A recent study in rats examined the effect of omega-3 fats (particularly DHA) and fructose on memory. Rats were trained to solve a maze and then given either a diet with omega-3 fats (DHA and flax seed oil) or one deficient in omega-3 fats. Each group was further divided into those also fed fructose in their drinking water or not. The group that was fed the fructose showed impairment of memory and took a longer time to solve the maze than prior to eating fructose. Those fed an omega-3 deficient diet and fructose fared the worst in the memory task. The rats fed fructose and omega-3 fats did better.
The conclusion of this study was that rats fed fructose had impairment of their ability to solve a maze because of memory deficits. Those given DHA and fructose had an improvement in their memory. The mechanisms involved in the memory impairment seemed to be a direct result of brain insulin resistance induced by fructose and ameliorated by taking DHA.
This study is the first to document insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome effects in the brain. And it suggests that taking DHA improves insulin metabolism, even with a diet containing fructose that induces insulin resistance.
We can derive several take home messages from this simple study. We already know that the epidemic of obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes is in large part due to the consumption of high fructose corn syrup in the American diet. This study tells us that fructose also results in dysfunction in the brain associated with insulin metabolism. It also confirms the importance of DHA for brain function.
Here are the words of the authors. "These findings expand the concept of metabolic syndrome affecting the brain and provide the mechanistic evidence of how dietary habits can interact to regulate brain functions, which can further alter lifelong susceptibility to the metabolic disorders."
Obesity and metabolic syndrome play a huge part in the epidemic of chronic inflammatory diseases including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Now we see that mental impairment is another part of this picture. Studies like this warn us that high fructose corn syrup should not be an ingredient in any foods in our diets. And supplements like omega-3 fats along with antioxidants can buffer the damage done to the body by corn syrup.
Agrawal R and Gomez-Pinilla F. 'Metabolic syndrome' in the brain: deficiency in omega-3 fatty acid exacerbates dysfunctions in insulin receptor signalling and cognition. The Journal of Physiology, May 1, 2012, 590, 2485-2499.
Dr. Randall Neustaedter, OMD - Natural News
