Recent Clinical Studies on Fish Oils

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Recent Clinical Studies on Fish Oils

JoAnn Guest

Jul 08, 2004 13:08 PDT

 

 

 

 

In a previous newsletter (The Importance of Pharmaceutical Grade Marine

Lipids 01:02:2003), I stressed that one of the most significant

developments in nutritional medicine is the recent introduction of truly

pharmaceutical grade fish oils.

 

Over 600 clinical studies now exist that show the benefits of the

omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA.

 

In this newsletter I want to highlight three recent double-blind

clinical trials that once again reinforce the importance of the

long-chain omega-3 fatty acids in good health and modern medicine.

 

The studies that I chose to review in this issue center around the

importance of omega-3 fatty acids to proper brain function and

development.

 

 

Omega-3 Fatty Acids and the Brain

 

If you have come to one of my lectures, undoubtedly you have heard me

say that your brain is literally a vat of fat - so don't be upset when

people call you a " fat head. " Let them know, however, that your brain is

likely functioning better than theirs because you are getting enough of

the right fats.

 

The type of fat that you consume in your diet and through

supplementation determines the type of fat that you have in your brain.

And, the type of fat that you have in your brain goes a long way in

determining how well your brain functions.

 

The importance of omega-3 fatty acids to brain function relates to their

role in the phospholipid composition of nerve cell membranes.

 

While it is thought the cell is programmed to selectively incorporate

the different fatty acids it needs to maintain optimal function, the

lack of essential fatty acids (particularly the omega-3 oils) and excess

of saturated fats, margarine, cholesterol, and animal fatty acids leads

to the formation of cell membranes which are much less fluid than

normal.

 

A relative deficiency of essential fatty acids in cellular membranes

substantially impairs cell membrane function.

 

Since the basic function of the cell membrane is to serve as a

selective barrier that regulates the passage of molecules into and out

of the cell, a disturbance of structure or function disrupts

homeostasis.

 

Because the brain is the richest source of phospholipids in the human

body and proper nerve cell function is critically dependent on proper

membrane fluidity, alterations in membrane fluidity impacts behavior,

mood, and mental function.

 

Studies have shown that the physical properties, including fluidity, of

brain cell membranes directly influences neurotransmitter synthesis,

signal transmission, uptake of serotonin and other neurotransmitters,

neurotransmitter binding, and the activity of key enzymes that break

down neurotransmitters like serotonin, epinephrine, dopamine, and

norepinephrine.

 

All of these factors have been implicated in depression, attention

deficit disorder, and other psychological disturbances.

 

 

Fish Oils Effective in Major Depression

 

Fish oils concentrated for EPA and DHA have been shown to have positive

effects for patients with schizophrenia in several studies as well as in

bipolar disorder (manic depression).

 

Given the central role that these omega-3 fatty acids play in brain

chemistry and nerve cell function, a double-blind study was conducted to

evaluate their role in depression.

 

Previous studies have shown quite convincingly that patients with

depression have significantly low EPA and DHA in cell tissue contents

(red blood cell membrane, plasma, etc.) and presumably their brain.

 

This fact alone is probably reason enough to supplement with a

pharmaceutical grade fish oil. However, now there is even more evidence.

In the recent study, 28 patients with major depression were given a

hefty dosage of omega-3 fatty acids (4.4 g EPA/2.2 g DHA) or placebo, on

the top of their usual treatment, for 8 weeks.

 

Evaluation of the subject with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression

showed that those taking the fish oils a significantly decreased score

compared to those in the placebo group (P < 0.001). These results are

quite exciting and suggested that continued use may produce even greater

benefit as there was a continued downward trend with time on the

symptoms of depression.

 

Reference: Su KP, Huang SY, Chiu CC, Shen WW. Omega-3 fatty acids in

major depressive disorder. A preliminary double-blind,

placebo-controlled trial. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2003;13:267-71.

 

 

Fish Oils in Borderline Personality Disorder

 

This next study is one that I am particularly excited about. It showed

fish oil supplementation to be very effective in improving borderline

personality disorder (BPD). If you are not familiar with this term, it

is used to describe a pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal

relationships, self-image, and mood, and marked impulsivity beginning by

early adulthood. Some of the major indicators of BPD include the

following:

 

Relationships with others are intense but stormy and unstable with

marked shifts of feelings and difficulties in maintaining intimate,

close connections.

Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment.

Markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self

Impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging

(e.g., spending, sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, binge eating).

Recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, or threats, or self-mutilating

behavior

Tremendous mood swings.

Chronic feelings of emptiness.

Inappropriate, intense anger or difficulty controlling anger (e.g.,

frequent displays of temper, constant anger, recurrent physical fights).

 

Transient, stress-related paranoia.

 

In the study, only EPA was used. I view that as a shortcoming given the

importance of DHA to brain function. Nonetheless, in the study 30 women

with BPD were given either 1 g of EPA or a placebo for 8 weeks.

 

Detailed analyses using sophisticated measures found EPA to be superior

to placebo in diminishing aggression as well as the severity of

depressive symptoms.

 

The authors of the study went so far as to conclude that EPA may be a

safe and effective form of primary therapy for women with moderately

severe borderline personality disorder.

 

The significance of this study is profound given that an estimated 6

million people in the United States are believed to suffer from symptoms

of BPD. All told, this disorder touches an estimated 36 million lives

counting spouses and children. If pharmaceutical grade fish oil can help

BPD (and I believe that it does), it would be a godsend to many.

 

Reference: Zanarini MC, Frankenburg FR. Omega-3 fatty acid treatment of

women with borderline personality disorder: a double-blind,

placebo-controlled pilot study. Am J Psychiatry. 2003;160(1):167-9.

 

 

Can Fish Oils Make Kids Smarter?

 

EPA and DHA are critical for proper brain development - especially

during the fetal and infant stage. In particular, there is a growth

spurt in the human brain of the fetus during the last trimester of

pregnancy and the first few months after birth that is characterized by

a large increase in the cerebral content of DHA. This fact makes

insuring adequate intake of DHA during pregnancy and breastfeeding

absolutely essential.

 

On a side note, do not rely on flax seed oil for accomplishing this

goal as detailed research has shown that the capacity for elongation and

desaturation of alpha-linolenic acid (18:3 n-3) to DHA is inadequate in

both the mother and in the fetus and the newborn.

 

Did you know that breastfed infants are smarter and have higher IQs than

formula fed infants? According to a large amount of research it is true

and the availability of DHA to the developing brain is one of the key

reasons.

 

Just recently the FDA has allowed manufacturers of infant formulas to

fortify their products with DHA.

 

A recent study tested the hypothesis that supplementing the maternal

diet during pregnancy and lactation with DHA and EPA could benefit the

fetus and the newborn infant by demonstrating greater cognitive

function. In the study, a total of 341 pregnant women were supplemented

with omega-3 fatty acids (1200 mg DHA, 800 mg EPA) from 18 weeks of

pregnancy through completion of lactation, and the children were

examined at 4 years of age with an intelligence test. All of the

children evaluated had been breastfed exclusively for the first three

months.

 

Results indicated that the group getting the DHA and EPA did in fact

score considerable higher. Think about the ramifications of helping

children get a head start in life by making sure that their brains have

all of the important nutrients and building blocks it needs to develop

properly - including DHA.

 

Sadly, low levels of DHA during fetal and infant brain development may

be one of the critical reasons why we are seeing so many children of

psychoactive drugs for attention deficit disorder, depression, obsessive

compulsive disorder, and other psychological illnesses.

 

Reference: Helland IB, Smith L, Saarem K, Saugstad OD, Drevon CA.

Maternal supplementation with very-long-chain n-3 fatty acids during

pregnancy and lactation augments children's IQ at 4 years of age.

Pediatrics 2003;111:e39-44.

 

 

Choose the Right Product

 

I have stressed the importance of using a pharmaceutical grade fish oil

in previous newsletter. In order to represent itself as pharmaceutical

grade a fish oil product must possess the following characteristics:

 

It must be manufactured in a certified GMP facility approved for

pharmaceutical products.

It must be manufactured according to pharmaceutical standards that

include quality control steps to insure the product is virtually free

from lipid peroxides, heavy metals, environmental contaminants, and

other harmful compounds.

 

It must provide at least a 60% concentration of the most active

long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA).

 

The ratio of omega-3 fatty acids to arachidonic acid must be greater

than 50:1

 

It must contain the optimal amount of natural vitamin E as a

preservative. The bottom line is that I recommend, RxOmega-3 Factors

from Natural Factors. It is one of the few fish oil products that truly

is a pharmaceutical grade product. Each capsule provides 400 mg of EPA

and 200 mg of DHA - the exact ratio used in so many of the clinical

studies.

--

 

 

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_________________

 

JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

DietaryTi-

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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