.*

The investigation included four randomized controlled trials, three cohort studies, three cross-sectional studies and three case-control studies that examined the relationship between vitamin D levels and overactive bladder or urinary incontinence. Vitamin D levels were lower in participants with either condition in comparison with control groups.

Participants who were vitamin D deficient had over 4 times the odds of overactive bladder, and a 30% greater risk of incontinence compared with those who were not deficient. Analysis of articles that reported the effects of vitamin D supplementation found a 66% lower risk of incontinence among supplemented participants.

Editor's Note: "Vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of overactive bladder and urinary incontinence, and vitamin D supplementation reduces the risk of urinary incontinence," the authors concluded.

* Nutr Rev. 2023 May 17;nuad049.

Omega-3 Supplements and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Improvements in insulin resistance and lipids were shown among women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in association with omega-3 supplementation, according to a metaanalysis published in the Journal of Ovarian Research.*

PCOS is a hormonal and metabolic condition that can include ovarian cysts, menstrual irregularities, infertility, and other conditions.

The meta-analysis of 11 clinical trials included 816 women with PCOS. The trials studied changes in metabolic status associated with omega-3 supplementation or with the consumption of foods that provided at least 1,000 mg per day of omega-3 for at least eight weeks.

Compared with the control group, women who received omega-3 supplements experienced reductions in waist circumference, fasting plasma insulin, fasting glucose, insulin resistance, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol.

In the omega-3 group there were also increases in levels of adiponectin, a hormone involved in regulation of glucose levels, fatty acid metabolism, and insulin sensitivity.

Editor's Note: "Omega-3 fatty acids may be an effective intervention for alleviating metabolic status in PCOS," the authors concluded.

* J Ovarian Res. 2023 Mar 17;16(1):54.