MIT TechTalk -Compound ‘cocktail’ improves
 

this a PDF file
p. 4 of the MIT publication of
volume 52 number 10
November 28, 2007

Compound ‘cocktail’ improves
brain function in rodents
Treatment is undergoing a clinical study
______

In the Brain Research paper, the MIT team reported
that rodents given a cocktail of DHA (a type of omega-3
fatty acid), uridine and choline showed a greatly increased
concentration of dendritic spines, which receive messages
in the postsynaptic neuron. That indicates that synapse
regeneration has occurred, which is unusual, Wurtman
said.
Synapse regrowth could also prove an effective treatment
for other brain diseases, such as Parkinson’s, or for
Brain injuries.


Some of the rats in the studies received all three compounds
and some received only one. The improvements in
synapse growth and cognitive ability were greatest in the
rats given all three.
Omega-3 fatty acids are not produced in the body but
are found in a variety of sources, including fish, eggs, flaxseed
and meat from grass-fed animals. Choline can be synthesized
in the body and obtained through the diet; it is
found in meats, nuts and eggs. Uridine cannot be obtained
from food sources, but is a component of human breast
milk and can be produced in the body.
The cocktail of compounds is now in clinical studies in
Europe.

go to link below to read entire article


http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2007/techtalk52-10.pdf

what is DHA? I found info in Martek pamphlet -
 

Fatty fish and organ meats are the primary dietary
sources of DHA, making it difficult for most people to get enough
of this important nutrient through diet alone. But as research continues
to demonstrate just how important DHA is to our health, foods fortified
with DHA are becoming increasingly available. Nutritional supplements
containing DHA are also available to help people increase their daily
DHA intake.

Although fish oil is a common source of DHA for use in foods and
supplements, there is also an all-natural vegetarian source of DHA.

Martek -DHA
is produced from algae grown under tightly controlled conditions in
FDA-inspected facilities. It contains no oceanic pollutants and toxins such
as those potentially found in fish and fish oil. Martek DHA™ is currently
available in dietary supplements and some foods, and is added to over 70%
of infant formula sold in the U.S.
(Please refer to the back cover for a list of products containing Martek DHA™.)
Fish consumption warning from various expert bodies.
The United States Food and Drug Administration, the Environmental
Protection Agency, the American Heart Association, and many states have
advised that children, pregnant women, women who may become pregnant
and nursing mothers limit their intake of fish to two servings per week. This
warning comes in response to findings that certain fish contain mercury, a
contaminant that when present at high levels could harm the developing
nervous system of fetuses, newborns and young children.
Is flaxseed oil a good source of DHA?
Flaxseed oil is a dietary source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), not DHA. The
body can make DHA from ALA, but this process is not efficient. Therefore, if
you are looking for the benefits of DHA, it is best to consume it directly
Foods Containing DHA DHA
(milligrams)
1 hard boiled egg, large
(not enriched with DHA) .................19
2 pieces chicken, fried ............37
3 oz. tuna salad .......................47
12 large shrimp, steamed ........96
1 cup chicken livers,
simmered .............................112
3 oz. crab, steamed..................196
3 oz. smoked salmon (lox) .......227
3 oz. beef liver, fried ................246
3 oz. white tuna
canned in water ....................535
3 oz. pink salmon filet,
baked/broiled........................638


Reference: The U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1999.

More specifically, DHA is a major structural fat in the gray matter of the brain and the retina of the eye. It is also a key component of the heart. Numerous studies confirm that everyone, from infants to adults, benefits from an adequate supply of DHA.

• For mothers-to-be, DHA supports
a healthy pregnancy.

• For infants, DHA is important forbrain and eye development.

• For toddlers, children, teens and adults, DHA supports brain,
eye & heart health.

Yet, despite its importance, most Americans seldom
get enough DHA from what they eat.

martek.com

medical research -
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/d...cid-000300.htm

Medical research on Uridine - found in human breast milk
 

Research Report

Dietary supplementation with uridine-5′-monophosphate (UMP), a membrane phosphatide precursor, increases acetylcholine level and release in striatum of aged rat

Lei Wanga, Meredith A. Albrechta, b and Richard J. Wurtmana,

http://tinyurl.com/ypxdmu

repair is possible
 

The recent return home of the only survivor of the Sago mine disaster, Randall McCloy Jr., seems miraculous and it was. Yet, there is a sound basis for his recovery. McCloy, who had suffered heart, kidney, and liver failure in addition to brain failure, returned home less than four months after the mining disaster. One of the principle reasons for this recover was Dr. Bailes’ administering of very high doses of Omega 3 Fish Oil to McCloy.

McCloy received (and continues to take) 15 grams per day of EPA and DHA. Although a seemingly extraordinarily high dose, McCloy’s blood levels of these fatty acids were constantly monitored to maintain them within a therapeutic zone to maximize the reduction of systemic inflammation without compromising the body’s ability to fight infection.

The implications of Randall McCloy’s remarkable recovery have widespread medical importance, not only for brain trauma patients, but also for any patient with neurological disorders. It has been demonstrated by Harvard Medical School that high-dose fish oil has significant benefits in treating bipolar depression, and a recent study demonstrated the same levels used by Dr. Bailes in treating Randall McCloy also demonstrated significant improvement in children with ADHD. Maybe this is why our grandmother called fish oil "brain food."

more at http://www.setma.com/article.cfm?ID=292