The Omega-3 Connection: The Groundbreaking Antidepression Diet and Brain Program

A must-read for anyone dealing with depression, The Omega-3 Connection by Andrew L. Stoll, M.D., strikes yet another blow against the standard American diet.

We already know that years of noshing on highly processed foods have saddled us with sky-high rates of heart disease, obesity, and related conditions.

But, as we’re starting to understand now, our eating habits may also be subtly altering our brain chemistry, leaving us vulnerable to anxiety disorders and depression.

Only in this case, it’s not just what we’re eating–it’s what we’re not eating: foods containing omega-3 essential fatty acids–the “good fats” that help maintain optimal brain function.

In his book, Stoll, the director of the psychopharmacology research lab at Boston’s McLean Hospital and assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, suggests that restoring our body’s natural balance of omega-3s may help alleviate (and prevent) many types of depression — even for those who don’t respond to traditional antidepressants.

Omega-3s may also prove helpful with other problems, such as the inability to handle stress, memory loss, and cognitive decline. The book contains a “renewal plan” designed to help readers put Stoll’s concepts into practice, recipes for omega-3-rich dishes, advice for choosing supplements, and dosages for therapeutic use.

Although Stoll is quick with the caveat that much of the research on omega-3s and brain function is still evolving, he makes a compelling case for using these fats to regulate depression and other cognitive disorders.

Along with major epidemiological evidence that shows lower rates of depression in those cultures that consume a great deal of omega-3s, Stoll’s own studies indicate that boosting their intake can reduce depression symptoms.

And Stoll cites stacks of additional studies suggesting that omega-3s can also help with major depression, schizophrenia, and postpartum depression. Going even further, Stoll makes a strong argument that omega-3 deficiency could be contributing to rising rates of teen violence and attention deficit disorders.

Of course, depression should never be treated without physician supervision. But in laying the groundwork for the omega-3s to emerge as the next big thing in natural depression therapy, Stoll certainly gives us food for thought.

The Omega-3 Connection: The Groundbreaking Antidepression Diet and Brain Program

Regular and long-term intake of omega-3 fatty acid-rich cod liver oil may protect people from symptoms of depression, says a large study from Norway. The study, found that the prevalence of depressive symptoms was 29 per cent lower in regular cod liver oil users than the rest of the population.

Numerous observational studies and uncontrolled trials have reported the benefits of fish oils and omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA on the behaviour and learning, especially in kids, as well for improving the symptoms of depression.

Omega-3 are polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) consumed predominantly in the diet from fish, nuts and seeds. The fish oil PUFAs include Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenioc acid (DHA).

EPA is proposed to function by increasing blood flow in the body. It is also suggested to affect hormones and the immune system, both of which have a direct effect on brain function. DHA, on the other hand, is involved in the membrane of ion channels in the brain, making it easier for them to change shape and transit electrical signals.

Source: Journal of Affective Disorders
August 2007, Volume 101, Issues 1-3, Pages 245-249
“Associations between cod liver oil use and symptoms of depression: The Hordaland Health Study”
Authors: M. Baroy Raeder, V.M. Steen, S. Emil Vollset and I. Bjelland

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FRIDAY, June 8 (HealthDay News) - U.S. researchers have launched a study to examine whether an omega-3 fatty acid called docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) can help slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

The 18-month clinical trial will be conducted at 52 sites across the United States and will seek to enroll 400 people, age 50 and older, with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. The trial is supported by the National Institute on Aging (NIA).

Recent U.S. and European studies have reported that people with the highest blood levels of DHA were about half as likely to develop dementia as people with lower DHA levels.

During this new clinical trial, about 60 percent of the participants will receive either two grams of DHA per day, while 40 percent will be given an inactive placebo. Cognitive tests will be used to monitor patients’ Alzheimer’s disease progression during the study.

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Women in particular gain from an increased intake of omega-3 fatty acids, according to a new study, which found that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids might help to prevent preeclampsia, postpartum depression, menopausal problems, postmenopausal osteoporosis and breast cancer, among others.

“Furthermore, because elevated triglyceride levels are associated with cardiovascular disease, especially in women; and because omega-3 fatty acids have powerful effects on triglycerides, women in particular gain from an increased intake of these fatty acids. This is especially important in women receiving hormone therapy, which can increase triglyceride levels,” note the researchers. They also add that the quality of the omega-3 preparation is important.

Source: Omega-3s good for women’s health

There’s now more evidence that consuming supplements of the omega 3 fatty acid DHA - naturally found in breast milk - could allow new moms to contribute to the development of their baby’s brain and visual system.

A study found that children whose mothers received a 200mg dose of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for the first four months of breastfeeding performed better on a test of sustained attention than those whose mothers received a placebo, suggesting supplementation of DHA during breastfeeding elevates these levels.

DHA is an essential fatty acid naturally present in breast milk, and a key building block of the developing infant’s brain and visual system. The human body cannot produce sufficient amounts of DHA for the needs of the eye and brain consequently it must be consumed through foods, such as cold water fatty fish, or in supplemental form.

Source: DHA from mother boosts infant development