A Celebration of DHA – Discovery, Achievement and Challenges for Global Health 40 Years on


Places have now sold out for the welcome reception and opening session at Chandos House on Wednesday 26th May, and the evening reception with Rick Stein on 27th May. However, places are still available for the main conference on the 27th May.

Welcome Reception at Chandos House – SOLD OUT
Wednesday, 26 May 2010 14:15 – 22.00, at Chandos House, 2 Queen Anne Street, W1G 9LQ

Main Event and Drinks Reception – PLACES STILL AVAILABLE
Thursday, 27 May 2010 08:00 – 19.15, The Royal Society of Medicine 1 Wimpole Street London W1G 0AE England

Evening Dinner – SOLD OUT
Thursday, 27 May 2010 19:30 – Late, The Royal Society of Medicine 1 Wimpole Street London W1G 0AE England
 

Overview

Starting in the early 1970s, several of the scientists presenting at this conference began producing robust experimental evidence supporting a requirement for omega-3 fatty acids for the brain. In 1978, the FAO/WHO Expert Consultation on the “Role of Dietary Fats and Oils in Human Nutrition” accepted the essentiality of the omega-3 and recommended the incorporation of long chain omega-6 and 3 fatty acids into infant milk formulae. In 1990, Milupa introduced arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids in their milk formula for infants. Intense research over the past 20 years has lead to an explosion of commercial and clinical interest in omega-3 fatty acids and fish oils for autism, ADHD, Crohn’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Down’s syndrome, bipolar depression, heart disease, cancer, autoimmune disease, inflammatory disorders, cognition, vision, diabetes, wound healing and recovery from surgery, enhanced pregnancy outcomes and performance at school. Nevertheless, there is still a lot of confusion about these fatty acids. Several government regulatory agencies still fail to recognize that individual fatty acids in the omega-6 and omega-3 families have quite different properties and functional relevance.
 
This one day survey of the evidence from 1970 up to today aims to celebrate the discoveries and achievements in this new field, and to open up the full potential for prevention and therapeutic applications of marine omega-3 fatty acids. With brain disorders having already overtaken all other burdens of ill health combined, the threat posed is possibly greater and definitely more imminent than the longer term threat of global climate change.

Indeed the two are related. Proper cleaning and management of rivers, estuaries and coastal waters could restore and enhance CO2 and nitrogen fixation and simultaneously provide more DHA and omega-3 rich foods to help address the present, sinister climb in brain disorders and mental-ill health.

This meeting is designed to succinctly introduce each subject. Further contact will be possible with individual speakers during the networking breaks, lunch and evening event.