Ok folks! Now let's examine why fish Oil makes a natural choice to use for
depression and other mood disorders.
For review, yesterday we talked about how a large part of the brain especially
the membranes of the nerves there are made up of Essential Fatty Acids.
We examined how investigators have found roles for Fish Oil in various Brain
related disorders including Alzheimer's Disease, ADD, autism, schizophrenia,
hostility, anxiety, borderline, and bipolar disorders in this and other emails!
We discussed the Omega 6 to Omega 3 ratio which the Journal of the American
college of Nutrition suggests should be 1:1 ( J. AM. Coll. Nutr. 1999;18:487-489
Simopoulos). It is now 20:1 or above thus high lighting the need for HIGH DOSE
Fish Oil to correct it!
So now let's take a simplistic look at how Fish Oil may enhance the treatment of
Major and minor depression from a biochemical point of view.
If you want to look at brain function in a depressed patient vs. those of a
normal non- depressed person you can use several imaging studies including MRI
and PET scanning. You can also use chemical uptake and turn around studies that
use sugar and other biochemical markers of cellular activity and respiration.
If you look at the very specific places in the brain where depression causes
biochemical abnormalities (Limbic system, Nucleus accumens, and certain other
areas of the frontal lobe), you find that certain chemicals are either lacking in
absolute amount, or not released properly.
Once you treat with Fish Oil, those biochemical abnormalities often reverse.
Additionally several areas of the brain show decreased blood flow and decreased
use of sugar, both indicators of low function.
Fish Oil usage reverses those abnormalities as well in studies.
Other studies have showed that in depression actual areas of the brain atrophy or
shrink leading to the loss of nervous tissue. In other words brain cells die!
In the past no one ever thought you could regenerate new brain cells, but this is
exactly what Fish Oil promotes.
This is also the probable reason it works in Alzheimer's as well!
High amounts of physical and emotional stress can activate pro-inflammatory
chemicals in the brain as well as he body that interfere with the cell's ability
to bind vital brain transmitters like dopamine and serotonin ( see yesterdays'
email!).
By now you are well versed in knowing how Fish Oil can decrease the amount of
inflammation in the body and brain, thus combating the problem of the bad effects
of too much Omega 6 or too much stress.
If you look at the nerve cells themselves 2 amazing things become apparent. In
addition to needing Fish Oil's component fatty acids to be in their membranes,
they actually secrete DHA and bathe themselves in it!
Next if you look at the activity of the nerve cell to signal the next cell in
line (ultimately how the brain works!) low omega 3's in the diet reduce this
activity (synaptic) by over 40%!
Some of you take DHEA and Phosphotidyl Serine for memory and thinking effects.
Fish Oil enhances the endogenous production of these vital neuro-hormonal
transmitters.
Low Omega 3 in the diet results in a 35% decrease in the brain's ability to
produce Phosphatidyl Serine which has anti-depressant activity of its own!
Omega 3 fatty acids also increase the density and number of serotonin receptors
in the frontal cortex. Recall that the SSRI's which stands for Selective
Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, block the breakdown of serotonin effectively doing
the same thing but with tons more side effects.
Another study found that high dose fish oil supplementation(15X greater than the
usual dose) blocked the activity of the enzyme that breaks down the key
neurotransmitter Dopamine. This enzyme called MAO-B is the target for another
effective but potentially deadly class of drugs called MAO inhibitors.
In all studies Fish Oil supplementation was deemed extraordinarily safe. But
then why wouldn't it be, Mother Nature put it here for us to use!
One specific case study placed a "Treatment Resistant" patient who had failed all
the regular drugs on Fish Oil 4grams a day. Within 1 month there where major
subjective and objective improvements in their depression.
Measured chemical parameters improved and the size of the brain actually grew as
measured by the MRI! (Br, J, of Psychiatry 200;176:421-428.)
There are several major studies using Omega 3 Fatty Acids in humans. The success
rate is around 85% of these studies. Negative trials tended to use DHA alone.
This reinforces my earlier statements about not separating these 2 vital
components of Fish Oil
One note, researchers discovered that Flaxseed oil had the potential to cause
mania, hypomania and other untoward behavioral abnormalities when substituted for
Fish Oil in the treatment of depression.
One more reason to avoid Flax Oil!
As far as dosages go, I'd recommend you start on the high side e.g. 6 capsules a
day at least, especially if you are suffering from more severe depression.
Fish Oil can also augment the activity of almost every class of anti-depressant
drug, so they can be taken together.
Remember depression can be a very serious illness. I personally like the way
fish Oil keeps my moods up, my creativity high my memory sharp and my energy
roaring (along with Regenerizer and Instant Endurance!).
But then again I am not typically depressed. If you are depressed get your
doctors help!
Major Review: Alternative Medicine Review Vol 8 # 4 2003 pp410-425.
Dave Woynarowski, M.D., CPT
The Nation's #1 Anti-Aging Physician
P.S. For the worlds best anti-aging supplements including Dr Dave's Best
Pharmaceutical Grade Fish Oil go here and order now.
Don't delay; you are not getting any younger, YET!
