baby bipolar
It seems that everyone is talking about Omega 3 these days and the positive effect that fish oil can have on a range of health problems. The media continue to report on how fish oil may protect against heart disease, reduce inflammation, boost the immune system and how it can improve brain function in general, so it should not surprise any of us that the evidence also shows that fish oil can have a dramatic effect on depression and other disorders related to mood. Why?
Some of us have heard that fish oil is the food the brain and in a way, that's exactly what it is. Not only is the brain largely composed of fat, the needs of Omega 3 fatty acids found in oil fish, in order to function properly as well. Interestingly, people who are suffering from depression, ADHD, Alzheimer's disease brain and other conditions Related found low concentrations of Omega 3 essential fatty acids in the blood, in particular, eicosapentaenoic acid or EPA, and perhaps this is not a coincidence.
Nobody really knows the exact mechanisms involved or how it works, but indications are that EPA thins the blood and helps it flow more efficiently in the brain, neuronal connectivity improves things, raise serotonin levels, reduces inflammation, improves concentration and memory and even has an effect of raising mood. It is therefore logical that supplementation with fish oil may relieve symptoms of depression and this is just what researchers have been discovered.
What the research Saysa …
A Harvard study led by Dr. Andrew Stoll in 1999 reported that the oil fish may improve symptoms of bipolar disorder (manic depression). Bipolar disorder is a type of depression manifesting as repeated episodes of depression and mania or both, and can have a devastating effect on the life of the person and their loved ones. Stoll's study, 30 bipolar patients with a history of relapses received either fish oil or placebo in the form of olive oil. The trial should last 9 months, but was stopped after 4 months because of the dramatic results the fish oil group were able to reduce their symptoms of depression and stayed in remission significantly longer than the placebo group.
Then in 2002 researchers Peet and Horrobin tested the antidepressant effect of ethyl EPA, a particularly concentrated form of EPA, and found that a dose of 1 gram a day was effective against depression. Participants were assigned to either the fish oil group or the placebo group and were given different doses of fish oil per day for 12 weeks. At the end of the trial, those taking 1 gram of fish oil showed significant improvement in the placebo group and concluded that this dose was particularly effective in treating people with persistent depression.
However, another study by Puri et al involved giving the EPA in addition to medication normal, a male patient suicide from severe depression. Not only was there a cessation of suicidal ideation and improvement in all symptoms of depression, but the images brain, performed before and at the end of the test indicates structural changes in the brain after EPA. This study also suggests that EPA could increase effectiveness of other medications for depression.
Other studies have shown that there is a higher incidence of postpartum depression in countries with lower levels of fish consumption. This makes perfect sense when you consider that Omega 3 fatty acids are particularly important during pregnancy and early life of a child when the brain is developing very rapidly and if the mother does not get enough fatty acids, while pregnant, can find their supplies depleted as transferred to the baby.
Here in the UK, trials of Durham are continuing reports of the positive effect that fish oil may have in behavior, concentration and learning in the classroom and an Australian study, led by researcher Natalie Sinn even reported that fish oil was more effective than Ritalin for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD.
Conclusion
It would be reasonable then to conclude that the lack of fatty acids Omega 3 in the diet or perhaps even exceeding the normal requirements of Omega 3 fatty acids can lead to low concentrations of fatty acids in the brain, which course could increase the risk of depression and related disorders. Depression can affect anyone of us at any time, is indiscriminate of age, condition or gender and the number is increasing every year.
Could it be that an overall reduction of fish consumption and therefore fatty acids Omega 3 might somehow be contributing to an increase in the incidence of depression? The evidence is not conclusive, but indications are that fatty acids are certainly a role in the prevention and treatment of all types of depression and related disorders with mood. Research in this area is growing rapidly, and without doubt we will hear much more about the benefits of Omega 3 and EPA in the future. Meanwhile, fish oil supplementation is safe and practical, that can be adopted around the world to improve overall health.
Dave McEvoy is an expert in omega 3 fish oil EPA with over 20 years experience; for more information about fish oil and depression come and visit our site.
Will Dailey – Bi Polar Baby
