What are the signs of fatty acid deficiency?
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 arms
Cracked skin on heels or fingertips
Dandruff
Dry skin and/or hair
Excema
Soft or brittle nails
Visual Conditions
Poor night vision
Sensitivity to bright light
Visual disturbances when reading - e.g. letters and words move, swim or blur on the page
Other Conditions
Dry eyes
Excessive thirst
Fatigue and weakness
Frequent urination
SOURCE: Smart Fats by Michael Schmidt and Food and Behavior Research, a charitable organization dedicated to advancing scientific research into the links between nutrition and human behavior.
I found this information fascinating, as much (but certainly not all) described my own condition, as well as that of my oldest son. For example, before high-EPA supplementation, my son had diffulty falling asleep, was frequently thristy, was irritable and had great difficulty concentrating. Even more distinctive was his coarse hair, which was so dry that water rolled off of it in the shower, rather than being absorbed by it!
I am pleased to report that all of these symptoms have either disappeared completely or have been greatly reduced. And his hair? Beautiful, silky and still blonde from the California sun!
For a more detailed look at the physical signs of fatty acid deficiency, please see Dr. Alex Richardson and Marion Ross’s Physical Signs of Fatty Acid Deficiency Factsheet. Ω