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Omega-3 fatty acids for mental health

Narinder Duggal, MD, FRCPC

Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fatty acids. The importance of these essential fatty acids for physical health is now well recognized. Omega-3 fatty acids are required for maintenance of optimal health but they cannot be synthesized by the body and must be obtained from dietary sources.¹ There is also increasing evidence that omega-3 fatty acids also have a crucial role in the management of psychiatric disorders.² The two main omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have important biological functions in the central nervous system. DHA is a major structural component of neuronal membranes, and changing the fatty acid composition of neuronal membranes leads to functional changes in the activity of receptors and other proteins embedded in the membrane phospholipid and EPA has important physiological functions that can affect neuronal activity.²

The National Institute of Mental Health reports an estimated 26 percent of Americans age 18 or older (about one in four adults) has a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year. There are different types of psychiatric disorders which include dementia, schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). There is a growing body of evidence that omega-3 fatty acids may prove beneficial in a range of psychiatric conditions.

Lower levels of omega-3 fatty acid in blood have been linked to a range of behavioral and mood disorders including ADHD.³ A double blind, randomized controlled trial involving 26 ADHD children concluded that there was statistically significant clinical improvement in ADHD children following omega-3 fatty acid supplementation.⁴ Also there is evidence of inverse association in plasma DHA and mental retardation in children. The authors of this Korean study, which involved 31 mentally retarded boys and controls, found that the odds of mental retardation decreased by 74% for each unit increase in plasma DHA.⁵

Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation is also effective in the treatment of mania and depression in juvenile bipolar disorder, found an Australian study. The study involved 18 children and adolescents with bipolar disorder, who were supplemented with 360 mg EPA and 1560 mg DHA for 6 weeks. It was found that clinician ratings of mania and depression were significantly lowered after supplementation.⁶

Omega-3 fatty acids are also effective and safe for children with autism. The results of a pilot study concluded that autistic children showed improvement of about 33% on the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist after 12 weeks of  supplementation with 1g/d of omega-3 fatty acids.⁷    

Omega-3 fatty  acids, especially DHA has the potential to slow pathogenesis of AD and age related dementia.^8,9 DHA reduces the production of beta-amyloid peptide, responsible for initiation of AD. DHA suppresses neuroinflammation and oxidative damage that contribute to dysfunction in dementia.^10,11

An association between omega-3 fatty acids and depression is suggested in observational and experimental studies on populations affected by major depression, depressed mood or post-partum depression.¹² The antidepressant effect of omega-3 fatty acids also suggest that they also possess anxiolytic properties and can be used therapeutically in the treatment of anxiety disorders.¹³ In addition, there is also evidence to show the possible therapeutic benefit of omega-3 fatty acids in schizophrenia.¹⁴

These studies support the use of omega-3 fatty acids supplementation for maintaining an optimal level of mental health. The safest and most effective way to improve your intake of omega-3 fatty acids is to obtain an effective supplement. Synergy Therapeutics Rx’s EPACOR + EPA/DHA is a perfectly balanced supplement containing 1000 mg of EPA and DHA per serving. EPACOR + EPA/DHA provides omega-3 fatty acids without increasing your caloric intake.


References:

1.    Chang CY, Ke DS, Chen JY. Essential fatty acids and human brain. Acta Neurol Taiwan 2009;18(4):231-41. (PUBMED Abstract)
2.    Peet M, Stokes C. Omega-3 fatty acids in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Drugs 2005;65(8):1051-9. (PUBMED Abstract)
3.    Gow RV, Matsudaira T, Taylor E, et al. Total red blood cell concentrations of omega-3 fatty acids are associated with emotion-elicited neural activity in adolescent boys with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 2009;80(2-3):151-6. (PUBMED Abstract)
4.    Belanger SA, Vanasse M, Spahis S, et al. Omega-3 fatty acid treatment of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Paediatr Child Health 2009;14(2):89-98. (PUBMED Abstract)
5.    Neggers YH, Kim EK, Song JM, et al. Mental retardation is associated with plasma omega-3 fatty acid levels and the omega-3/omega-6 ratio in children. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 2009;18(1):22-8. (PUBMED Abstract)
6.    Clayton EH, Hanstock TL, Hirneth SJ, et al. Reduced mania and depression in juvenile bipolar disorder associated with long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation. Eur J Clin Nutr 2009;63(8):1037-40. (PUBMED Abstract)
7.    Meiri G, Bichovsky Y, Belmaker RH. Omega 3 fatty acid treatment in autism. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 2009;19(4):449-51. (PUBMED Abstract)
8.    Jicha GA, Markesbery WR. Omega-3 fatty acids: potential role in the management of early Alzheimer's disease. Clin Interv Aging;5:45-61. (PUBMED Abstract)
9.    Milte CM, Sinn N, Howe PR. Polyunsaturated fatty acid status in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, and Alzheimer's disease: towards an omega-3 index for mental health? Nutr Rev 2009;67(10):573-90. (PUBMED Abstract)
10.    Cole GM, Frautschy SA. DHA may prevent age-related dementia. J Nutr;140(4):869-74. (PUBMED Abstract)
11.    Cole GM, Ma QL, Frautschy SA. Omega-3 fatty acids and dementia. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 2009;81(2-3):213-21. (PUBMED Abstract)
12.    Liperoti R, Landi F, Fusco O, et al. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and depression: a review of the evidence. Curr Pharm Des 2009;15(36):4165-72. (PUBMED Abstract)
13.    Ross BM. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and anxiety disorders. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 2009;81(5-6):309-12. (PUBMED Abstract)
14.    Peet M. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the treatment of schizophrenia. Isr J Psychiatry Relat Sci 2008;45(1):19-25. (PUBMED Abstract)