3 fatty acids

The typical American diet often lacks omega-3 fatty acids despite clinical research that shows their potential human health benefits.

Now researchers have found a way to grow these compounds using a byproduct of the emerging biodiesel industry.

Farm-raised tilapia, one of the most highly consumed fish in America, has very low levels of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids and, perhaps worse, very high levels of omega-6 fatty acids, according to new research.

The researchers say the combination could be a potentially dangerous food source for some patients with heart disease, arthritis, asthma and other allergic and auto-immune diseases that are particularly vulnerable to an "exaggerated inflammatory response."

A new study reveals that omega-3 intake during the last months of pregnancy boosts an infant's sensory, cognitive, and motor development.

However, high concentration of omega-3s in mother's milk doesn't seem to have the same positive effect in breast-fed babies, highlighting the importance of prenatal exposure to omega-3 fatty acids.

Thousands of research studies have documented how the oils known as omega-3 fatty acids can benefit the cardiovascular system, particularly among people diagnosed with coronary artery disease.

The typical North American diet of eating lots of meat and not much fish is deficient in omega-3 fatty acids and this may pose a risk to infant neurological development.

The researchers found that the women who ate lots of meat and little fish were deficient in omega-3 fatty acids, and their babies didn't do as well on eye tests as babies from mothers who weren't deficient.

The results were noticeable as early as two months of age.

The main ingredients of fish feed have traditionally been of marine origin but these ingredients are becoming both scarce and expensive.

The fish farming industry therefore wishes to utilise alternative lipid (fat) sources in feed used for salmon farming.

Vegetable oils also tend to increase growth rate and carcase quality of fish. However, when fed to patients, notable differences were found.