
	Omega 3 Info
	Antioxidant Omega 3
	Beef CLA
	Biochemistry Reaction
	Bipolar
	Chemical Configuration
	Chemical Formula
	Cooking oils
	Daily intake
	Difference Omega 3 and Omega 6
	Directions for Taking Omega 3
	Essential Nutrients
	Excess omega 3
	Fat, Protein, Carbohydrate
	Hemp Amount of Omega 3
	Kidney Functions Omega 3
	Nile Perch
	Olive Oil
	Algae Oil
	Omega Ratios
	Benefit Fish - Flax
	Eczema
	Omega 3 Deficiency Food Digestion / Gluten intolerance
	Aches and Pains
	Canine Renal Failure
	Omega 3 Fatty Acids for Dogs
	Fish Oil Linolenic Acid Content

Bipolar Disorder Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Bipolar disorder is a heart wrenching disorder for many people and their families. People with bipolar experience wide mood swings between elation and depression. In severe cases, they can be nearly stuporous in the depressive stage and frankly psychotic in the manic stage. At its worst, the bipolar cycles can occur several times a week, wreaking havoc for the sufferer and for those around him or her.

People with bipolar disorder frequently abuse substances such as cocaine. Some people believe this is an unconscious attempt to self-medicate and control the wild mood swings.

In several studies of bipolar disorder, omega 3 fatty acids show promise as a treatment option. One landmark study out of Harvard University had individuals with bipolar disorder take either 9.6 grams per day of omega 3 oil or a placebo (olive oil). The study was scheduled to last nine months, but was aborted after only four months because the group who received omega 3 improved dramatically. They had fewer mood swings, less depression and less mania.

The causes of bipolar disorder are unclear. There is probably a genetic component, as many people with bipolar have a family history of mood disorders. The genetic expression may cause a buildup of calcium inside brain cells that causes bipolar disorder. There also seem to be neurotransmitter abnormalities involved.

In improving bipolar disorder, omega 3 fatty acids may function to improve intracellular calcium balance and/or improve neurotransmitter function. They also exhibit a nonspecific neuroprotective effect.

Intracellular Calcium

One of the functions of omega 3 fatty acids in the cell membrane is to close “channels” that allow calcium to move into the cell. Blocking those calcium channels causes blood vessels to relax and slows the transmission of electrical impulses. In the case of bipolar disorder, it may also prevent intracellular calcium buildup.

Neurotransmitter Disorders

Neurotransmitters are chemical substances that enable electrical impulses to travel from one nerve cell to another. In order to work, the neurotransmitter molecules must “fit” into certain portions of the cell membrane that contain omega 3 molecules. Obviously, omega 3 molecules must be present within the cell membrane for optimal neurotransmitter function.

Neurotransmitter abnormalities are present in several mood and psychiatric disorders, and most antidepressants work by making the neurotransmitters function better.

Neuroprotective Effect

We don’t completely understand how omega 3 fatty acids work in the brain and nervous system. EPA is the omega 3 that is most commonly found in these tissues. Our bodies convert EPA into DHA,and then the DHA into other substances, and these substances are believed to have a protective effect on the cell membranes of brain and nervous system cells. They may play an important role in memory, learning and other cognitive functions—including mood maintenance.

Omega 3 Bipolar

Bipolar disorder is not the same thing as major depressive order, and has different causes and different mechanisms of action, but essential fatty acids play a role in both types. By adding omega 3, bipolar disorder may improve.

Although depression is a feature of bipolar disorder, it is not the only defining feature. Bipolar people experience wide mood swings, and also have times when their mood is very high. The high feeling is much preferred over the depression, and many people with bipolar disorder will do whatever is necessary to maintain the manic phase, including self-medicating with legal and/or illegal drugs. They do this to prevent becoming depressed.

One major landmark study strongly suggests that by adding omega 3, bipolar disorder can be controlled. This study was done in 1999 by Dr. Andrew Stoll from Harvard University. Thirty people with bipolar disorder were divided into two groups. One group received 9.6 grams of relatively weak omega 3 fish oil per day in addition to their normal medications for their bipolar disorder. The other group received a placebo (olive oil). The study was supposed to run for nine months, but it was stopped after four months because the group who received the omega 3 fish oil had improved so much. They had fewer mood swings and a reduced number of both manic and depressive episodes.

This study, and others like it, suggests that taking omega 3 fish oil is beneficial for people with bipolar disorder.

Further studies are being done to validate those findings and to determine the best doses of omega 3 fatty acids for people with bipolar disorder. Omega 3’s may be more commonly prescribed for bipolar disorder when these studies are completed. Omega 3 fatty acids are less expensive, easier to take and have fewer side effects than antidepressants and lithium. Omega 3’s don’t have the increased suicide risk that antidepressants do, either. Omega 3 fatty acids may become the preferred treatment for people with bipolar disorder.

Omega 3 Bipolar Children

Many parents and teachers are interested in the effect of omega 3 on bipolar children. Some research suggests that omega 3 supplementation may improve bipolar disorder. Much of the evidence in children, however, is anecdotal, and there are many unanswered questions about the role of omega 3 fatty acids in bipolar depression.

Since about 1945 the incidence of bipolar disorder has been increasing and the age of onset has been decreasing. There are probably many factors involved in this phenomenon and none have yet been positively identified. Researchers have noted, however, that it corresponds with changes in the Western diet that have virtually eliminated omega 3 fatty acids. Following up on this observation, researchers found that populations who eat high fish diets have less children with bipolar disorder. In fact, there seems to be an inverse relationship between the amount of fish consumed in a population and the incidence of depression.

In 1999, Andrew Stoll of Harvard University released the results of a landmark study of adults with bipolar depression. Thirty people who had bipolar disorder participated in the study. Fifteen received fish oil capsules, and 15 received olive oil capsules. The study was scheduled to run nine months, but was stopped after four months because the group that received fish oil capsules experienced significant improvement.

Since the study was released, many parents have given omega 3 EPA to bipolar children. Some parents have reported significant improvement in their children’s depression after adding fish oil to their diets.

Further research is needed to determine if omega 3 helps bipolar children and what dose is most effective. In fact, further research is needed to confirm Dr. Stoll’s findings in adults. Several studies are being conducted, and it may be that omega 3 could prevent or treat bipolar disorder in children and adults.

Omega 3 fish oils Pure EPA is available exclusively from mind 1st.

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