Fish Oil for Depression?

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Omega 3 and Depression
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• Depression and other mood disorders are far too
  common in our stressed out world today. Its come
  to a point where the majority of adults will at
  some time in their lives experience depressive
  symptoms

• We dont know the exact causes for all of these
  different depressive disorders, because there are
  so many different factors that combine to produce
  them

• However, one of the strongest current theories
  suggests that the western worlds low consumption
  of omega 3 fatty acids is a key contributor to
  depression

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• One of the key factors in this theory is that up
  to 20 of the dry weight of the brain consists of
  fatty acids, the majority of which are omega 3.
  Therefore, omega 3 is a key player in
  neurological functioning

• The brain is a key control center of the body and
  has a hand in regulating every bodily function,
  which includes signalling our feelings and
  emotions

• As well as our feelings and emotions, our moods
  are the result of signalling in our brains, and
  these are often triggered by external factors. So
  because of how much of our brains are made up
  from omega-3 fatty acids, its incredibly likely
  they play a key role in how we feel.

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• Clinical Depression and Bipolar Disorder are the
  two most talked about and documented disorders.
  They are also often found together with anxiety.
  Despite being different disorders with different
  symptoms, they are all affected by omega 3

• Clinical depression is the most common disorder,
  its thought to affect up to 20 of women and 10
  of men at any one time

• Whilst we know that the environment, diet,
  genetics and other psychological factors can play
  a role in causing depression. The strongest
  trigger is a chemical imbalance in the brain

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• There is still some debate about exactly which
  chemicals are involved in depression, but it is
  thought that depression is caused by an
  interruption in the brains signalling pathways.
  However, Dopamine and Serotonin are the chemicals
  most documented in this process

• Serotonin and dopamine are both
  neurotransmitters. Their job is to carry signals
  between neurones which are nerve cells. These
  signals act as messages from one part of the
  brain to another, and can trigger emotional
  responses and feelings, such as pleasure,
  happiness and well being

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• When these chemicals cant reach the cells to
  send the correct signals at the correct times, we
  can suffer from depression.

• Omega-3 fatty acids affect this process by making
  nerve cell membranes more fluid and more
  permeable.

• More fluid and softer membranes enable
  serotonin and dopamine to get their message into
  nerve cells much more efficiently. This helps to
  correct nerve signalling imbalances and lessen
  the symptoms of depression.

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• This is more than theoretical. Studies have shown
  omega 3s effectiveness in combating the symptoms
  of depression.

• For example a study in 2014 found depression
  decreased when omega-3 fish oil was added to
  standard depression treatments.

• Depression in children has also been shown to
  improve by supplementing with omega 3

• A study of children between six and twelve in
  2006 showed that omega 3 supplementation caused a
  significant decrease in depressive symptoms. The
  supplementation was so successful that some of
  the participants improved to a point where they
  were actually diagnosed as being in remission

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Sleep

• The hormone Melatonin has a major role in
  signalling to the body when its time to sleep,
  and also how long it should sleep for. When
  melatonin levels go down it can really disrupt
  sleeping patterns.

• Sleep and depression are very closely related.
  Whilst people with depression often have problems
  sleeping, problems sleeping can also cause
  depression. People who suffer from insomnia have
  a higher chance of developing depression

• Although melatonin is needed by the body to
  prevent sleep disruption and the depressive
  symptoms that may result from the disruption,
  taking melatonin supplements can actually worsen
  depression. So melatonin supplements are
  generally not a good idea.

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• A much better way to deal with low melatonin
  levels is to kickstart the bodys own production
  of melatonin and omega-3 supplementation has been
  shown to increase melatonin levels

• A 2014 study conducted at the University of
  Oxford showed that the omega 3 fatty acid DHA
  helped children regulate their sleeping patterns.
  The indication was DHA promotes melatonin release
  and also decreases insomnia.

• Also as Omega-3 supplements help raise serotonin
  levels, it helps to prevent SAD (Seasonal
  Affective Disorder)

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• Whilst DHA can help raise melatonin production
  and serotonin permeability, the other major
  omega 3 fatty acid found in fish oil, EPA, raises
  serotonin levels. In combination with vitamin B,
  studies have shown that omega-3 regulates the
  release of serotonin

• By regulating the release and efficiency of
  neurotransmitters as well as increasing levels of
  melatonin omega 3 can help the brain in passing
  mood signals to the body. This makes omega-3 is a
  potent aid against the symptoms of depression

• For more information and to see full citations of
  the studies mentioned read the article on our
  Intelligent Labs blog, or head to the Intelligent
  Labs homepage for the latest special offers on
  omega 3.