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Post by ohmama on Sept 17, 2004 22:35:02 GMT -5
Antioxidants help protect fatty acids in the body and aid the incorporation of those fatty acids into the cell membranes. When taking fish oil you will need antioxidant protection to fight against fat becoming rancid in the body caused by oxidation. Oxidative stress can damage fats and its target is the brain.
There are many antioxidants that can help with this but I would like to list my personal favorites and tell you why they are so important.
First is Lipoic Acid Unlike any other antioxidant, it is both fat and water soluble because of its unique chemical structure. It is also the only antioxidant that can recycle or regenerate itself as well as some others at the same time (vitamin C & vitamin E).
Next on the list is Vitamin E This vitamin is fat soluble and remains within the lipid-rich cell membranes protecting the omega-3's in the brain.
Along with these I would have to include Vitamin C This vitamin is water soluble and diffuses into the watery center of the cell (the cytoplasm) and the fluid surrounding the cell.
The combo of C & E may be surperior to either one alone. Vitamin C regenerates any oxidized Vitamin E. These vitamins have very different but complementary chemical properties.
It is my opinion based on the above that these are superior and should be included in a treatment plan to help with brain function, especially when taking omega-3 fish oil.
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Post by sierra on Oct 11, 2004 12:01:11 GMT -5
I've been reading about grape seed extract lately on a lot of sites. Have you tried it and what do you think?
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Post by ohmama on Oct 11, 2004 21:20:38 GMT -5
Sierra, Everything I've heard about this product has been very good. I haven't tried it yet but have it on my list to do some more research on. There have been some difficult situations with my fireboy lately but it looks like it's getting better so I will have more time to do what I have come to love, read and research. I think I'm addicted to finding information.
Oh, almost forgot, I have to paint the house tomorrow. That may take a while. I hope Cat is available to answer some of these posts.
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Post by catatonic on Oct 13, 2004 7:42:52 GMT -5
I can't add much here, except to agree that OhMama's list of antioxidants is a good one. Those are the antioxidants I use...the Big Three. If you're interested in making sure that your brain survives into old age along with your body, and want to protect it from scary degenerative diseases like Alzheimers, I highly recommend a book called "Your Miracle Brain" by Jean Carper. She exhaustively covers a variety of anti-oxidants. Grape seed extract is an excellent antioxidant...according to some experts, it might even be better than Vitamin C! I don't know about that, but I do know that it has high flavonoid content, and has some other special benefits of well. Chief among these is its ability to cross the blood/brain barrier. Because it can do this, it is capable of scavenging free radicals that are assaulting the brain. It can also improve blood flow and reduct the risk of heart attack and stroke. Also effective at this is pycnogenol (an extract from pine bark). Normally the recommended dose of grape seed extract is 100mg daily of a standardized extract (95% PCO standardized). You can read an overview of grape seed extract here: www.rxlist.com/cgi/alt/grapeseed_faq.htm
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Post by jsnowash on Jun 2, 2005 20:17:02 GMT -5
Thanks for the great info on anti-oxidants. I'm wondering if you can make any suggestions re: how much of each to take (or point me toward some resources where I can research it myself...)
Thanks!!
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Post by rocco on Jun 2, 2005 22:58:41 GMT -5
Did anyone see the PrimeTime news story on protandim? It is apparently a mixture of five products (one of them green tea) in a supplement that drastically lowers the markers of stress oxidation (is that the correct term?) in the blood. It apparently increases the 2 enzymes that are needed to eliminate free radicals. Sounds like the ultimate antioxidant. Just wondering if anyone has done any research or had any thoughts on this?
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Post by catatonic on Jun 2, 2005 23:44:50 GMT -5
Haven't even heard of it. I'll have to do some reading, I guess!
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Post by karah41 on Jan 23, 2006 15:17:18 GMT -5
Hi catatonic,
what would you recommend for dosages of lipoic acid, vit. E, and vit. C? And would you split them and give some with each Omega-3 dose? My 56-pound, recently diagnosed ADHD son is taking 4 x GNC's fish body oil gelcaps (180EPA/120DHA per)... And what is your opinion on GLA, do you think it is helpful for Omega-3 transmission to the brain? Thanks for being such a wonderful source of information!
--Kara mom to ADHD son
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Post by catatonic on Jan 24, 2006 0:44:21 GMT -5
I do think a little GLA is helpful, in the range of 65 - 130mg. I give my son one Evening Primrose Oil capsule every day.
Although Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin and you ought to be able to give a single dose each day since excess will be stored in fat, I prefer to think of it circulating in the blood stream at the same time the fish oil is being metabolized. I give my son a 100iu capsule in the morning and evening with his fish oil.
Vitamin C is an excellent anti-oxidant, and it's probably a good idea to include 500mg each day. I can't give this to my boy, unfortunately, since he reacts badly to it. I believe it's because the citric acid and ascorbic acid that make up Vitamin C supplements are derived from corn syrup, and he is terribly sensitive to corn syrup in even the smallest amounts. Turns him into the Spaz Boy From H*ll.
Alpha lipoic acid as another fine anti-oxidant, and also a fatty acid. It certainly won't hurt to add it. For a child, 100 - 150mg is probably plenty. Adults should take about twice that much. Your son doesn't weight a whole lot, so the 100mg is probably plenty.
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Post by swmom on Jan 24, 2006 5:57:24 GMT -5
If oxidation occurs and the omega 3 becomes rancid in the body, what would you see, what are the symptoms of that? Wonder if that's why we're starting to smell the fish oil on ourselves.
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Post by catatonic on Jan 24, 2006 9:16:36 GMT -5
Hmmmmm, that's possible. Have you opened one of the capsules and smelled it to make sure you're not taking rancid fish oil? I don't know that you'd see any actual symptoms of oxidative damage. It tends to be invisible, harming your body on a cellular level that is not obvious from the outside. Shouldn't happen, though, if your fish oil is fresh and you take a little Vitamin E.
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Post by swmom on Jan 24, 2006 9:30:27 GMT -5
OK, I just opened one of the capsules. The oil smells extremely fishy. But it's fish oil. How is it supposed to smell?
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Post by catatonic on Jan 24, 2006 13:52:33 GMT -5
It should smell kind of like a can of tuna fish when you open it, only not as strong. If you taste it, it should not really have any taste except a mildly fishy flavor.
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Post by coach1 on Apr 21, 2006 12:11:55 GMT -5
Grape Seed Extract and Pycogenol (Pine Bark Extract) are 2 antioxidants that are said to lower Glutamate which is a Neurotransmitter that causes hyperness and extremes in behaviors. Glutamate at high levels is considered an Excitotoxin. I did a little research on why these anitoxidants lowered glutamate. I came across a study that spoke about glutamate "Transporters" are responsible for keeping Glutamate at proper levels. Oxidative stress damages these glutamate transporters and causes the body to have high levels of glutamate. So taking these more powerfull forms of Antioxidants like Grape Seed Extract and Pycogenol which cross the blood brain barrier very easily is a good way to combat high glutamate levels. Its also said to keep taking the other antioxidants along with the Grape Seed Extract and Pycogenol to have a more complete anitoxidant effect. They all work together in little different ways to fight oxidation.
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Post by kluv2jazztoo on Nov 22, 2008 20:04:51 GMT -5
How do you guys get your kids to swallow all of these pills plus any meds they are on? It seems like an overwhelming amount.
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Post by Mayleng on Nov 22, 2008 21:29:50 GMT -5
One at a time, one at a time. LOL! You could spread them out.
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Post by bros on Nov 22, 2008 22:01:11 GMT -5
How do you guys get your kids to swallow all of these pills plus any meds they are on? It seems like an overwhelming amount. It's easy One time I was taking 4 pills three times a day. It's easy.
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