Fatty Acid Trip

Charles P. Vega, MD, FAAFP reports on best evidence approaches for depression, anxiety and related issues for women in middle age:
Summary
Depression affects women disproportionately compared with men, and symptoms of psychological distress may be particularly prevalent during the perimenopausal period. The current study of ethyl-eicosapentaenoic acid for the management of psychological distress among middle-aged women […]

Two Canadian reports suggest that highly purified ethyl-eicosapentaenoic acid (E-EPA) omega-3 fatty acid supplementation may alleviate hot flushes and psychological distress in middle-aged women. The daily dosage was 1,050 grams in both trials.
The departments of Psychiatry and Obstetrics and Gynecology gynecology at Saint-François d’Assise Hospital (Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec) Canada investigated the effects of […]

Various studies have implicated low fish consumption or reduced blood levels of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 LC-PUFAS) in the occurrence of various psychiatric disorders, alcoholism and among substance abusers. It has been known since 1996 that n-3 PUFAs, especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), are reduced in major depression. A recent post-mortem analysis reported significantly lower […]

Long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC-PUFAs) have been used as an adjunct therapy in treating patients with major depressive disorder with mixed, but often encouraging, results. A meta-analysis of placebo-controlled trials concluded that n-3 PUFAs have significant antidepressant effects, but there are insufficient data to distinguish whether combined treatment with the two major n-3 […]

Natalie Sinn, a researcher mentioned in this post is continuing her work in researching the benefits of PUFAs. The announcement follows:
A new study at UniSA’s Nutritional Physiology Research Centre will test the benefits of fish oil on memory and mood in older people.
UniSA researcher Dr Natalie Sinn is looking for volunteers aged 65 or over who […]

Although there are many reasons why people develop major depression, the condition is more frequent in younger than older adults. Nonetheless, it is a concern in the aging population. In the elderly, depression is more likely to occur in those with impaired cognition and in certain disturbances of endocrine metabolism. Depression also occurs more frequently […]

Minami Nutrition’s fish oil products were among the highest rated for purity by independent testing organization, Consumer Labs. Thanks, CL for confirming what we’ve know all along!
Here’s the press release:
The popularity of fish oil supplements has been growing exponentially over the past several decades. As more studies tout the benefits of the supplements containing omega-3 […]

Recently, a study came out showing that EPA was a viable alternative to Prozac and furthermore, that taking the two together proved even more superior results in resolving or improving unipolar depression. Read on:
Unipolar depressive disorder was ranked as the fourth highest global burden of disease in 2000. For the ages 15-44 they generated the […]

Various studies have implicated low fish consumption or reduced blood levels of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 LC-PUFAS) in the occurrence of various psychiatric disorders, alcoholism and among substance abusers. It has been known since 1996 that n-3 PUFAs, especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), are reduced in major depression. A recent post-mortem analysis reported significantly lower […]

Thanks to nationwide charities like the British Heart Foundation, the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oils are already well known in terms of how they help protect the heart. But the results of studies recently published in the November 2007 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition should leave scientists and […]

Purdue researcher Laura Stevens recently wrote the following article in her Nutrition in Action newsletter concerning essential fatty acids and adults with ADHD:
All in all, there have been very few studies of biochemical factors in adults with ADHD.  Because adults with ADHD were children with ADHD (by definition of adult ADHD), we have made the […]

Dr. Matti Tolonen compiled this table containing the latest research on EPA or EPA/DHA abd neurological disorders:

Author/Link
Condition
Studied # patients
Fish oil dose (grams/d)
Outcome

Wozniak et al
2007, USA
Bipolar
20 children,
6–17 yrs,
no controls
1,3–4,3 g EPA+DHA
8 weeks
Significant but modest reduction in Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS)

Frangou et al 2006, UK
Bipolar
75/placebo
1 g/d E-EPA
2 g/d E-EPA
12 weeks
Significant improvement in both groups […]

Breastfeeding and the good fats in Omega-3 fatty acids help new moms fight depression, according to a new article published in the International Breastfeeding Journal by a University of New Hampshire researcher.
“Depression in new mothers is common in many cultures, affecting anywhere from 10 percent to 20 percent of postpartum women. In some high-risk populations, […]

Better omega-3 to omega-6 ratio could reduce depression study
By Stephen Daniells
 
20/04/2007- Improving the ration of omega-3 to omega-6 in the diet may improve mood and reduce depression, suggests a new study.
Researchers from Ohio State University took blood samples from 43 older adults (average age 67) and calculated polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) levels and compared these […]

COLUMBUS , Ohio – A new study suggests that people whose diets contain dramatically more of one kind of polyunsaturated fatty acid than another may be at greater risk for both clinical depression and certain inflammatory diseases.
The report, published online this week in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine, suggests that we need to balance out our […]

Nutritionist and Purdue researcher Laura Stevens, MS  author of “12 Effective Ways to Help Your ADD/ADHD Child”, writes in her latest issue of The ADD/ADHD Online Newsletter, an excellent summary of recent research pertaining to ADHD and essential fatty acids:
Two interesting articles about essential fatty acids (EFA) and psychiatry have been published recently.1,2  As you may […]

In his book, the Omega-3 Connection, Dr. Andrew Stoll theorized a link between depression and heart disease. This link was also studied by Dr. Joseph Hibblen at the U.S.’s National Institutes of Health. Now researchers in Australia are looking into these thoughts in more depth:
A group of Australian researchers thinks there could be links between […]

ADDING fish oil to the diet is the most promising supplement-related treatment for depression, a new review has found.
Sydney University dieticians have trawled recent research to judge the benefits of a range of dietary supplements for relief from depressive symptoms.
The review, published today in the Australian journal Nutrition & Dietetics, rated vitamins B6 and B12, […]

The International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids (ISSFAL) held its biennial meeting in Cairns, Australia, July 23-28. Over 400 scientists, health professionals, educators and others interested in fatty acids and lipids attended. Highlights included:
Cardiovascular Health

Lowering blood cholesterol may not reduce cardiac mortality. Two presenters analyzed published data from the U.S. and […]

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Jun 30 - A low serum docosahexaenoic acid level and elevated omega-6/omega-3 ratio predict suicidal behavior among patients with major depression, results of a study published in the June issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry suggest.
“Depressive disorders are associated with low levels of omega-3 plasma polyunsaturated fatty acids and elevated […]