Cerebrum is a vegetarian source of Omega 3 DHA, an important structural fat in all cell membranes of the body and essential for proper growth and development of the brain and nervous system.
In recent years there has been a significant increase in the understanding of the scientific link between DHA consumption and mental development and function. The brain is 60% fat and DHA is a major structural fatty acid found in both the brain and the retina. Approximately 30% of the structural lipid in the grey matter of the brain is actually DHA (1), which has shown not only to play a major role in the mental development of infants but also in adults.
Low levels of DHA observed in the elderly may contribute to, or accompany the onset of symptoms associated with age-related mental decline (2,3) . An epidemiological study of over 1200 patients showed that those whose blood DHA levels were lower than the average had a 67% higher risk of developing dementia prospectively over time (3).
The body cannot efficiently manufacture omega 3 fatty acids such as DHA so they must be obtained through the diet, traditionally from cod liver and other oily fish such as salmon or mackerel. However these sources may not be suitable for all people such as vegetarians or those who simply do not like to eat oily fish. Until recently the primary source of DHA has been fish oil, however a new extraction process has been developed in America that extracts DHA from marine microalgae, a naturally high producer of DHA. This patented form of DHA is the only approved vegetarian oil form available in the world to date and is manufactured under strict conditions that follow good manufacturing practise (GMP).
1. Salem,N.,et al 'Docosahexaenoic acid: membrane function and metabolism' 1986;263-318
2. Soderberg, M., ET AL 'Fatty Acid composition of brain phospholipids in aging and in Alzheimer's disease' 1991;26:421-425
3. Kyle, D.J., et a; 'Low Serum DHA is a significant risk factor for Alzheimer's dementia' 1999;34:S245