The consumption of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids found in fish and fish oil may reduce the symptoms of a variety of psychiatric illnesses, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression, researchers report. Research suggests that (fatty acids) may have a role in psychiatric disorders part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) workshop on the
issue in Bethesda, Maryland last week. Findings from one study, conducted by
Dr. Andrew Stoll of the Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts research suggests that fish oil supplementation could help alleviate the symptoms of bipolar (manic-depressive) disorder.
COMMENT: The use of essential fatty acids for the treatment of many illnesses is one of the most exciting areas of nutritional research. I use a red blood cell analysis from Johns Hopkins and Body Bio (609-825-9554) that provides a wonderful window into the fatty acid metabolism that allows effective therapeutic interventions. I work closely with Dr. Kane and her husband Ed on many of these analysis. They were actually at the above NIH conference. Although much of the research was excellent, there was a general lack of appreciation of how the whole picture integrates together. The above research does not balance out the omega 3 with the omega 6 fatty acids which will eventually cause a disruption in the fat metabolism. It appears that the ratio of the omega six fatty acid GLA (from Evening Primrose Oil) should be balanced in about a 4:1 ratio with the omega 3 EPA/DHA (from Fish oil). One must be careful and not use any fish oil supplements. Be certain that the one you take is molecularly distilled to remove the mercury and PCBs contaminates that are commonly found to be there.