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Oct
30
The topic of fish oil and ADHD has been often discussed lately in the news, magazines and on the internet. By the time you finish reading this, you’ll have a better understanding of how the use of fish oil impacted a group of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and also why fish oil and ADHD are so often used together in the same sentence. From the findings of this research you will be able to draw your own conclusions on whether fish oil is an effective means of treating ADHD and if it is a course of action you would want to take in your own life either with yourself, or a loved one.
ADHD has perplexed many researchers, doctors, behaviorists, therapists and dietitians for decades. It has received growing attention in recent years as the estimated number of affected children has been estimated to be 3-5%. Most notably, the condition has reached epidemic proportions with American children. It is thought that ADHD is caused by low levels of the brain chemical dopamine, and that if levels of this chemical could be restored either by synthetic or natural means, the condition could be reversed or at the very least, controlled. Ritalin has been the preferred method of treatment for many doctors over the years, and its effectiveness has been attributed to increased dopamine levels the medication causes.
I will refer to something called the AA/EPA ratio in the next few paragraphs. Essentially what this measures is the ratio of the harmful omega-6 acids to the beneficial omega-3 acids. The lower this number is for a person, the better. It has been found that many people with brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s, dyslexia, stroke and multiple sclerosis have higher ratios than those that don’t, leading doctors and researchers to believe that omega 3 deficiency and higher levels of omega 6’s in the diet is the cause, or at the very least a contributing factor for many of the brain disorders and chronic conditions we see today. Such findings are directing many in the medical profession to pay closer attention to the subject of fish oil and ADHD.
Researcher Dr. Barry Sears and colleague Rene Espy engaged in a research experiment where a group of children with ADHD were given high doses of fish oil (10-20 grams) while simultaneously controlling insulin levels in all children for eight weeks.
The results were astounding. After a period of only a few weeks, it was noted that “these children’s ability to concentrate increased dramatically” (Sears 145). It was also noted that there were “positive changes in behavior both in school and at home” (Sears 145). The children’s blood was measured at the start of the experiment and it was determined that the average AA/EPA ratio was around 22. It should also be noted that Japanese children have AA/EPA ratios of around 1.5. Why the comparison to Japanese children? The reason is because Japanese children have a much higher intake of omega 3’s from fish in their diet than their American counterparts, and the average AA/EPA ratio for them is 1.5.
After the eight week experiment the children’s blood was measured again and it was found that the average AA/EPA ratio was as low as 3, leading the researchers to believe the reduction in ADHD symptoms of lack of concentration and poor focus were directly due to the high levels of fish oil used in the diet.
Dr. Sears also noted that at the end of the eight week experiment, most of the children resorted back to their old eating habits, stopped taking fish oil, and then rapidly deteriorated back to their previous conditions.
The findings demonstrated that a lower AA/EPA ratio is achieved by reducing omega 6’s in the diet, and increasing omega 3’s via fish oil. The conclusions to draw from this experiment are that a lower AA/EPA ratio is likely responsible for a reduction in ADHD symptoms and that if the fish oil was to be continuously administered every day, the symptoms of ADHD would either be more manageable or nonexistent.
These results beg the question: If the children continued on the regimen beyond the eight week trial, would the benefits have persisted?
So, what’s your goal? Your goal is to determine where you stand on the topic of fish oil and ADHD. Also, to use this information to determine if using fish oil could possibly improve your quality of life or the quality of life of a loved one by reducing or eliminating the effects of ADHD. Although the experiment is far from conclusive, the results are astounding and shed tremendous light on the miracle of fish oil in the treatment of ADHD. It should also be noted that there have been many similar experiments conducted with comparable results.
To learn more about the fish oil I use daily to keep my AA/EPA ratio number good, feel free to visit my page.
Oct
30
I don’t know you, but I am willing to bet that if you or a loved one is depressed right now, you’d be willing to take a look at the possible remedies available to you. This topic strikes a personal chord with me as depression runs in my family. Can fish oil for depression work? I absolutely believe it can. However, don’t take my word for it. Read the research and the rest of this article, and you’ll be able to determine if in fact fish oil for depression is a viable option.
It seems like every time we turn our heads, there is some new medication, fad, gimmick or supplement claiming it’s the magic bullet cure for chronic conditions like depression.
The reality is, very few are able to live up to their claims. The good news is that some actually do deserve tremendous praise. Fish oil supplements are one of them.
If you’ve been depressed, you know that it’s one of the worst things you can experience. Getting out of bed in the morning is a chore in itself. Most days it feels like you have to put in three times the effort just to stay on task. You can’t focus, you barely eat (or eat too much), you lose your motivation, your sex drive is nonexistent and life just seems pointless. Not to mention crying spells, anger and isolation. Any hope for brighter days and an exciting future seems to completely diminish. I’ve been there.
It is estimated that 14 million (5%) of America’s population struggles with depression in various forms and severity. It is interesting to note that the incidences of depression have increased over the same time period there has been a decrease in fish and fish oil consumption. Is this just a coincidence? I don’t think it is. It has been well-documented that high doses of long-chain omega-3 fish oil supplements have a boosting effect on the serotonin levels in the brain. This is a known fact. In some older studies involving giving high dosages of fish oil supplements to dogs, it was found that there was an increase in serotonin in the frontal cortex.
The Japan Factor
The number of depressed people in Japan is only a fraction of what we would find in America or other countries with low fish consumption. One key difference to note other than the numbers is the fact that the Japanese eat a tremendous amount of fish daily in comparison to those countries with growing numbers of depressed citizens. Is it that they have better genes? It’s possible, but impossible to conclude at this point. Is it that there has been some nondisclosure of depressive episodes in Japan in comparison to America? This is also possible due to cultural differences. The likely reason is that the Japanese simply have a higher and more continuous intake of omega-3 in their diets. In addition to this, Japanese diets are considerably low in omega-6, which has been shown to have negative effects on mental and physical health when not balanced with omega-3 intake.
The Harvard Experiment
You may have heard of Andrew Stoll and his fish oil for depression experiment carried out at Harvard University. The experiment involved giving one group of patients with bipolar depression high doses of fish oil supplements, and giving the other group an olive oil placebo. The experiment was set to last nine months.
The Results
After four short months the experiment was halted because the differences between the group taking the fish oil for depression and the group taking the placebo were so vast it was deemed unethical to continue. From these results it was concluded that the group taking the fish oil supplements experienced an increase in serotonin and an increase in blood flow to the brain which would provide a better distribution of nutrients like oxygen and glucose leading to better mental function and capacity. It was concluded that fish oil for depression was indeed a viable option in this particular scenario.
Were the fish oil supplements to thank for this tremendous success? Although the answer will differ with opinions, it wouldn’t seem ludicrous to think that it was.
In a more recent study conducted over a two year period it was “found that both a high ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fat and a low level of DHA in the blood predicted suicidal behavior in people with major depression” (Tribole p 100).
In other words, if you’re depressed, your goal is to decrease your omega-6 intake and increase your omega-3 intake. You can do a fast search on the internet for the common sources of omega-6 fats, and you already know that fish oil supplements are hands down the best way to get omega-3.
Now that you’re armed with this information, you should be able to determine if fish oil for depression is a good alternative for you. In my personal experienced with depression, it sure beat the synthetic medication alternatives. Either way, you should consult with your doctor before beginning any treatment or taking fish oil for depresson. Even though it is impossible at this point to conclusively determine that fish oil supplements are responsible for decreases in depression, the evidence seems to overwhelmingly point in that direction.
To learn more about the fish oil supplements I take daily to help my depression, feel free to visit my page.
