Orange, cod liver oil suppress depression in men

By Sade Oguntola

Orange juice

Increased intake of cod liver oil and foods such as
oranges, banana, cowpea and green leafy vegetables that have high folate contents may help reduce the incidence of depression, a new study have suggested. The benefits of taking such foods as oranges, the study in the journal Nutrition, said reduced the incidence of depression amongst men by 50 per cent in over 500 Japanese subjects studied.

The researchers, led by Kentaro Murakami from the International Medical Centre of Japan and the National Institute of Health and Nutrition wrote that, “To our knowledge this is the first study of these associations conducted in a non-Western population and used validated methodologies for the assessment of depressive symptoms and nutrient intake.”

The researchers assessed dietary intakes of omega-3 fatty acids, folate, and other B vitamins among 517 Japanese subjects using a brief self-administered diet history questionnaire (BDHQ). Assessing symptoms of depression based on the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale, 36 per cent of men and 37 per cent of women had depressive symptoms.

The male subjects with the highest average intake (235 micrograms per 100 kcal) were found to be 50 per cent less likely to have depressive symptoms than men with the lowest average intake (119 micrograms per 100 kcal) The researchers said, “ the relation between folate intake and depressive symptoms may be explained by other beneficial components of a folate-rich diet, because such a diet also is usually rich in certain B vitamins such as riboflavin and pyridoxine, and the prevalence of depressive symptoms tended to decrease as intake of such B vitamins increased, albeit without statistical significance,”. Although more research is needed to confirm the causality of the association, they stated that dietary modification to increase intake of folate might be an important strategy for the prevention of depression.

Similarly, regular and long-term intake of omega-3 fatty acid-rich cod liver oil may protect people from symptoms of depression, a large study from Norway, which was published in the Journal of Affective Disorders also said. The study followed 21,835 subjects aged between 40, 49, 70, and 74 years, and found that the prevalence of depressive symptoms was 29 per cent lower in regular cod liver oil users than the rest of the population. Numerous observational studies and uncontrolled trials have reported the benefits of fish oils and omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA on the behaviour and learning, especially in kids, as well for improving the symptoms of depression. Based on the data from the population based cross-sectional health survey, Maria Baroy Raeder from Haukeland University Hospital Baroy Raeder and co-workers declared that daily use of cod liver oil was negatively associated with high levels of depressive symptoms and that the prevalence of such depressive symptoms decreased with the duration of cod liver oil use.

“The users of cod liver oil were significantly less likely to have depressive symptoms than non-users after adjusting for multiple possible confounding factors (29 per cent reduction),” wrote the researchers. They also report that length of regular cod liver oil supplementation was found to influence the prevalence of high levels of depressive symptoms - the longer the duration of supplementation, the lower the prevalence of symptoms of depression. Commenting on the research, Professor. David Kendall of the University of Nottingham, said as fish oil appears to improve cardiovascular health, it was not surprising that healthier people may suffer less from symptoms of depression.

Meanwhile, the ration of omega-3 to omega-6 in the diet may determine who will benefit from the effect of omega-3 oil that is found in fish. Researchers from Ohio State University took blood samples from 43 older adults (average age 67) and calculated polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) levels and compared these to levels of markers of inflammation, and found that people with high ratios of omega-6 to omega-3 were more likely to suffer depression and inflammatory diseases. Janice Kiecolt-Glaser in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine said, “Our findings highlight ways in which diet may enhance or inhibit depression-related inflammation among older adults. These behaviour-dietary-immune interactions have important implications for both mental and physical health.”

“Our data suggests that a lower omega-6: omega-3 ratio offers some protection, particularly as depressive symptoms increase; accordingly, it is possible that the differences in participants’ dietary omega-3 intakes may have contributed to the variability in depression-cytokine relationships in other studies.” Sarah Conklin, PhD, and colleagues from the University of Pittsburgh’s Cardiovascular Behavioral Medicine Programme based on a study involving 55 healthy adults said omega-3 might reduce incidences of depression by promoting structural improvement in areas of the brain related to mood and emotions.

In a presentation, they gave on the study at the annual meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society in Budapest, Hungary, they reported finding that those who had high levels of omega-3 intake also had higher levels of grey matter in areas of the brain associated with emotional arousal and regulation.

Tackle stubborn catarrh, sinus infections with onion, ginger

We are already in the dry season and harmattan is also around the corner. Two of the ailments or unpleasant conditions synomymous to this season are cough and catarrah. Whether we like it or not many of us would be prone to catarrah cold and cough because of harmattan dust which can also trigger another eye condition known as the conjuctivitis (Apollo}. Children would not also be left out as many of them would not only experience catarrah, and cough, they would also be susceptible to sinus infections as well.

Catarrah is simply an excess of mucus in the nose. The mucous membrane lining the nose secretes a thick lubricating fluid called mucus, which also help to trap dust and germs. The mucus produced in the nose usually trickles down unnoticed the back of throat. However, if the mucous membrane is inflamed either as a result of inhaling a dust containing germs, it swells and produces much more mucus than it would normally and that is when we begin to experience catarrah as a result of the excess mucus in the nose.

But an observant parents or nursing mother would notice catarrh in her child if the child breathes through the mouth. Such a child may also have difficulty in breathing. If the child temperature is high or fluntuating, lethargic, and suddenly lost appetite, then all these are warning signs of catarrh and treatment should start immediately provided there are no other hidden diseases. Sinus infection on the other hand is also common in dry season and usually accompany harmattan period. For instance, sinusitis, which is very common in growing children is an inflamation or infection of the membrane lining the sinuses. It is also a common condition in older children as well.

Sinuses are the air-filled space in the bones of the face and skull, the purpose of which is to filter and pre-warm air before it goes down to the lungs. Sinuses that are commonly infected are the ones in the forehead between the eyes and in the cheekbones on either side of the nose. According to medical explanation, sinusitis usually follow a cold and it occurs when the drainage holes that lead from the sinuses into the back of the nose becomes blocked. The virus that cause cold may also be responsible for sinusitis and may develop as a secondary bacterial infection.

Sinuses may also be infected due to the complication of the swelling of the mucous membranes associated with allergic rhinitis which usually accompany catarrh and cough. It should however be noted that sinusitis is extremely unusual in young children because they have no air in the sinuses, but it is much more common in children over the age of ten. Symptoms of sinusitis include cold with a blocked or runny nose. The discharge may be thick, white or yellow-green in colour. The child may also complain of pain or tenderness around the fore head, nose and eyes. Adults may also feel the pain around the forehead. These symptoms also resemble that of catarrh.

However, antibiotics may solve the problems but in most cases, it may not totally suppress the symptoms. But nutritional therapists as well as natural medicine practitioners believe that the best way to cure catarrh, allergic rhinitis, cough, and other sinus infections life sinusitis is to apply natural therapy. Some people are also of the opinion that there is not effective drug for catarrh and that it would naturally go by itself, while some people believe that vitamin C tablet would do the cure.No matter your belief, it is pertinent to say that, alternative medical practitioners emphasised that to fight catarrh and sinus infections effectively, the patients should eat a lot of onions and other plants in the allum family.

Onions, spring onions, chives, leeks and garlic according to Kayode Oniyelu and Nurudeen Animasaun not only cure catarrh, but also prevent chest infections. The duo said these are natural effective decongestants which cannot be compared to any drug. onion and garlic for instance reduces muscous formation in the chest or respiratory tract. Others natural drugs for catarrh and chest infections include horseradish, ginger, chillies, thyme and rosemary. Traditionally, garlic and onion has been used as a digestive aid and help to fight infections. It contains antroxidant like vitamin A, vitamins C and selenium while ginger contains vitamins B6 and C, vitamin E, high amount of dietary fibre and low cholestrol content.

The naturalpaths however advised that for these natural anti-catarrh, anti-sinus infections drugs to be effective, they should not be cooked as heat denature their active ingredients or chemicals. “Anybody experiencing catarrh and sinus infections should eat a lots of onion, leeks and garlic. Such could also extract the juice in ginger, chillies horseradish and rosemary, dilute them with warm water and taken. It has been proven to be effective natural therapy for catarrh, sinusitis, even better than many drugs”, the doctors advised.