Omega 3

Omega-3 Fatty Acids:
New studies show greater
powers while reaffirming what we already knew
The importance of omega-3 fatty acids to health and vitality
continues to be solidified as researchers investigate actions and
benefits not previously understood or even anticipated. It’s
becoming more apparent all the time that the amount of omega-
3’s in the diet directly effects all our cells and tissues and the
organs and systems they make up. In addition to being critical
components of the structure of our bodies they are also being
tied more and more to many functions. Here is some new
research worth knowing.

Omega-3 and Heart Health—
The link is now stronger The importance of omega-3 fatty acids to human health first
appeared as benefits to the heart. They were initially identified as
heart-health protectors that helped keep cholesterol balanced,
triglycerides low, and blood flow easier through veins and arteries.
Decades of research has proven there’s much more to them
than that. They are now known to play key roles in the structure
and function of the heart and the veins and arteries that make
up the entire cardiovascular system. Just how powerful omega-3
fatty acids are for heart health was driven home in a review
article published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
(Vol. 84, pp. 5-17; July 2006). Researchers looked at a total of 43
studies. Those that made up the largest groups, more than
340,000 participants, reported “significant reductions” in risks to
heart health, making a large step forward toward greater assurance
of benefits. One study reported that an 850 mg dose of
omega-3 fatty acids (EPA & DHA) resulted in a 21% reduction
in death from all causes; a 35% reduction in cardiac death and a
45% reduction in sudden death. In their conclusion the
Columbia University researchers stated, “We believe that the
body of evidence is strong enough to suggest that in the United
States, certainly, and in other countries where omega-3 fatty acid
consumption is low, public health initiatives are needed to
increase intakes.”

Different omega-3 fatty acids give different heart-health benefits
In the August 2006 issue of the European Journal of Clinical
Nutrition (Vol. 60, pp. 978-984) researchers reported that though
the well known omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA had proven
heart health benefits, others, including ALA are being discovered
as important as well.

NEWS YOU CANUSE
ALA by itself is not the answer for humans
Alpha linoleic acid (ALA) is the primary building block for
other omega-3 fatty acids in both plants and animals. Plant
sources such as flax seed oil have been touted as omega-3
sources for years. In an editorial in the July 2006 issue of the
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition titled “Omega-3 Fatty
Acids and Cardiovascular Disease: Navigating Toward
Recommendations” researchers pointed out that “accumulating
data reaffirms that the EPA and DHA precursor ALA is inefficient
and much less efficacious” in humans. The reason is the
human body finds it very difficult to convert ALA into the seven
other omega-3’s the body makes and uses.
DPA—A powerful omega-3 fatty acid that is finally
getting the recognition it deserves
DPA, docosapentaenoic acid, has been a focus of attention for
only a few years, but what’s been learned is critical to long-term
diet and health. Researchers publishing in the journal
Circulation (vol.102; pp 2677-2679, 2000) showed that DPA /
DHA is more important than EPA / DHA in terms of
cardiovascular protection.
Making sure our nutritional supplements deliver whole families
of nutrients found within the food supply and present in
Nature’s blueprint for human nutrition has been a hallmark of
GNLD nutritional supplement success for decades.Whether it
has been to supplement all of the lipids and sterols from whole
grains, all of the flavonoids found with vitamin-C, or all of the
carotenoids from fruits and vegetables, dedication to this philosophy
has provided product performance that has become a
standard for science and industry. The recent introduction of
Salmon Oil Plus™ and the leading edge technologies that
make it the first complete Omega-3 supplement, delivering
standardized amounts of all eight omega-3 fatty acids involved
in human nutrition—including DHA, DPA and EPA—is just
another example.
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Volume #015 2006 U.S.A. & Canada
The whole family of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
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Don’t overlook minerals!
Though the research on whole foods—including whole grains,
fruits, vegetables, and fish—may currently overshadow studies
on minerals, much important new research is happening. Here
are some examples:
Magnesium: Is it an anti-inflammatory mineral?
Research published in the journal Nutrition Research (vol. 26, pp
193-196) indicates that it is. Using a blood chemistry marker
associated with heart disease and inflammation known as
C-reactive protein (CRP) researchers showed that magnesium
has anti-inflammatory actions in the body. Elevated CRP is a
consistent indicator of chronic inflammation because it is one of
the bodies “signaling molecules.” The higher and longer the
inflammation exists, the higher the CRP values. “Previous
research has indicated that dietary magnesium may be a key
component in the association between diet and inflammation”
proffers lead study author and Medical University of South
Carolina professor Dana King. “The key finding in this study is
that magnesium intake from supplements has an impact on the
likelihood of having elevated C-reactive protein.” People with
dietary magnesium intake below the RDA were found to have a
40% higher risk of elevated CRP.
Zinc is an anti-inflammatory mineral too!
Because zinc has long been known as an important building
block of natural antioxidant enzymes made in the body, such as
glutathione, peroxidase, and super oxide dismutase, it is thought
of as a “protector mineral.” Two recent studies further support
zinc’s critical importance. The September 2005 issue of the
Journal of Nutrition (vol.135, pp. 2114-2118) reported that zinc
deficiency was associated with increased risk of cardiovascular
disease through inflammation. New research published online in
the March 2006 issue of the journal Free Radical Biology in
Medicine (doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2006.03.017) further
supports the oxidation/inflammation risk of deficiency.
Calcium: a possible key regarding hypertension and
pre-eclampsia risk during pregnancy
A large scale review of studies of calcium intake and risk of
hypertension and pre-eclampsia during pregnancy suggests this
is an important discussion for women to have with their
obstetrician. The review, published in the Cochrane Database of
Systematic Reviews (2006, issue 3), quotes lead author Dr. G.
Justus Hofmeyr, “The findings of the review are that calcium
supplementation reduces the risk of hypertension for pregnant
women who have inadequate dietary calcium.” In support of
these findings, independent pre-eclampsia expert Dr. John
Repke, Chairman of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Penn State
University College of Medicine commented “Calcium supplementation
may be of some benefit in reducing morbidity
(death) associated with pre-eclampsia, and it does no harm.”
Depleted soils and industrialized farming have combined to
reduce the mineral content of many foods—a fact previously
reported in GNLD’s News You Can Use (Volume 13, 2006). The
importance of minerals to health, vitality and longevity has
been a core concept in the GNLD product line for decades.
Minerals are a key link in the Chain of Life and assuring
deficiencies don’t exist is a smart health move for all. GNLD
offers several choices for those wanting assurance of a healthy
abundance of dietary minerals each day. Chelated Cal-Mag®,
Chelated Zinc and MultiMin with Chelates all provide potency,
purity and our exclusive double amino acid chelation technology
to optimize absorption. Vitality Calcium Plus provides a
comprehensive bone-mineral complex.
More research about Phyto-nutrition!
Whole tomato extracts are better than lycopene
alone
Tomatoes—and their active components—have received lots of
attention for their link to prostate cancer prevention. This attention
has inspired several companies to market pure lycopene
products. New research shows that these “now with Lycopene”
products may not be as good as the advertising suggests. A
review by researchers from the University of California,
Oklahoma State, and the Texas Women’s University considered
the results of several clinical trials conducted between 1998 and
2006 and showed that lycopene alone is not what is needed. A
whole tomato concentrate that provides not just lycopene, but
all its forms and all its supporting carotenoids is a much more
prudent and appropriate choice. Researchers concluded that
while there is proof of “convincing antioxidant and
anticarcinogenic effects” for lycopene in tomatoes or as a tomato
concentrate, “in vivo data (data from living systems) on the
effects of pure lycopene is lacking.”(European Journal of Clinical
Nutrition; doi: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.160Z510).
Lutein and zeaxanthin—new links to cardiovascular
health!
The first research to show a positive connection between the
carotenoid lutein to heart health came in a 2001 issue of
Circulation (vol. 103, pp. 2922-2927). Now researchers from
Sweden have found yet another strong link. Publishing in the
February 2006 issue of Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular
Disease (doi: 10.1016/numecd.2006.02.006) the researchers
pointed out that people suffering from coronary artery disease
are consistently found to have low levels of the carotenoids
lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta cryptoxanthin. Conversely, they
found that the healthy persons in the control group had significantly
higher levels of these carotenoids in their blood. They
think it’s connected to immune function because of higher levels
of natural killer cells (NK cells) in the people with higher levels
of these carotenoids. “This finding suggests a specific link
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SAB HAS THE ANSWERS:
Q. Is "molecular differentiation" the same as “molecular
distillation” that is commonly used in the industry?
A. No, these two terms refer to processes which are very different. The
exclusive GNLD technology used for Salmon Oil Plus called “molecular
differentiation” allows us to select and concentrate specific omega-3
molecules while at the same time identifying, extracting and eliminating
other non-omega-3 fatty acid molecules that play roles only in
taste, odor or color. Molecular distillation focuses on isolating and
concentrating only a single molecule.
Q. What is Neo-Plex Concentrate and why does GNLD
use it in their products?
A. GNLD’s Neo-Plex Concentrate provides all the nutritional elements
found in whole oranges including the juice, rind and pulp, vitamin
C, bioflavonoids, flavedo, mesocarp, endocarp and protopectins
and other naturally occurring factors to enhance the absorption and
utilization of vitamin C. Research shows vitamin C stays in the body
longer and is utilized better when consumed with natural, whole food
components.
Q. Which source of calcium is the best to take?
A. When it comes to calcium sourcing, the key issues for comparison
of calcium products are purity, consistent quality, dissolution time and
absorption—factors in which all GNLD products excel. GNLD has four
different calcium products.
Chelated Cal-Mag® uses our unique double amino acid chelation
process for improved absorption. Each serving of Cal-Mag provides
300 mg of calcium plus 150 mg of magnesium and is available in either
tablets or capsules. Cal-Mag capsules also provide 400 IU of vitamin D.
Vitality Calcium Plus™ is more than a calcium product; it is a comprehensive
mineral complex designed to support the development and
maintenance of strong, healthy bones. Each serving contains multiple
sources of calcium plus key minerals which are critical to the process of
bone development. It is also lactose free.
Neo-Cal™ is a chewable, multiple sources calcium supplement with
added vitamin C, magnesium and natural betaine HCl to support
digestion, absorption and utilization.
Q. What can I take to relieve the pain and discomfort of
arthritis?
A. Peer-reviewed scientific studies conducted around the world have
demonstrated the benefits of omega-3 fish oil supplements in alleviating
tenderness and inflammation in the joints, and can relieve the
morning stiffness that makes arthritis so painful. Any one of GNLD’s
omega-3 products: Salmon Oil Plus, Salmon Oil, or Omega III
Concentrates can deliver the nutritional abundance of natural omega-3
fatty acids to support health and comfort.
Q. If I take Carotenoid Complex™, why should I take
Cruciferous Plus™ and Flavonoid Complex™?
A. Three of the primary fruit and vegetable phytonutrients groups
associated with health protection and disease prevention are
carotenoids, flavonoids and cruciferous. These products have different
functions within the body. Science has shown that these three different
nutrient groups protect us and our cells in different, yet
complementary, ways. Carotenoids protect the lipids in the blood and
cell membranes; flavonoids protect the watery portions inside and outside
of our cells; cruciferous nutrients protect the cell as a whole from
the negative effects of certain carcinogens.
Research has shown that the vast majority of people do not get enough
fruits and vegetables in their diet. Carotenoid Complex, Flavonoid
Complex and Cruciferous Plus are complete whole-food supplements
formulated to deliver an abundance of these important protector nutrients.
When taken together, they offer the most complete phytonutrient
protection possible!
Q. Would the soy found in Cruciferous Plus interact
negatively with someone who had breast cancer?
A. There is no evidence to suggest that any of GNLD’s products which
contain soy would interact with the body in a negative manner. Intake
of soy products has actually been linked to a decreased risk of breast
cancer. Soy contains isoflavones which have been shown to provide
some protection against breast cancer.
GNLD’s Cruciferous Plus is an exceptional whole-food product that
provides the density and diversity of the phytonutrients found in an
optimal serving of cruciferous vegetables. Additionally, Cruciferous Plus
provides important related nutrients, including sulforaphane, isothiocyanates
and indole carbinols.
between certain carotenoids, oxidative stress, and immune perturbation
(imbalance) in CAD,” said lead researcher Caroline
Lidebjer from the University Hospital at Linkoping, Sweden.
More evidence of lutein and eye health
Researchers showcased findings from a 48-week long intervention
trial that used supplemental doses of the carotenoid lutein
to measure preservation of visual function with patients with
retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Published in the journal
Ophthalmology (BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:23), researchers
reported that the results of their placebo-controlled study
showed that lutein supplementation was preventive.
“Comparing the development of vision measures against the
natural loss expected to occur over the course of the 48 weeks,
most measures showed reduced decline, and these reductions
were significant for normal illumination.”
Complete Carotenoid Phyto-nutrition—the role of plant
derived nutrients in human nutrition—has been a cornerstone
of GNLD supplementation since the beginning, 1958, with the
whole-grain lipid and sterol supplement Tre-en-en®. The introduction
of Carotenoid Complex™ in 1992 resulted from more
than a decade of research and development that focused on
identifying, concentrating, and extracting complete and intact
the many carotenoids found in whole foods within the human
food chain. This was a daunting technological feat that resulted
in not just a patent, but peer-reviewed publications and USDA
researcher investigations that proved Carotenoid Complex protects
our hearts, our cells, and boosts immune capacity, including
the body’s first line of defense against disease, natural killer
cells (NK Cells). It is the first and only whole food supplement
to provide the complete family of carotenoids, including; alpha
& beta carotene, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin, beta cryptoxanthin
and at least nine others. (www.carotenoidcomplex.com)
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PLACE
STAMP
HERE
of cancer-related genes can be influenced by the chemopreventive
compounds in the things we eat.” states lead researcher
Ah-Ng Tony Kong, professor of Pharmaceutics in the Ernesto
Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers.
Both Flavonoid Complex™ and Cruciferous Plus™ are
broad-spectrum formulas that supplement a wide range of
phytonutrients found and needed in the human diet.
Flavonoid Complex is derived from ten natural fruit sources
and delivers the broad flavonoid profile they provide.
Cruciferous Plus comes from nine cruciferous and related fruit
and vegetable sources, including broccoli for the active
cruciferous compounds sulforaphane and indole carbinol.
Both Flavonoid Complex and Cruciferous Plus have been
tested to National Cancer Institute protocols and proven
biologically effective.
Factoid:
Spinach is a great source of the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin;
both important for eye health and vision longevity. But did you
know that spinach was probably first eaten by people living in the
Middle East? And they probably were eating it hundreds of years
before Europeans! Spinach is also related to a group of plants called
“goosefoots” because of the shape of their leaves.
Factoid:
Broccoli has been around for over 2000 years and was a favorite
food of the ancient Romans. The average American eats only about
four and one half pounds a year. That’s less than 1/5th of an ounce
a day or only about 1/20th of the amount recommended as the
minimum daily target. Does that tell you something?
NASA research speculates Flavonoids will protect
future astronauts on long space flights.
Scientists at Tufts University and the University of Maryland
have been experimenting with the effects of the high level radiation
astronauts will be exposed to on flights to other planets.
Their initial conclusions, published on line in the journal
Neurobiology and Aging (doi:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.
2006.05.031) are that the flavonoids found in fruits like
strawberries and blueberries are neuro-protective, with specific
flavonoids protecting specific brain tissues or regions. “It
appeared that the antioxidant diets and the different polyphenols
(flavonoids) in these fruits might act in different brain
regions to produce their beneficial effects.” As is typical in the
broad array of fruits found in Nature’s plan for human
nutrition, many inter-related and likely synergistically acting
flavonoids are needed in the diet. “These findings suggest that
multiple mechanisms may be involved in the beneficial effects of
high antioxidant fruits—on ageing as well as radiation.”
Broccoli, cauliflower and genetic cancers
Rutgers University researchers have just published new data
showing that broccoli, cauliflower and other cruciferous vegetables
have natural ingredients that may reduce the risk of developing
hereditary cancers. The natural ingredient they’re talking
about is sulforaphane and it’s not the first time it’s been shown
to have anticancer properties.What is important about this
study is the genetic connection. People with hereditary cancer
risk are essentially genetically predisposed to the disease. This
research, published online in the August 2006 journal
Carcinogenesis, advises that the risk is not, however, beyond control.
“Our research has substantiated the connection between
diet and cancer prevention, and it’s now clear that the expression
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