Poor wound healing, a somewhat common and well-known problem, especially among hospital patients, is associated with huge health costs. Proper wound healing is contingent upon on the presence of different nutrients, and it appears that the ratio between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids is particularly important. This was demonstrated in a new study of rats, where higher intake of omega-3 at the expense of omega-6 turned out to have the best effect on the formation of new blood vessels, increased collagen synthesis, and faster wound healing. In the study, which is published in Nutrients, the authors look closer at the fact that modern diets typically contain too much omega-6 and too little omega-3, and this contributes to problems such as cardiovascular disease, overweight, diabetes, and other lifestyle diseases.

The ageing process and most chronic diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer involve chronic inflammation that has the potential to damage healthy tissue. If acute hyperinflammation occurs, for example in connection with virus infections like influenza and COVID-19, the condition may become potentially life-threatening. It is therefore vital that the body can control the different inflammatory processes. One of the things that is needed for this is magnesium, according to a meta-analysis that is published in Nutrients. Here, the researchers look closer at how magnesium supplementation is able to reduce different pro-inflammatory markers. Magnesium also helps activate vitamin D, which is also necessary for controlling inflammation.

Dementia is on the rise across the globe but according to a study from University of South Australia, vitamin D may have the potential to pull the brake on the degenerative processes. The scientists have observed a direct link between the widespread problems with vitamin D deficiency and the increasing rate of dementia. At the same time, they assume that optimizing people’s vitamin D status in the blood may help prevent millions of dementia cases worldwide. The need for vitamin D varies from person to person, it should be noted, and many people have a higher need for the vitamin than what is officially recommended.

During pregnancy, the unborn child needs different nutrients for proper development of its brain and nervous system. Even if the mother eats a balanced diet, it can be difficult to get enough selenium for a number of reasons. In a new Italian animal study that is published in Nutrients, scientists have looked closer at selenium’s role during pregnancy and lactation. They observed that even minor selenium deficiencies can have a negative effect on the offspring’s brain development and behavior. This study supports earlier human studies showing how vital it is for the mother to get plenty of selenium during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

It’s commonly known that physical activity boosts the brain’s ability to form new brain cells – or neurons. Still, the underlying mechanisms have been a mystery to science. A team of Australian scientists, however, has recently discovered that, during exercise, mice produce a selenium-containing protein that helps the brain synthesize new brain cells. The scientists consider this to be a rather fantastic study, and it is assumed that selenium therapy may be used in the future to prevent and treat cognitive decline in people who are unable to carry out physical exercise or in those likely to be selenium-deficient. This is particularly relevant for Alzheimer’s patients and people who have suffered a stroke. It should be added that it can be quite a challenge to get enough selenium from an otherwise balanced diet in our part of the world.

Elevated blood pressure, a problem many people have without knowing it, is the major cause of early death. Our lifestyle and what we eat play an enormous role and according to a new meta-analysis that is published in Journal of the American Heart Association, daily intake of three grams of omega-3 fatty acids can reduce your blood pressure. It is possible to get this amount of omega-3 by consuming a serving of oily fish like herring or taking a high-quality fish oil supplement.