Farmed Mussels: A Nutritive Protein Source, Rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids, with a Low Environmental Footprint

The world’s ever-growing population presents a major challenge in providing sustainable food options and in reducing pressures on the Earth’s agricultural land and freshwater resources. Current estimates suggest that agriculture contributes ~30% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Additionally, there is an increased demand for animal protein, the production of which is particularly polluting. Therefore, the climate-disrupting potential of feeding the planet is likely to substantially worsen in the future. Due to the nutritional value of animal-based protein, it is not a simple solution to recommend a wholesale reduction in production/consumption of animal proteins. Rather, employing strategies which result in the production of low carbon animal protein may be part of the solution to reduce the GHGs associated with our diets without compromising diet quality. We suggest that farmed mussels may present a partial solution to this dilemma. Mussel production has a relatively low GHG production and does not put undue pressure on land or fresh water supplies. By drawing comparisons to other protein sources using the Australian Food and Nutrient Database and other published data, we demonstrate that they are a sustainable source of high-quality protein, long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, phytosterols, and other key micronutrients such as B-12 and iron. The aim of this review is to summarise the current knowledge on the health benefits and potential risks of increasing the consumption of farmed mussels.

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Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Coronary Artery Disease: More Questions Than Answers

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10112495 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 2495

Author(s):

Marijana Tadic ◽

Carla Sala ◽

Guido Grassi ◽

Giuseppe Mancia ◽

Stefano Taddei ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Coronary Artery Disease ◽

Fatty Acids ◽

Coronary Artery ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Therapeutic Option ◽

Blood Pressure Reduction ◽

Omega 3 Fatty Acids ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Inflammatory Status ◽

Artery Disease

Studies show that patients with elevated triglycerides and well-controlled LDL levels under statin therapy still have a significant residual risk of cardiovascular (CV) events. Despite many attempts to reduce triglycerides with different hypolipidemic drugs, no therapeutic option has given satisfactory results so far. The initial enthusiasm that omega-3 fatty acids can effectively reduce triglycerides and CV risk was replaced with skepticism when the first large clinical trials failed to show any benefit in primary or secondary prevention. However, the latest studies succeeded in showing a positive effect of omega-3 fatty acids on CV outcome in patients with hypertriglyceridemia. The largest benefit was reported in secondary but not primary prevention. Interestingly, the reduction in triglycerides in some of these studies was disproportionately low to the relatively high CV risk reduction, which could indicate some other effects of omega-3 fatty acids that go well beyond hypotriglyceridemic action. This includes blood pressure reduction, antithrombotic effect, improvement of inflammatory status, endothelial function, and insulin resistance. Investigations also reported a significant and positive influence of omega-3 fatty acids on the composition and stabilization of coronary atherosclerotic plaques in patients with and without previous CV events. In addition to insufficiently known mechanisms of action and conflicting results about the effectiveness of omega-3 fatty acids, the safety problems, which include increased prevalence of atrial fibrillation and hemorrhage, were also reported. The aim of this clinical review was to summarize the current knowledge regarding the use of omega-3 fatty acids in CV patients, particularly those with coronary artery disease, and to present an overview of key clinical trial data.

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The Mediterranean-style diet for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1079/phn2005933 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 9 (1a) ◽

pp. 118-123 ◽

Cited By ~ 90

Author(s):

Michel de Lorgeril ◽

Patricia Salen

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Cardiovascular Diseases ◽

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Cardiac Death ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Omega 3 Fatty Acids ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Omega 6 ◽

Traditional Mediterranean Diet

AbstractObjectivesTo discuss present knowledge about Mediterranean diet and cardiovascular diseases.DesignReview of existing literature.Setting and ResultsEpidemiological studies as well as randomised dietary trials suggest that Mediterranean diet may be important in relation to the pathogenesis (and prevention) of CHD. For instance, a striking protective effect of an ALA-rich Mediterranean diet was reported in the Lyon Diet Heart Study with a 50 to 70% reduction of the risk of recurrence after 4 years of follow-up in CHD patients. According to our current knowledge, dietary ALA should represent about 0.6 to 1% of total daily energy or about 2 g per day in patients following a Mediterranean diet, whereas the average intake in linoleic acid should not exceed 7 g per day. Supplementation with very-long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (about 1 g per day) in patients following a Mediterranean type of diet was shown to decrease the risk of cardiac death by 30% and of sudden cardiac death by 45% in the GISSI trial.ConclusionsIn the context of a diet rich in oleic acid, poor in saturated fats and low in omega-6 fatty acids (a dietary pattern characterising the traditional Mediterranean diet), even small doses of omega-3 fatty acids (about 1 g EPA + DHA the form of fish oil capsules or 2 g α-linolenic acid in canola oil and margarine) might be very protective. These data underline the importance of the accompanying diet in any dietary strategy using fatty acid complements.

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Depressive Symptoms, omega-6:omega-3 Fatty Acids, and Inflammation in Older Adults

Yearbook of Anesthesiology and Pain Management ◽

10.1016/s1073-5437(08)71001-5 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 2008 ◽

pp. 273-274

Author(s):

M.F. Roizen

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Fatty Acids ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Omega 3 Fatty Acids ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Omega 6

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Fish oil plus wheat germ oil have no prominent effect on homocysteine levels and nutritional indices in hemodialysis patients

International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research ◽

10.1024/0300-9831/a000604 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Hadeer Zakaria ◽

Tarek M. Mostafa ◽

Gamal A. El-Azab ◽

Nagy AH Sayed-Ahmed

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Vitamin E ◽

Fish Oil ◽

Wheat Germ ◽

Hemodialysis Patients ◽

Nutritional Indices ◽

Omega 3 Fatty Acids ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Wheat Germ Oil ◽

Serum Homocysteine

Abstract. Background: Elevated homocysteine levels and malnutrition are frequently detected in hemodialysis patients and are believed to exacerbate cardiovascular comorbidities. Omega-3 fatty acids have been postulated to lower homocysteine levels by up-regulating metabolic enzymes and improving substrate availability for homocysteine degradation. Additionally, it has been suggested that prevention of folate depletion by vitamin E consumption decreases homocysteine levels. However, data on the effect of omega-3 fatty acids and/or vitamin E on homocysteine levels and nutritional status have been inconclusive. Therefore, this study was planned to examine the effect of combined supplementation of fish oil, as a source of omega-3 fatty acids, with wheat germ oil, as a source of vitamin E, on homocysteine and nutritional indices in hemodialysis patients. Methods: This study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Forty-six hemodialysis patients were randomly assigned to two equally-sized groups; a supplemented group who received 3000 mg/day of fish oil [1053 mg omega-3 fatty acids] plus 300 mg/day of wheat germ oil [0.765 mg vitamin E], and a matched placebo group who received placebo capsules for 4 months. Serum homocysteine and different nutritional indices were measured before and after the intervention. Results: Twenty patients in each group completed the study. At the end of the study, there were no significant changes in homocysteine levels and in the nutritional indices neither in the supplemented nor in the placebo-control groups (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Fish oil and wheat germ oil combination did not produce significant effects on serum homocysteine levels and nutritional indices of hemodialysis patients.

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