NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Treatment with omega-3 fatty acids, the type found in fish oils, appears to benefit children suffering from clinical depression, according to pilot study conducted in Israel.
The results of some studies in adults with major depressive disorder have suggested that omega-3 fatty acids may be an effective add-on therapy. However, the […]
From the American Journal of Psychaitry:
Research on links between dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and depression continues to show promise. Numerous epidemiological, cross-sectional, and treatment studies support the association between depression and low omega-3 levels, either absolute concentrations or a higher ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids. It is now time, conclude Parker et […]
Bethesda, MD — A group of researchers from Israel has discovered that rats exhibiting the signs of depression have increased levels of the omega-6 fatty acid, arachidonic acid, in their brains. The details of their findings appear in the June issue of the Journal of Lipid Research, an American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology […]
Psychiatrists at the Institute of Psychiatry in London report that ethyl-EPA (E-EPA) appears to be an effective and well-tolerated intervention for bipolar depression. Their study was published in British Journal of Psychiatry. These results confirm initial reports from Harvard University (USA), Sheffield University (UK) and Ben Gurion University (Israel).
Bipolar disorder is a recurring, often chronic, […]
DENVER, March 3 (UPI) — Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may influence mood, personality and behavior, a University of Pittsburgh study found.
In a study of 106 healthy volunteers, the researchers at University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine found that participants who had lower blood levels of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids were more likely to report mild […]
I continue to be fascinated by the fact that schools, physicians and psychologists in my country, the United States, seem largely in the dark on the potential benefits of high-EPA supplementation for children. Meanwhile, several significant trials for students of all ages are underway in the United Kingdom. Why do Americans put so much […]
Depression, it is widely believed, looks set to become the second biggest burden on the health service by the year 2020, but scientists claim high quality fish oils might just be the natural answer to treating even the severest cases.
The key to the treatment is elcosapentaenoic acid (EPA), an Omega-3 fatty acid. Brain scans reveal […]
Although scientists don’t always agree on exactly why high-EPA fish oil is beneficial, they certainly concur when it comes to the signs of fatty acid deficiency:
Behavioral Conditions
Distractibility
Difficulty concentrating
Difficulty sleeping or staying asleep
Hyperactivity
Learning problems
Poor Working Memory
Emotional Conditions
Anxiety
Depression
Irritibility
Mood Swings
Immune Conditions
Frequent infections
Greater susceptibility to infection
Hayfever and allergies
Poor wound healing
Skin and Hair Conditions
Brittle nails
Bumps on the back of the […]
Professor Basant K. Puri has written a number of books concering his research with omega-3 fatty acids and EPA. Recently, I read The Natural Way to Beat Depression Along with Hilary Boyd, Dr. Puri details his successful experience in treating patients with depression using high-EPA fish oil in this informative book.
I found the book to […]
The following was excerpted from “Battling The Blues: Ongoing research shows that omega-3 fatty acids help treat depression”:
Post: Do omega-3 fatty acids continue to demonstrate mood-stabilizing benefits?
Dr. Stoll: No one has replicated the findings of our original study as yet. The real story now is that there are now numerous positive studies on the benefits […]
Researchers from Quebec and Ontario are studying the role of a specific fatty acid in treating major depression — eicosapentaenoic acid or EPA — which is largely obtained from omega-3 fatty acids found in fish.
The double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of 508 people will be the largest “gold standard” trial of this type of treatment so […]
DHA is not a bad thing at all. Developing fetuses, infants and young children need sufficient stores of DHA for healthy brain growth. But for optimal neurologic functioning, the latest research points to limiting the amounts of DHA relative to one’s intake of EPA. Here is an interesting take on this issue:
“The common thinking on […]
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There! Now I can get back to the subject at hand.
Generally Recommended Amounts […]
The following is a look at recent and current research concerning EPA and depression. Note that studies done with high amounts of DHA yielded no or negative results. (For an understanding of the relationship between EPA and DHA, please see “Why is the EPA to DHA Ratio Important?”
Author/Link
Condition
Studied # […]
A group of researchers from Israel has discovered that rats exhibiting the signs of depression have increased levels of the omega-6 fatty acid, arachidonic acid, in their brains. The details of their findings appear in the June issue of the Journal of Lipid Research, an American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology journal.During recent years, […]
You notice I continually refer to “high-EPA fish oil.” By this, I mean a fish-derived concentrate whereby eicosapentaenoic acid is its predominant component. Current research on depression, chronic fatigue syndrome and children’s behavior suggests that not only is it important to have a greater concentration of EPA, but it is equally important to have as […]
You may be wondering just what it is about EPA that makes it so special. Here I’ll do my best to explain:
EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) is a major component of fish oil. A long-chain Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, EPA contains 20 carbons and 5 double bonds. EPA is also known as EPA; C20: 5n-3 and cis-5, […]
A few years prior to the publication of the Durham-Oxford Trial results, Dr. Andrew Stoll published The Omega-3 Connection. I discovered this book after coming across a few mentions of Stoll’s research on Dr. Alex Richardson’s Food and Behavior Research site.
A brief descrption, courtesy of Amazon.com:
Ground-breaking research provides an exciting new approach to treating the […]