Fatty acids are important for maintaining the integrity of your brain, which is nearly 60 percent fat. Fatty acids, particularly the omega-3 fatty acids, are required for normal childhood brain development, neurotransmitter synthesis and function, immune molecule activity and maintenance of myelin, which insulates and protects your nerve cells. According to experts at the Medical University of Vienna, Austria, imbalances or deficiencies of omega-3 fatty acids in your central nervous system could increase your risk for mental disorders, such as schizophrenia.
Definition
A 2007 "American Family Physician" review describes schizophrenia as a mental disorder that is characterized by disorganized thought processes and behaviors, delusions, visual or auditory hallucinations, social withdrawal and a loss of motivation. The cause of schizophrenia is unknown, but genetics and excessive activity of the neurotransmitter dopamine play major roles in this condition. Omega-3 fatty acids, specifically EPA and DHA from fish oil, help to maintain normal brain structure and function.
Omega-3 Deficiency
Research shows that omega-3 fatty acids, specifically EPA and DHA, are depleted in the red blood cells of patients with schizophrenia. As a constituent of nerve cell membranes, DHA serves important structural and chemical roles in your brain, and EPA participates in maintaining the normal electrical physiology of the central nervous system. According to neurologists at Swallownest Court Hospital in the United Kingdom, altering the levels of EPA and DHA in your brain could radically change receptor levels, neurotransmitter activity and the very composition of your nerve cells.
Omega-3 Benefits
According to a 2005 review in "Drugs," 5 of 6 double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in schizophrenic patients demonstrated therapeutic benefit from the use of omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil. Improvement was particularly noteworthy when EPA was added to the medications these patients were already taking. The authors of this review conceded that the research is preliminary and that more studies are needed, but they reiterated the additional known health benefits of omega-3 supplementation, such as protection from cardiovascular disease. Thus, the use of EPA and DHA should be considered in all schizophrenic patients.
Considerations
Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil are being intensively investigated for their effects on heart disease, inflammatory arthritis, obesity, cancer and other chronic conditions. Their potential benefits in psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, depression and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, are beginning to unfold. The ideal dosage of fish oil for individuals with mental disorders has not been determined. A February 2010 "Archives of General Psychiatry" study using 1.2 g of omega-3 fatty acids daily demonstrated a reduction in the progression of schizophrenia among young adults who were at risk for the disease. Ask your physician if omega-3 fish oil supplementation is appropriate for you.
References
- "Acta Neurologica Taiwanica"; Essential Fatty Acids and Human Brain; C.Y. Chang, et al.; December 2009
- "Archives of General Psychiatry"; Long-Chain Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Indicated Prevention of Psychotic Disorders; G.P. Amminger, et al.; February 2010
- "American Family Physician"; Schizophrenia: A Review; S.H. Schultz, et al.; June 2007
- "Drugs"; Omega-3 Fatty Acids in the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders; M. Peet, C. Stokes; 2005
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