1. ♯footprintforum Sustainable Responsible Business
MOOD FOOD
22ND MARCH 2012

2. Nick Fenwicke-Clennell
CEO
♯footprintforum Sustainable Responsible Business

3. Matt Dawson MBE
Food and Performance
courtesy of
♯footprintforum Sustainable Responsible Business

4. ♯footprintforum Sustainable Responsible Business

5. Professor John Stein
Food, Mood and Behaviour
Emeritus Professor of Physiology & Fellow of
Magdalen College, Oxford
♯footprintforum Sustainable Responsible Business

6. Supported by the Wellcome Trust, the Dyslexia Research Trust
(www.dyslexic.org.uk) & the Institute of Food, Brain & Behaviour
John Stein
Dept. Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics &
Magdalen College
Oxford
Food, Mood &
Behaviour

7. A highly sociable person leads a happier life?

8. Overview
• We
grew
such
large
brains
because
humans
are
the
most
social
animals
• Successful,
coopera9ve,
social
interac9ons
require
rapid
and
accurate
focussing
of
visual
and
auditory
a'en*on
to
pick
up
social
cues
• Rapid
&
accurate
a@en9onal
focus
depends
on
‘magnocellular’
neurones
• These
are
very
vulnerable
to
lack
of
essen9al
nutrients
normally
provided
by
fish
• Providing
these
as
supplements
can
improve
mood
&
behaviour

9. Increase
in
Homanoid
Brain
Size

11. Size
of
brain
Size of group
Primate brain
size humans
Robin Dunbar

12. New?
threats
to
Social
Brain
• Increased
complexity
of
life?
• Crowding;
XS
stress?
• Informa9on
overload?
• Collapse
of
old
certain9es?
• Lack
of
respect?
• Not
enough
educa9on?
Child
abuse:
Early
stress
damages
brain
• Sink
estates
–
impoverished
environment
damages
brain
Are
these
really
worse
than
150
yrs
ago:
very
high
child
mortality,
abuse,
violence,
starva*on?

13. The
only
truly
new
threats
to
the
social
brain
are:
• Poor
nutri9on
• Lack
of
exercise
• Obesity

14. Nutrition - Did we evolve in the sea?
Botticelli – Venus emerges from the sea

15. • Did humans evolve from apes that
lived in or very near water (Alistair
Hardy, Elaine Morgan, Michael
Crawford)
• Naked - v. little hair
• Sweating, not panting
• Low Larynx
• Bipedal
• Our nutrition: we need vitamins A &
D, omega 3s, EPA & DHA; also iron,
zinc, selenium, iodine in diet, all
found in fish
• Because fish was so plentiful, no
selective pressure to synthesise
them

16. Fish
Diet
• We adapted to a fish hunter/
gatherer economy
• Fish supplied plenty of omega-3
Docosahexanoic acid (DHA)
• Our brains contain 100G of DHA
• This allowed our 10x expansion of
brain size and our 100x increase
in brain connections compared
with chimps
• Sugar, saturated fats (high in
calories) and salt were rare, so we
are genetically programmed to like
them
• But invention of agriculture and
food industry made them cheap
• So the 3 S’s now kill us!

17. Modern diet is appalling!
Too much of the 3 S’s: sugar, saturated fat, salt
Not enough omega 3s from fish; vits A&D, iron, iodine, zinc, fibre

18. An effect of the 3 S’s and lack of fish

19. Fish oils
are vital
for
focussing
attention.
This is far
more
important
than you
might
think!

20. A@en9on
is
mediated
by
magnocellular
systems

21. • Social
communica*on
(speech,
literacy,
reading
social
cues)
depends
upon
being
able
to
accurately
sequence
speech
sounds,
tones
of
voice,
le@ers,
facial
expressions
• This
requires
accurate
sequen9al
focussing
of
visual
&
auditory
a'en*on
• Main
sequencing
system
–
the
‘dorsal
a@en9onal
system’
is
dominated
by
input
from
magnocellular
neurones
• Impaired
development
of
magnocellular
neurones
is
found
in
neurodevelopmental
condi9ons
such
as
dyslexia,
Asberger’s,
an9social
conduct
disorder
• These
magnocellular
neurones
need
omega
3
fish
oils
(DHA
and
EPA)
to
func9on
properly
• But
fish
is
expensive
and
3/4s
of
popula9on
eat
no
fish
at
all
• So
DHA
and
EPA
supplements
should
be
used
to
improve
a@en9on,
speech,
reading
and
social
interac9ons
Attention and Fish

22. Magnocellular nerve cells are
much larger than others- rapid
responses for timing events:
high sensitivity to motion &
flicker - control sequencing of
attention and eye movements -
very vulnerable to omega-3
deficiency
Most nerve cells are smaller
(parvocellular): for static
responses eg colour, fine
detail
Magnocellular
Neurones

23. Visual magnocellular system directs
visual attention & eye movements.

24. The
magnocellular
system
is
excep*onally
vulnerable
–
eg
impaired
development
in
dyslexia
• 30%
smaller
LGN
magnocells
post
mortem
• Reduced
and
delayed
evoked
brain
waves
• Unstable
eye
control
• Reduced
visual
mo9on
sensi9vity
• Reduced
ac9va9on
of
cor9cal
mo9on
areas
(FMRI)
• Lower
sensi9vity
to
contrast
• Lower sensitivity to flicker
• Lower stereoacuity
• Reduced visual jitter
• Weaker visual attention -
slower visual search
• Visual crowding
• Mini left neglect - clock
drawing
• Prolonged line motion
illusion
• Reduced Ternus effect

25. Abnormal magnocells in dyslexic brain

26. Impaired
auditory
magnocells
in
neurodevelopmental
condi9ons?
• Changes
in
voice
frequency
and
amplitude
signal
commands,
persuasion,
anger,
fear,
pleasure
• Processed
by
auditory
magnocellular
neurones
in
the
auditory
brainstem
• Dyslexics
have
smaller
magnocellular
neurones
in
L.
medial
geniculate
N.
• Lower
AM
&
FM
sensi9vity
• The
inappropriate
responses
of
an9social
offenders
to
auditory
social
cues
may
result
from
impaired
development
of
their
auditory
magnocells

27. Fish!
-­‐
cod
liver
oil
queue,
1949

28. In 1941 Dr Hugh
Sinclair, Magdalen
College, Oxford
persuaded the WW2
government to provide
free cod liver oil to all
pregnant mothers and
young children.
He’d found severe
deficiencies in Vitamin D
and fish oil omega 3
fatty acids in London’s
East Enders.
“The average Brit
was better fed at the
height of the blockade in
1943 than today”

29. Your
brain
contains
100G
of
DHA;
this
cons9tutes
30%
of
excitable
membranes.
Magnocellular
neurones
are
especially
vulnerable
to
low
DHA.
In
order
to
open
and
signal
fast,
their
ionic
channels
need
flexible
DHA
in
the
surrounding
membrane

30. Fish is good for the heart &
brain!
• By increasing membrane flexibility,
DHA speeds up neuronal Na, K,
NMDA, GABAa currents; ie
accelerates neuronal responses
• ∴ improves vulnerable magnocellular
timing functions
• EPA is converted into eicosanoids:
thromboxanes, prostaglandins (3
series), leucotrienes (5 series),
resolvins
• These are all anti inflammatory and
anti stress: IL1 ↓, TNF ↓, cortisol ↓,
pain ↓
• Increase neurogenesis; decrease
apoptosis
• Increase neurite outgrowth
(syntaxin) and synapse formation
• Strengthen hemispheric
lateralisation,
• Reduce pain transmission (TRPV1
receptors)
• Prevent accumulation of insoluble
amyloid precursor protein & improve
memory (Alzheimer’s)

31. Good diet is crucial for proper neuronal growth.
Without the omega-3, DHA, these nerve cells
failed to grow proper axons.
EPA is also required for eicosanoid signalling
molecules– prostaglandins, leucotrienes, resolvins

32. Impaired
neurogenesis
in
developing
orbito-­‐
frontal
cortex
in
absence
of
omega-­‐3s

34. DHA
&
EPA
deficiency
in
dyslexia,
ADHD
and
an9social
behaviour?
• Magnocellular
neurones
media9ng
the
focussed
a@en9on
required
for
accurate
sequencing
are
par9cularly
vulnerable
to
omega
3
(fish
oil)
deficiency
• Low
blood
and
brain
omega-­‐3s
• Omega
3
supplements
can
improve
reading,
concentra*on
and
behaviour

35. Gold standard for
proving causal
effect – double
blind, randomised
control trials –
RCTs.
Randomly allocate
half to active
supplements; half to
placebo; then all
other factors should
be the same between
the groups. Hence
any difference in
outcome must be
caused by the
supplement

36. Durham
RCT
-­‐
Omega
3
EPA
supplements
helped
dyspraxic
children
to
improve
their
concentra9on
and
their
reading
(Richardson
&
Montgomery)
Increase in Reading age in 3 months
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
n-3 placebo
RAincrease
n-3
placebo

37. ADHD
treatment
effects
aTer
3
months
supplements
Global scales
(Mean change / Baseline SD)
0.26
0.31
0.34
0.54
0.58
0.61
0.50
-0.60 -0.40 -0.20 0.00 0.20 0.40 0.60 0.80
Conners' Index
DSM Hyperactivity
Emotional Lability
Conners' Total
Restless-Impulsive
DSM Total
DSM Inattention
HUFA (n=15)
Placebo (n=14)
Richardson et al.

39. Antisocial Behaviour
"I would there were no age between
ten and three-and-twenty, or that
youth would sleep out the rest; for
there is nothing in the between, but
getting wenches with child, wronging
the ancients, stealing, fighting.“
William Shakespeare
A Winter’s Tale

41. Omega–3, vitamins & mineral supplements reduced
offences in 275 Young Offenders by 1/3rd
(BJP - Gesch et al.)
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
Before Supplementation During Supplementation
RatioofRateofDisciplinaryIncidentsSupplementation/Baseline
Active
Placebo
Error bars at2SE
to indicate the 95%
confidence interval
1133 offences: ITT- Active v Placebo:
-26.3 % (p ‹ 0.03)
Supplementation for at least 2 weeks: -34.0%
Violent offences only: -37.0% (p 0.005)
In progress: 750 young offenders in 3 UK prisons; results soon!

42. 0
2
4
6
8
10
12
voormeting nameting
voedingssupplementen
placebo-conditie
No of incidents in Dutch prison
per 1000 prisoner days
Supplements versus placebo.

43. Conclusions
• Poor modern nutrition prevents people’s brains working
properly
• Causes impaired magnocellular function leading to
defective focussing of visual auditory attention; also
affects skin muscle senses, motor intention
• Hence impairs cognition, communication, mood, social
interaction → impulsivity, lack of self control
• Thus diet deterioration is causing mind change -
changes comparable to climate change –- adverse
effects on human mood, intelligence, behaviour and
creativity
• This is not trivial! It is a leading cause of ill health in the
developed world. Costs: $400 billion per annum in USA
(cf heart disease $500 billion)
• The most important cause is decreased omega 3
consumption.
• This knowledge is exciting because this can be fixed!

44. Best of all; eat more fish!

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46. Amanda Ursell
Nutrition in the Workplace
courtesy of
♯footprintforum Sustainable Responsible Business

47. Nutrition
in
the
Workplace

48. * 1.
The
role
of
nutrition
in
the
workplace
and
what
it
can
do
for
you.
* 2.
Examples
where
nutrition
is
being
taken
seriously
in
the
workplace
–
and
its
impact.
* 3.
The
appetite
for
more
knowledge
about
nutrition
from
businesses
and
people
that
work
in
them.
* 4.
My
experiences
of
changing
attitudes
towards
nutrition
in
the
workplace.

52. Happy!

53. Impact?

56. * Understand
the
culture
of
the
individual
business
* Be
relevant
* Remember
that
everyone
counts
How
should
it
be
done?

57. * Wholemeal
carrots
* Stone-­‐ground
eggs
* Free
range
bread

58. Dark
Chocolate
and
a…

60. Everyone’s
a
Winner!

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62. Jessica Collinge
Food and Mood
vielife
♯footprintforum Sustainable Responsible Business

63. Global leaders in health solutions

64. Footprint
Forum:
Food
and
Mood
Jessica
Colling,
Product
Director
vielife

65. Who
is
vielife?
We
work
with
organisa9ons
to
improve
the
well-­‐
being
of
their
staff.
• Online,
telephonic,
paper
and
on-­‐site
services
• Mul9-­‐lingual:
26
localised
versions
of
the
solu9on
• Personalized,
customizable
solu9on
• Detailed
client
repor9ng
• Detailed
personal
informa9on
and
recommenda9ons
for
individuals
Assess
Report
Targeted
improvement
Re-­‐assess
© vielife 2012: not for distribution or reproduction

66. Who
we
work
with
© vielife 2012: not for distribution or reproduction

67. vielife
Philosophy
–
four
core
pillars
Stress
Nutri*on
Ac*vity
Sleep
© vielife 2012: not for distribution or reproduction

68. Online
services
© vielife 2012: not for distribution or reproduction

69. Measuring
the
impact
© vielife 2012: not for distribution or reproduction

70. 3
in
5
people
(60%)
have
a
poor
or
‘at
risk’
nutri9on
status
Only
18%
report
ea9ng
5
or
more
por9ons
of
fruit
and
vegetables
a
day
90%
don’t
eat
6
or
more
por9ons
of
fibre
a
day
The Results: nutrition in the workplace
Results from ~42,000
assessments

71. People
with
a
good
nutri9on
score
have:
– 15%
higher
mood
score
– 14%
be@er
physical
ac9vity
score
– 6%
higher
job
sa9sfac9on
The impact of nutrition

72. Overall,
a
good
nutri9on
score
correlates
with
a
28%
be@er
stress
management
score
A
closer
look:
Nutri*on
score
compared
to
Stress
score
Nutrition and stress

73. Produc*vity
People
with
poor
nutri9onal
balance
report
being
15%
less
produc9ve
than
those
with
good
nutri9onal
balance…
2.8
hours
per
week
difference
If
work
46
weeks
a
year,
that’s
16
days
of
lost
produc9ve
9me:
over
3
weeks!
Sickness
absence
Respondents
with
poor
nutri9on
scores
report
50%
more
sickness
absence
than
those
with
good
nutri9on
scores:
4.8
days
per
year
vs.
3.2
days
per
year
Overall
impact
60%
of
the
popula9on
have
‘high
risk’
nutri9on
scores:
3.5
weeks
of
lost
produc9ve
9me
per
person/year
The business impact

74. Thank you!
j.colling@vielife.com

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76. the panel..
Jessica Colling Product Director vielife
Dr. Sue Gatenby Nutrition Director Europe Pepsico Int.
Richard Neal Director Lancing Press
Felicity Yardy Juice Master Blender Innocent Drinks
David Steel Development Chef Lexington Catering
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