Ran across this cool article on google ( http://www.turtlezen.com/omega3fattyacids.html ) by “Anthony Kane, MD”… Who I might add also apparently has a blog on ADD…
Some cool highlights include:
“The ideal dietary ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats is approximately 2:1. The ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats in the average American diet is about 20:1.”
Wow. That kind of a deficiency is absolutely unreal. And we’re surprised by the prevalence of depression and anxiety in our society? Sounds like those three-a-day omega 3 pills may not be enough to cut it…
“Researchers have yet to determine the optimum dosages. Studies have used between 1-6.4 g of EPA a day. EPA seems to be the omega-3 that is helping.”
Yeah, I’d say this confirms it. While the pills may be helpful, it may be better to score some actual fish oil and start taking it with each meal for a REAL therapeautic effect.
“Studies of the fatty acid status in psychiatric patients have shown that depressed patients have lower levels of EPA and DHA. [...] Though there is still very scanty research, the best run studies show the EPA is effective in almost 90% of depressed patients.“
Coincedance? Perhaps if they were getting enough EPA their brain wouldn’t develope these issues in the first place, and it’s only when the brain is starved of omega 3s can it begin to function in this messy way (depression, anxiety, ADD, etc.)
“In another case study, a patient with depression that didn’t respond to medication was placed on 4 g pure EPA. After one month, the patient’s depression improved and after nine months the patient was symptom free. Utilizing MRI technology, the researchers found that after EPA treatment, there were structural changes in the brain that showed a reversal of some of the brain abnormalities commonly found in depressed patients.”
When you consider the fact that the main difference is obviously solely omega 3 intake… That’s pretty impressive. It’s also important to note that structural changes took place. That means the brain is different, and is thus operating in a new way after the omega 3 therapy. I would be interested to find out what would happen if he threw in some CES, brainwave entrainment, or neurofeedback into the mix for some awesome synergy with the omega 3s. Since the brain is made of 20% fatty acids anyway, and omega 3 also not only is a building block for neurons it would be conceivable to see that simply it’s ability to promote cerebral plasticity would be beneficial for the depressed who are also practicing other kinds of therapy.
But on top of that, it also blocks cytokines which can have an anti-depressant effect as well.
The article also had a wider list of things omega 3 can treat than I’ve seen in the past:
“
Bipolar depression Unipolar depression Depression during pregnancy Insomnia Anxiety Anorexia nervosa Depression associated with borderline personality disorder Post-partum depression Reduction of suicidal thoughts”
Also check out the authors blog at: http://adhd-add.blogspot.com/ .
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Check out the following studies which are all related:
Cardiovascular disease resulting from a diet and lifestyle at odds with our Paleolithic genome: how to become a 21st-century hunter-gatherer.
O’Keefe JH Jr, Cordain L.
The paradoxical nature of hunter-gatherer diets: meat-based, yet non-atherogenic.
Cordain L, Eaton SB, Miller JB, Mann N, Hill K.
Dietary intake of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids during the paleolithic.
Eaton SB, Eaton SB 3rd, Sinclair AJ, Cordain L, Mann NJ.
I get my caveman on two to three tablespoons everyday.
(or 2-4g of omega 3 EPA a day, to be clear)
I just got back from the UK, where the headline news story on Monday was that the Ministry of Education is considering giving fish oil to all students.
Here’s one such article: http://politics.guardian.co.uk/publicservices/story/0,,1795575,00.html
Interestingly, the criticism of the idea focused on two things: First, that the schools shouldn’t be the ones to provide dietary supplements; and second, that it was better to get such nutrients from food rather than supplements.
But no one seemed to doubt that fish oil improved students’ concentration and ability to learn.
You are awesome, Susan! Thanks for the link and info!