subject: Omega 3 Fatty Acids May Help Lower The Risk For Depression, Studies Suggest [print this page] A diet containing high amounts of omega 3 fatty acids may help reduce the risk for developing depression, studies have found. Omega 3 is believed to be able to assist neurons in the brain and the nervous system to communicate properly with each other, thus potentially lowering the occurrence of mood issues that lead to depression.
Depression is a mental ailment typified by an overall low mood, accompanied by low self-esteem, and a dearth of interest or pleasure in activities that are normally enjoyable. Many say that depression is caused by poor brain health, and omega 3 fatty acid is one of the many items that are touted to assist in improving the health of the brain, as well as that of the entire nervous system.
Omega 3 is a type of fatty acid that is needed by human beings for health and well-being. It can be found in the following forms: a-linolenic acid (ALA) mostly found in vegetable sources like flax seed oil, canola oil, beans & broccoli; eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which are mostly found in cold water fatty fish like salmon, trout, herring and albacore tuna. The DHA form of omega 3 fatty acid can also be found in mother's milk.
Researchers from two institutions of neurological studies in France have found that a diet with low amounts of omega 3 changes the communication among neurons, and tends to increase the possibility of developing mood issues. More specifically, these scientists found that endocannabinoid receptors found in neurons and involved in their messaging process, malfunctioned. This translated to shifts in mood that caused depression.
The subjects in the studies were mice that were given a diet low in omega-3 but high in omega-6, another essential fatty acid that is found in foods such as vegetable oils.
These findings apparently conform with results from other epidemiological and neurobiological studies that have suggested that a deficiency in omega-3 fatty acids may predispose individuals to depression and other psychological disorders.
Furthermore, several preliminary clinical studies based on small numbers of patients have suggested that omega 3 supplements with high concentrations of EPA may be helpful in lowering depression symptoms among patients who fail to respond to an initial treatment of anti-depressants.
Another study conducted at the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom has also found that fish oil supplements eased the symptoms of depression, bipolar disorder and psychosis.
However, these studies have yet to convince the entire scientific community. A wider, more inclusive study is therefore warranted to help obtain further knowledge on the value and efficacy of omega 3 fatty acid supplementation among patients suffering from major depression.
But there has been some critical consensus among health practitioners that indeed omega 3 fatty acids have beneficial effects on the brain and the nervous system.
That omega 3 is one of the constituents of mother's milk seem to attest to nature's intent of providing it as an important brain development agent for babies and the very young. Of late, deficiency in this fatty acid has been linked to the development of ailments such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease in the elderly. And with the recent studies seemingly concluding that low amounts of omega 3 may lead to elevated risk for depression, there now seems to be a wealth of evidence that suggests people have a need for optimum amounts of this critical fatty acid at all junctures during the course of their lives.
