Obesity is a major public health issue and an important contributor to the global burden of chronic disease and disability. Studies indicate that fish and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n3-PUFA) supplements may help prevent cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. However, the effect of fish oil on body composition is still uncertain, so we performed a systematic review of randomized controlled trials and the first meta-analysis on the association between fish or fish oil intake and body composition measures. We found evidence that participants taking fish or fish oil lost 0.59 kg more body weight than controls (95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.96 to -0.21). Treatment groups lost 0.24 kg m(-2) (body mass index) more than controls (-0.40 to -0.08), and 0.49 % more body fat than controls (-0.97 to -0.01). Fish or fish oil reduced waist circumference by 0.81 cm (-1.34 to -0.28) compared with control. There was no difference for fat mass and lean body mass. Further research is needed to confirm or refute our findings and to reveal possible mechanisms by which n3-PUFAs might reduce weight.

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Several metabolic activities in dissociated cultures of newborn mouse brain were compared to the situation in vivo. The developmental activity pattern of cerebroside-sulfotransferase, cyclic nucleotide phosphohydrolase, and beta-hydroxy-beta-methyl glutaryl-coenzyme A-reductase and the synthesis and deposition of sulfatide and cholesterol in culture were estimated. The enzyme activity patterns in vivo and in culture are the same. Since the cultures show very little myelin formation, the parallel increase of enzyme activities necessary for myelination in vivo and in culture suggest the existence of intrinsic factors regulating the biochemical differentiation. In addition, the formation of the products, determined in culture, follows the patterns of the enzyme activities. Dissociated brain cell cultures are therefore a valid model for the study of biochemical parameters related to the synthesis of brain lipids during development.

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