How Accurate Is the Science That We Read in the Media - Literature review Example

HOW ACCURATE IS THE SCIENCE THAT WE READ IN THE MEDIA? -Fish Oil Improves Children’s Academic Performance- Pseudoscience and the Media “A fundamental misunderstanding virtually everywhere in the world is that material in the mass media presented in a scientific manner is real science” (Schopf 1999, p.75). According to this author, the science offered in the media is not factual science but mainly pseudoscience, anti-science, false notion, and doctrine. This inundation contributes tremendously to science literacy by perplexing fact with fiction, scientific theory with faith, and scientist with non-scientist. However, many large newspapers specifically Wall Street Journal and the New York Times do an excellent job in covering health and science technology and they are actually an exemption. The majority mass media, particularly those from which the mainstream of people obtain their continuing education such as television and the movies fail to discriminate between science and fraud (Ruzic 2003, p.151). The most advanced and efficient method for endorsing spurious health information is perhaps the special press conference. Ottoboni and Ottoboni (2002, p.175) explains that in these special press conference, reporters have a tendency not to raise questions but to utilize and quote the subjective materials given to them by the public relations professional in control of the press conference. It is common for government agencies to be implicated with or to support such press conferences and for advertisers to make use of the information derived in these press conferences as the scientific basis for endorsement and publicity materials. Pseudoscience is not the exclusive province of impostors. Well-regarded establishments such as government organizations, non-profit foundations, and educational institutions are capable, inadvertently or deliberately, of making assertions anchored in partial, twisted, or incorrect data. Enhancing Academic Performance through Fish Oils In an article “Catch of the day” in the Health & Wellbeing section of the The Guardian October 12, 2006, a 12-year-old boy who allegedly taken fish oil supplements a year before suddenly became “organised” and energetic. “He started waking up early and was keen to learn”. His teacher also was amazed of his improvement and said she could not believe how well he did in his Sats or aptitude test. The boy was given an Eye-Q fish oil supplements as part of Middlesbrough LEA programme to see if it can really improve the academic performance and concentration of children aged eight to eleven. Eye-Q is a supplement that contains high levels of unsaturated omega-3 fatty acids that the brain requires for proper myelination (Smith 2004, p.151). The article claim that Omega-3 fatty acids found in oily fish like sardines, mackerel, and others have considerable helpful effect on our brain’s function. Moreover, scientist, according to the same article, found healthy adults who do not have adequate levels of omega-3 in their blood are somewhat dejected, unenthusiastic, and impetuous. An absolute deficiency of omega-3 fatty acids has led to several disorders in animals and human infants such as impaired vision, irregularities of the ‘electroretinogram’ of the eye and a variety of behavioural abnormalities (Nettleton 1995 p.9). However, a lecturer of biological psychology at Bristol, who has been researching the outcome of omega-3s on children, gave a contradicting statement that not all research showed encouraging effects. Even the government, due to lack of proof of the beneficial effects of omega-3 on children, do not advise its supplementation. The Truth About Fish According to Harris (2006, p.79) referring to a petition filed by a certain company to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the existence of mercury in fish can injure the developing nervous systems of unborn children, infants, and young children, and therefore, mercury in fish and fish by-products requires to be deal with in the health claims. The petition stated that the sources of omega-3 fatty acids extracted from fish such as fish oils should be disqualified for the health claims except the oil has been tested and established to contain below 0.025 ppm of mercury. The occurrence mercury according to the petition may counteract the cardio-protective effects of omega-3 fatty acids, and therefore the claim would be confusing if it emerges on fish that contained high levels of mercury. “Most fish is unsafe in any amounts for children” (Neustaedter 2005, p.49) because according to this author, although salmon and other fish contain beneficial omega-3 fats, the quantity of mercury and pesticides is so elevated in fish that it makes them unsafe as food. When wild fish eat algae and other organism that also eat algae, they will produce omega-3 fats. This is the explanation why Eskimos have such low incidence of heart disease. However, farmed fish are normally fed grains, so their omega-3 fat content is less. Fish cultured like this are normally kept in congested conditions and needs antibiotics to keep them alive. Thus, their meat contains these antibiotics and any pesticides utilized to farm the grain. Regrettably, the majority of salmon consumed in Western countries comes from fish farms where the fish are fattened with ground fish meal (Neustaedter 2005, p.49). The Environmental Working Group or EWG has revealed that the small fish used in the fishmeal have absorbed PCBs or polychlorinated biphenyls that are concentrated in the fat of farmed salmon. These PCBs are used as industrial insulators that have been banned in the U.S. since 1976 because they cause cancer, impair brain development, and weaken immune function. However, PCBs persist in the environment and there are independent studies have found PCB contamination in almost every sample of fishmeal tested. “Fish can accumulate environmental toxins such as mercury, dioxins, and PCBs” (Babal 2005, p.59). The EWG reports that farmed salmon contain concentrations of PCBs that are five to ten times higher than those found in salmon fished from the ocean. Besides the various PCBs, farmed salmon contains high concentration of 151 other chemical toxins than wild salmon. Farmed salmon also contains high concentration of antibiotics, and the fat of farmed salmon contains 35 percent less omega-3 fats than wild salmon. However, uncultivated fish are not harmless also because of the mercury content. Industrial wastes that contain mercury find their way into rivers, lakes, and oceans. Algae absorb the contaminated metal as an organic compound then the fish absorb the mercury when they eat the algae. Cumulative doses consumed from infected fish can consequence in mercury poisoning and therefore harmful on pregnant women (Neustaedter 2005, p.50). Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Health The significance of nutrition for health and human health is obvious. It has direct consequence for physical health and predominantly for how good the brain functions. For instance, studies show that missing out mealtime hampers cognition and learning. It is worth noting that a human brain is made up of fat, and the most abundant fat is docosahexaenoic acid or DHA. This remarkable fatty acid is extremely unsaturated and an indispensable element of membranes that have electrical activity, similar to the neurons in our brain, the retina of our eyes, and our heart. DHA is responsible for ensuring that the membranes of the nerve cells contain the essentials to effectively and swiftly transmit the electrical currents of the brain and central nervous system. Humans initially get DHA from their mothers in the womb and then from mother’s milk. Several studies confirm that breastfeed babies had healthier neurological development than did formula-fed babies. Similarly, babies’ breastfed for more than eight months had superior intelligence and better academic achievement that did formula-fed children (Orr 1998, p.58). DHA originating in breast milk and in fatty fish such as salmon and mackerel are omega-3 fatty acids, is a major component of neuronal and glial cell membranes, and plays a part in the transmission of neural signals (Jones and Lopez 2006, p.342). According to the Centre for Education Research and Innovation (2007, p.61), HUFA or unsaturated fatty acids or Omega-3 fatty acids are mostly essential for hormone balance and the immune system both of which are fundamental for a healthy brain. Fatty acids or omega-3 has various health promoting, disease-preventing or medicinal properties (Simpolous and Cleland 2003, p.23). In 1996, a study group at Purdue found that ninety-six boy with lesser levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their blood had more learning and behavioural problems that those whose omega-3 blood levels were normal (Berne 2001, p.73). Insufficiencies or disproportions in some exceedingly unsaturated fatty acids or HUFA of the omega-3 and omega-6 series may contribute to ADHD or ‘attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder’ and associated conditions (Carr and Descheemaeker 2002, p.42). The effects of omega-3 fatty acids or the mechanism of action may be similar to that of typical antidepressants including tricyclics and SSRIs, which are recognized to restrain discharge of numerous pro-inflammatory cytokines by immune cells, probably triggering favourable changes in the brain that manifest as better mood (Lake 2006, p.155). Founded on a number of neurochemical researches in animals, biochemical data in humans with major depression, and anecdotal evidence according to Mischoulon and Rosenbaum (2002, p.22), EPA or eicosapentaenoic acide is the most likely omega-3 fatty acid to be clinically active in mood disorders. This elevates the probability that dietetic supplementation with the appropriate HUFA might facilitate in the administration of these types of behavioural and learning problems. However, even if scientific evidence completely understands the connection, omega-3 fatty acids by themselves are not ‘magic remedy’ and we cannot just simply add them to our meals and snacks to get the potential benefits (Duyff 2006, p.56). Fish Oil Side Effects According to Maroon and Bost (2006, p.117), people with history of allergic reaction or hypersensitivity to fish should stay away from fish oil and any omega-3 EFA products coming from fish. This is because skin rash, hives, and respiratory symptoms have been reported as side effects of fish oil supplementation. Intake of 3 grams or more per day of omega-3 fatty acids may increase the risk of bleeding thus it needs to be considered as a potential problem. This is because the side effects of omega-3 are “dose dependent” (Maisch 2006, p.105). “You can bleed a little more easily if you take 3,000 milligrams” (Tribole 2007, p.161). There are actually a lot of reasons why we have to be vigilant about fish oil supplements. For instance, in U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a letter in 2000 announcing that use of such supplements was safe and lawful, but “the scientific evidence about whether omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease or CHD is ‘suggestive’, but not conclusive” (Van de Steen 2003, et. al. p.128). This is because “it is not known what effect omega-3 fatty acids may or may not have on risk of CHD in the general population” (Van de Steen 2003, et. al. p.128). From a scientific perspective, this declaration is an impartial outline of the current state of knowledge. The Accuracy of Science in Media “Science will be judged not only by its scientific quality but also its social acceptability” (Cribb and Hartomo 2002, p.41). The media is a key target for science because it connects with all the other audiences such as decision-makers, opinion leaders, professionals, industry, partners, competitors and the community in general. The accuracy of media depends radically on the extent of effort spent on guaranteeing accuracy. This is because there is a trend on the part of many researchers to do the interview without much precaution or without arranging a comprehensible background material. “Mass media plays a central role in people’s lives” (US Institute of Medicine p.307). Its significance manifest on time people spends watching television, reading newspapers, or surfing the internet. In other words, the delivery of information through mass media is direct and accessible constantly. Thus, media plays various roles in educating the public on health issues and has a job to report accurate health and science information to the public. However, when accurate science stories reach the popular media’s front pages or major segments, they are frequently presented in a manner that appears inflated (DiMento and Doughman 2007, p.5). Many scientists have spoken concern that the media is often hype, fake or alter research, thus fortifying public suspicion in science and generating a hostile response against potentially helpful research (Stuart 2005, p.195). Analysis and Conclusion If we are to determine the accuracy of media regarding the benefit of fish oils or omega-3 fatty acids to the academic development of children, then we ought to evaluate the scientific evidence presented in the literature against the claim. Essentially, media is not entirely accurate because there is no direct evidence to link fish oils or omega-3 to learning or academic development. What we found are scientific evidence that corroborate the significance of fatty acids in our hormone balance and immune system that is essential for a healthy brain. Outcomes of most research were merely substantiations that inadequacies in omega-fatty acids in the blood results in learning and behavioural problems. Moreover, babies with higher intelligence, from a factual scientific perception, get their DHA from their mother’s milk and not from fish. This is certainly not a proof that such learning and behavioural problems can be reverse by taking omega-3 fatty acid supplement from fish (not to mention the harmful effects of mercury). In fact, no scientific evidence exists to prove that it does particularly on grown children. Although there were a number of media stories that children with fish oil supplement perform better academically, ‘anectodal’ evidence does not qualify as scientific proof. Finally, learning and performance are influenced by various factors and therefore cannot be attributed to fish oil supplements alone. Therefore, the science that we read in the media predominantly on the effects of fish oil to children’s academic performance is in part inaccurate since there is no acceptable scientific evidence to support that specific claim. Bibliography Babal Ken. 2005. Seafood Sense: The Truth about Seafood Nutrition & Safety. Basic Health Publications, Inc., U.S. Berne Samuel A. 2001. Without Ritalin: A Natural Approach to ADD, McGraw-Hill Professional, U.S. Carr Tanya and Descheemaeker Koen. 2002. Nutrition and Health II, Garant, U.K. Centre for Educational Research and Innovation. 2007. Understanding the Brain: The Birth of a Learning Science. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. OECD Publishing, U.S. Cribb Julian and Hartomo Tjempaka Sari. 2002. Sharing Knowledge: A Guide to Effective Science Communication. 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