Vol. 5, No. 1, 1999 Page 1&2&6

NIH workshop spurred by findings about
omega-3 fatty acids' effects on mental ills

In September 1998, the National Institutes of Health convened a workshop to review preliminary but exciting findings suggesting that omega-3 fatty acids may help treat or even prevent depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and other psychiatric problems.

"I don't know of any other preventive treatments for mental disorders," Jerry Cott, NIH chief of the adult psychopharmacological research program, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "This is in a class by itself. It is extremely promising."

Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish, leafy green vegetables, nuts, and flaxseed and canola oils. Early humans ate a diet high in these fats, while modern humans eat a diet far lower in omega-3 fatty acids and far higher in the omega-6 fatty acids found in corn, soybean, cottonseed, safflower, and sunflower oils. As a result, researchers speculate, humans may be deficient in several essential fatty acids, obtained only through foods, that are building blocks of synaptic membranes in the brain.

Researchers can't yet say with certainty that omega-3 acid supplementation will be a useful treatment for psychiatric disorders. But early studies suggest that omega-3 deficiencies are associated with aggression, other behavior problems, and several menta al disorders, and preliminary trials of supplementation are encouraging. Among the findings:

• Andrew Stoll and colleagues supplemented the diets of patients with bipolar disorder (manic depression) with fish oil. Improvements in the supplemented subjects were so striking that the researchers terminated the study five mon nths earlier than planned. "We saw dramatic differences," Stoll says, noting that 9 of 14 patients taking fish oil responded well, compared to only 3 of 16 patients taking the placebo. He believes that omega-3 fatty acids act in a manner similar to o lithium and valproate, drugs s commonly used to treat manic depression.

• Tomohito Hamazaki and colleagues gave 41 students either capsules rich in the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) or placebo capsules for three months. The study began at a non-stressful time for the students (the end of summer vacation), an nd concluded during a stressful period in which final exams were given. Psychological tests given at the beginning and end of the study revealed that aggression against others increased significantly in the non-supplemented students when they were under stress, but did not increase in the DHA-supplemented students.

• Studying 6- to 12-year-old boys, L. J. Stevens and colleagues found that "a greater number of behavior problems, assessed by the Conners' Rating Scale, temper tantrums, and sleep problems were reported in subjects with lower total omega-3 fatty acid c concentrations." In addition, they say, more learning and health problems were seen in this group.

• In another study, Stevens and colleagues tested 53 boys with ADHD and 43 controls who were not hyperactive. The researchers found that subjects with ADHD had significantly lower concentrations of key fatty acids in their blood than other children.

• Malcolm Peet and colleagues reported evidence that chronic schizophrenics have reduced levels of essential fatty acids in red blood cell membranes, and that schizophrenic patients improve when they receive omega-3 supplements.

• Three separate studies show that in societies with a high dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids, such as Japan, China, and Taiwan, rates of depression are lower than in countries with a low intake of these fats.

Researchers also note that the effects of omega-3 fatty acid deficiencies may explain the reported link between lowered cholesterol levels and increased rates of suicide, homicide, and depression. "When your doctor tells you to lower cholesterol," Hibbeln n notes, "you usually lower your fat intake"-including the intake of omega-3 fatty acids.

"Conference report: essential fatty acids predict biomarkers of aggression and depression," PUFA [Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids] Newsletter, Vol. 1, No. 3, June 1997.

"The effect of docosahexaenoic acid on aggression in young adults: a placebo-controlled double-blind study," T. Hamazaki, S. Sawazaki, M. Itomura, E. Asoka, Y. Nagao, N. Nishimura, K. Yazawa, T. Kuwamori, and M. Kobayashi, Journal of Clinical Investiga ation, Vol. 97, 1996, pp. 1129-1133.

"Omega-3 fatty acids in boys with behavior, learning, and health problems," L. J. Stevens, S. S. Zentall, M. L. Abate, T. Kuczek, and J. R. Burgess, conference abstract,. 1995. Address: L. J. Stevens, Department of Foods and Nutrition, Purdue Unive ersity, West Lafayette, IN 47907-1264.

"Essential fatty acid metabolism in boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder," L. J. Stevens, S. S. Zentall, J. L. Deck, M. L. Abate, B. A. Watkins, S. R. Lipp, and J. R. Burgess, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 62, No. 4, Oc ctober 1,1995, pp. 761-768. See address above.

"Can an ancient diet improve our modern psyche?", John Fauber, September 29, 1998.

"Fish oil may relieve psychiatric symptoms," Reuters, September 7, 1998.

"DHA's role in infant development," Michelle Badash, Nutrition Science News, April 1997.

"Prozac of the Sea," Carol Potera, Psychology Today, Vol. 29, No. 3, May-June 1996, p. 20.

"A replication study of violent and nonviolent subjects: cerebrospinal fluid metabolites of serotonin and dopamine are predicted by plasma essential fatty acids," J. R. Hibbeln, J. C. Umhau, M. Linnoila, D. T. George, P. W. Ragan, S. E. Shoaf, M. R. Vaugh han, R. Rawlings, and N. Salem, Jr., Biological Psychiatry, Vol. 44, No. 4, August 15, 1998, p. 243-249. Address: J. R. Hibbeln, Laboratory of Membrane Biochemistry and Biophysics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Rockville, MD 2 20852.

"Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids and depression: when cholesterol does not satisfy," J. R. Hibbeln and N. Salem, Jr., American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 62, No. 1, July 1995, pp. 1-9. See address above.

"Essential fatty acids predict metabolites of serotonin and dopamine in cerebrospinal fluid among healthy control subjects, and early- and late-onset alcoholics," J. R. Hibbeln, M. Linnoila, J. C. Umhau, R. Rawlings, D. T. George, and N. Salem, Jr., Bi iological Psychiatry, Vol. 44, No. 4, August 15, 1998, pp. 235-242. See address above.

Related Articles: [1999, Vol. 1] [2000, Vol. 6] [2002, Vol. 8] [2003, Vol. 9] [2003, Vol. 9] [2003, Vol. 9] [2003, Vol. 9] [2004, Vol. 10] [2005, Vol. 11] [2005, Vol. 11]

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