“Schiff® knows that recent press reports have alarmed consumers and raised concerns about PCB contamination in fish oil supplements.  It’s important for consumers to know that Schiff’s® fish oil supplements meet established safety rules and guidelines such as California’s Proposition 65.  Consumers can be confident in Schiff’s commitment to product safety and know that Schiff® has measures in place to ensure the quality of its products,” said Dr. Luke Bucci, a certified clinical nutritionist and VP of Research at Schiff Nutrition.

One of the measures Schiff® employs to ensure the quality of its fish oil supplements is Schiff’s careful selection of raw materials.  For Schiff’s fish oil supplements, Schiff® only uses small wild ocean fish from South America that are unlikely to accumulate PCBs in their bodies to the same degree as large fish harvested in more industrialized waters.

In addition to guarding against PCB contamination, Schiff® takes other steps to ensure the general quality of its products.  Schiff® routinely tests its products for purity, potency, microbiological contamination, and heavy metal contamination.  Products that do not meet Schiff’s exacting quality standards are rejected.  Schiff® also requires its raw material suppliers to certify that their materials meet or exceed Schiff’s specifications.  This includes suppliers of fish oil.  Raw materials that fall short of specifications are rejected.  These efforts, as well as Schiff’s purity, freshness, and labeled potency guarantee, allow consumers to be confident in the quality of Schiff® fish oil supplements.

About Schiff Nutrition International, Inc.

Schiff Nutrition International, Inc. develops, manufactures, markets and distributes branded and private label vitamins, nutritional supplements and nutrition bars in the United States and throughout the world.

For more information on Schiff products, visit www.SchiffVitamins.com

SOURCE:  Schiff Nutrition International, Inc.

Since 1995, Nordic Naturals has been setting the standards for fish oil excellence while delivering third-party test results that reveal industry-leading purity and freshness. According to Joar Opheim, CEO and Founder, “Nordic Naturals believes that consumers should have access to accurate information about environmental contaminants and that complete transparency around freshness and purity is essential.” Nordic Naturals has taken a proactive approach to provide individuals with information regarding the purity, safety, and efficacy of its fish oils. Using the most advanced testing methods to detect PCBs, third-party tests show that Nordic Naturals products have no detectable levels at one part per trillion of Non-Ortho and Mono-Ortho PCBs (the most harmful PCBs which are not covered by Prop 65) and total PCBs are well below the Prop 65 limit of 0.09ug/kg (0.09ppm or 90ppb).

Nordic Naturals starts with the best raw material available—fish low on the food chain, which naturally contain low levels of impurities and high levels of omega-3 fats. Nordic Naturals’ multi-patented manufacturing processes, accompanied by leading-edge processing technologies, deliver fish oil with exceptional freshness and purity levels. Nordic Naturals fish oils are documented to be completely pure, with no detected heavy metals or environmental contaminants when third-party tested at levels 10 times below the stringent European Pharmacopeia, CRN, GOED and IFOS standards.

As a pioneer and innovator, Nordic Naturals has created a new definition of fish oil quality as it relates to freshness, taste, dosage, and most importantly, purity, reinforcing its commitment to conduct business truthfully and authentically in the fish oil industry. Nordic Naturals is responsible for several patented fish oil technologies that include flavoring, taste, delivery and processing that have helped shape the standards for a country and industry that has had few guidelines in place.

Nordic Naturals publishes and continually updates an educational piece entitled “Why Nordic Naturals” to inform individuals about environmental contaminant testing, the important steps the company has taken to ensure quality, as well as to disclose the company’s third-party testing results. This information is available at www.nordicnaturals.com and Certificates of Analysis are available upon request. Nordic Naturals has also voluntarily participated in IFOS (International Fish Oil Standards) third-party testing and specifics on these tests can be found at www.ifosprogram.com/IFOS/ConsumerReport.aspx .

Distributing products to over 20 countries on all major continents, Nordic Naturals is the international leader in omega-3 fish oils and EFA blends. Nordic Naturals offers over 150 products in a variety of flavors, concentrations, and delivery forms. 800.662.2544 or visit www.nordicnaturals.com.

SOURCE:  Nordic Naturals

The Company has worked cooperatively with the groups behind the lawsuit in California for the past several months, sharing information and answering any questions that arose.  There are many issues on which Omega Protein disagrees with the plaintiffs, including methods of measuring PCBs, the level of PCBs at which a warning would be required, testing protocols, and applicable industry standards.  Omega Protein takes very seriously its obligations to meet regulatory requirements and consumer expectations for safe and effective products.

About Omega Protein

Omega Protein Corporation is the nation’s largest manufacturer of heart-healthy fish oils containing Omega-3 fatty acids for human consumption, as well as specialty fish meals and fish oil used as value-added ingredients in aquaculture, swine and other livestock feeds.  Omega Protein makes its products from menhaden, an Omega-3 rich fish that is not utilized as seafood, but which is abundantly available along the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Coasts.

SOURCE Omega Protein Corporation

“Consumers who want the health benefits of fish oil shouldn’t also have to take the health risks of an extremely toxic man-made chemical,” said David Roe, one of the attorneys for the plaintiffs. “And they don’t have to, since preliminary test results show that some fish oil brands have only 1/70th as much PCB contamination in them as others.”

“The industry knows very well about the PCB problem in fish oils and widely markets its supplements as already treated for PCB contamination,” said Benson Chiles, also a plaintiff in the case. “They have no excuse for what we’ve been finding.”

The initial defendants named, in alphabetical order, are: CVS Pharmacy, Inc.; General Nutrition Corp. (GNC); Now Health Group, Inc.; Omega Protein, Inc.; Pharmavite LLC (Nature Made brand); Rite Aid Corp.; Solgar, Inc.; and TwinLab Corp.

More information is available at www.fishoilsafety.com.

International Omega-3 Awareness Day

Scientific evidence of the health benefits of omega-3’s are now so firmly established that a team of world-renowned doctors have formed the first ever International Omega-3 Awareness Day on March 3^rd, 2010.

As Carol A. Locke, MD who is leading this effort puts it, “What’s so amazing is that people can obtain huge benefits right now from increasing their intake of Omega-3.  The only possible side effect is greater health and a longer life. Nothing else in medicine comes close to this.”

William E. Butler, MD, of Harvard Medical School, one of the world’s top pediatric neurosurgeons and another founding member of the Omega-3 Awareness Day team, adds, “There is substantial evidence to suggest that our levels of omega-3 essential fatty acids may be the most potent cardioprotective factors in the human diet. Optimal omega-3 intakes will have a profound effect in safely reducing the risk of cardiac disease and promoting cardiac health.”

William S. Harris, PhD, Professor of Basic Bio-Medical Science and co-founder of the omega-3 index, joined the Omega-3 Awareness Day team, stating, “Americans eat too much bad fat (saturated and trans fat) and too little good fat (omega-3’s from fish oil). Correcting our omega-3 deficiency could be the single most important dietary change we can make.”

John Ratey, MD, neuroscience expert at Harvard and another founding member of this respected team, quotes, “I tell every patient when I first meet them that they should be doing two things to help them whatever their problems are and that is: exercise daily and take omega-3’s. The scientific evidence for both is without question.”

The Omega-3 Day team invites people all over the world both within the healthcare profession and in the public to join in this international effort to save and change lives.

Source: www.Omega3Day.com

The scientific consensus is so strong that health policy makers world wide, including the American Heart Association (AHA) and the World Health Organization (WHO), all agree that EPA and DHA help maintain heart heath.

“The one nutrient that is overwhelmingly studied and still lacking in the modern western diet is the essential fatty acid omega-3 found in fish and fish oil, making consumption or supplementation imperative for optimum human health. Pure fish oil is the best source of omegas, which are the most essential nutrients for heart health and should be included in any heart health diet,” says Nordic Naturals Research Advisor, Bradley R. West, ND.

West suggests Ultimate Omega + CoQ10, a powerful concentration of EPA+DHA with added CoQ10 to support a healthy heart. Supplementing with Ultimate Omega + CoQ10 is a convenient way to add omega-3s to a heart health diet, as one serving meets the AHA’s daily recommendation of EPA + DHA for individuals with heart concerns.

Research and clinical studies have also documented that omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil enhance overall cardiovascular function and support the body’s natural anti-inflammatory response. Many of these studies can be found at the research-driven public website http://www.omega-research.com

National Heart Month is sponsored by the American Heart Association. To learn more visit http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4441

Bradley R. West is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor who specializes in integrative, traditional, and functional medicine.  Currently serving as Nordic Naturals Research Advisor, he facilitates the numerous ongoing human clinical trials using Nordic Natural products and develops educational material for professionals and consumers while maintaining his part-time practice.  His emphasis is on chronic disease prevention and treatment, holistic endocrinology, gastroenterology, CFS/FMS, and environmental medicine.

Heart health diet (http://www.nordicnaturals.com) pure fish oil maker Nordic Naturals has been the industry leader in fish oil supplementation, setting standards of excellence in the areas of purity, freshness, taste, and sustainability since 1995. With a reputation for efficacy and potency, Nordic Naturals fish oils and EFA blends are regularly chosen by independent research institutions and universities with 10 peer-reviewed, published scientific studies already completed and more than 30 currently underway. Distributing to over 20 countries on 6 continents, Nordic Naturals offers over 150 products in a variety of flavors, concentrations, and delivery forms. Nordic Naturals continues to deliver on its promise of innovation and quality you can trust. For information, call 800.662.2544 or visit www.nordicnaturals.com.

About the author

Name: Jeannine Dow

Company: Nordic Naturals, Inc.

Telphone: 831-724-6200

Email: ***@theprgroup.com

Article Source: http://www.free-press-release.com/news-heart-health-diet-needs-pure-fish-oil-per-studies-1266854256.html

Periodontal or Gum Disease

There is always a first! We are all familiar with fish oil benefits for heart, arthritis inflammation, brain health, vision, cognition etc., but this is the first time that we are hearing about fish oil and dental health.

In a recent study published in the Journal Nutrition, Japanese researchers (Niigata, Japan) found that high DHA Omega-3 levels inversely correlated with progression of periodontal disease in older people.

Periodontal Disease – Gingivits

Periodontal diseases are those diseases that affect one or more of the periodontal tissues – which are tissues that both surround and support the teeth. While many different diseases affect the tooth-supporting structures and tissues, plaque-induced inflammatory lesions make up the vast majority of periodontal diseases. Bacteria in plaque around the teeth slowly damage and erode the gum tissues. The infected gums undergo inflammation and can eventually lead to tooth loss. A common periodontal disease is Gingivitis.

The study also revealed that omega-3 fatty acids were strongly effective against a wide range of oral bacteria while perhaps preventing inflammation.

The study involved participants for 5 years with groups getting low dose of DHA vs high dose of DHA and over this course of 5 years the progression of periodontal diseases were monitored. The group that consumed the lowest amount of DHA showed 1.5 times more disease progression than the group that consumed highest amount of DHA.

Possible Mechanism

“In periodontal diseases, bacteria trigger inflammatory host responses that cause destruction of the alveolar bone and periodontal connective tissue,” quoting the researchers.

“According to previous reports, DHA and EPA inhibit arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism to inflammatory eicosanoids. They also give rise to mediators that are less inflammatory than those produced from AA or that are anti-inflammatory” according to the researchers.

Source: Nutrition

Published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2009.09.010
“Longitudinal relationship between dietary ?-3 fatty acids and periodontal disease”

Authors: M. Iwasaki, A. Yoshihara, P. Moynihan, R. Watanabe, G.W. Taylor, H. Miyazaki

ScienceDaily (2010-02-02) — Individuals at extremely high risk of developing psychosis appear less likely to develop psychotic disorders following a 12-week course of fish oil capsules containing long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, according to a report. … > read full article

We are proud to be joining the AHA across America in the fight against the #1 killer of women – as well as of men. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women age 20 and over, but only 1 in 5 women believes that heart disease is her greatest health threat.  Cardiovascular disease kills approximately 460,000 women each year, which is about one every minute.  Heart disease is not just a man’s disease, which is why Go Red For Women is dedicated to building awareness of heart disease among women.  Choosing to take care of our hearts can help us beat the No. 1 killer of women. 

 Learn more about the national cause to increase awareness and help women reduce their risk of heart disease at www.GoRedForWomen.org.

For more Information about Go Red for Women, visit:  http://www.goredforwomen.org/

For information on a Wide Range of Cardiovascular Conditions, visit: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3004349

Ready to donate now?

Use your cell phone and text RED to 90999 to donate $5 to help Go Red For Women in the fight against women and heart disease.

Rising Healthcare Costs

Rising healthcare costs remains the talk of the nation. It is interesting to note that research commissioned by the Dietary Supplement Education Alliance (DSEA) couple of years ago shows that  appropriate use of select dietary supplements would improve the health of key populations and save the nation more than $24 billion in healthcare costs over 5 years. The study updated research conducted by The Lewin Group in 2004 and 2005 that included a systematic literature review of the most rigorous scientific research available.
 
“Rapidly escalating healthcare costs in the U.S. have severe implications for our society as a whole,” said Jon Benninger, president of DSEA. “This study provides valuable data that may lead to preventative healthcare solutions and address the budgetary problems facing federal and state health insurance programs, corporate healthcost managers and individual families.”

Key study findings include:
 
•    Calcium with Vitamin D: Appropriate use of calcium with Vitamin D for the Medicare population shows potential avoidance of approximately 776,000 hospitalizations for hip fractures over five years, as well as avoidance of stays in skilled nursing facilities for some proportion of patients. The five-year (2008-2012) estimated net cost associated with avoidable hospitalization for hip fracture is approximately $16.1 billion.

•    Folic Acid: If just 11.3 million of the 44 million American women who are of childbearing age and not taking folic acid began taking 400 mcg. of folic acid on a daily basis neural tube defects could be prevented in 600 babies, saving as much as $344,700,000 in the first year. Over five years, taking into account the cost of the supplement, $1.4 billion could potentially be saved.

•    Omega 3 Fatty Acids: The estimate of the potential five-year savings in health care expenditures resulting from a reduction in the occurrence of coronary heart disease (CHD) among the population over age 65 through daily intake of approximately 1800 mg of omega 3 is $3.2 billion. Approximately 374,301 hospitalizations and associated physician fees due to CHD could be avoided.

•    Lutein with Zeaxanthin: Through daily intake of 6-10 mg of lutein with zeaxanthin, it is estimated that $3.6 billion could be saved over 5 years by helping people with age-related macular degeneration avoid dependency. Across the five-year period, approximately 190,927 individuals could avoid the transition to dependence either in the community or a nursing facility that would accompany a loss of central vision resulting from advanced AMD.

“The impressive results of the study provide clear evidence of the benefit of dietary supplements,” said Mr. Benninger. “As an industry, it is important that we fund studies like this and publicize results, so that consumers and legislators realize the value of supplements.”

Source: http://www.nutraceuticalsworld.com/contents/view/214