Foundation conducts extensive research

By Mary Perry

In the last edition of Zone Living we talked about Dr. Sears' passion for clinical research in anti-inflammatory nutrition extending to the creation of his non-profit foundation, the Inflammation Research Foundation (IRF). Just to recap, the IRF is dedicated and committed to provide resources and grants for both educational and medical research projects pertaining to anti-inflammatory nutrition. In this edition we want to highlight the published scientific papers of the clinical research trials that the IRF has funded as well as some of the projects that are presently underway.

Published Papers on Completed Research Projects

Johnston, C.S., Tjonn, S., Swan, P.D., White A., Hutchins H., and Sears B. "Ketogenic low-carbohydrate diets have no metabolic advantage over nonketogenic low-carbohydrate diets." Am J Clin Nutr 83: 1055-1061 (2006)

Sorgi PJ, Hallowell EM, Hutchins HL, and Sears B. "Effects of an open-label pilot study with high-dose EPA/DHA concentrates on plasma phospholipids and behavior in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Nutr J 13:16 (2007)

White AM, Johnston CS, Swan PD, Tjonn SL, and Sears B. "Blood ketones are directly related to fatigue and perceived effort during exercise in overweight adults adhering to low-carbohydrate diets for weight loss: A pilot study." J Am Diet Assoc 107: 1792-1796 (2007)

Sears B. "Anti-inflammatory diets for obesity and diabetes." J Coll Amer Nutr 28: 482S-491S (2009)

Mills JD, Bailes JE, Sedney CL, Hutchins H, and Sears B. "Omega-3 dietary supplementation reduces traumatic axonal injury in a rodent head injury model". J Neurosurgery 114: 77-84 (2011)

Sears B and Ricordi C. "Anti-inflammatory nutrition as a pharmacological approach to treat obesity." J Obesity 2011: 431985 (2011)

Sears B and Ricordi C. "Role of fatty acids and polyphenols in inflammatory gene expression and their impact on obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes." Eur Rev Med Pharm Sci (in press)

Current Projects: The following projects are ongoing research projects on the role of anti-inflammatory nutrition in the management of chronic disease conditions.

Omega-3 fatty acids in head and neck cancer

Omega-3 fatty acids and prostate cancer

Omega-3 fatty acids and purified polyphenol extracts in age-related cognitive decline

Omega-3 fatty acids and bipolar depression in adolescents

Relationship of plasma fatty acids and development of depression in Interferon-treated patients

Anti-inflammatory nutrition intervention in type 2 diabetics