Bipolar disorder is a psychological condition that causes significant mood swings, and can impact behaviors so much that they may interfere with daily routines. While many treatments involve long-term medications, there is growing evidence that dietary supplements, including omega-3, may help control some bipolar symptoms. The research is preliminary, but does show promise.
What is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a psychological disorder characterized by severe mood changes. The two "poles" of bipolar disorder are mania and depression. Sometimes these change back and forth quickly, and other times days or months pass between mood swing episodes. Bipolar disorder varies in its severity. There is no absolute cause of the disorder, but it may have something to do with genetics, as well as the hormonal and neurological makeup of each person's body. Most treatment involves the use of mood stabilizing drugs; however, there is some evidence that dietary supplements may also improve symptoms.
Can Omega-3's Help?
MayoClinic.com indicates that omega-3's may be a natural treatment for some bipolar symptoms. Omega-3's are essential fatty acids contained in fish and nut oils. They are thought to be critical for the brain to function. Medline Plus reports that fish oil has been studied for its effects on many psychiatric disorders, including depression and dementia. Recently, research has also included bipolar disorder. Fish oil is "possibly effective" for bipolar disorder, potentially minimizing depression symptoms and increasing time between episodes, says Medline Plus. So far its effect on mania has been insignificant.
Getting Your Omega-3's
The research into omega-3's for bipolar disorder is preliminary. While there is little scientific data as of May 2011, there is anecdotal evidence showing that people who eat fish high in omega-3's regularly are less likely to have the disorder in the first place. There is little harm in adding fish to your diet, or in taking omega-3 supplements, provided you do so under the guidance of your doctor. If you are unsure about supplements, try eating coldwater fish twice weekly. If your symptoms seem to improve, talk to your doctor about adding omega-3 supplements to your daily routine.
Precautions
Fish oil supplements are generally safe, though they come with a few precautions. First, there is a limit to how much fish oil you should take. UMMC recommends 3 g or less per day, unless your doctor advises you to do otherwise. Fish oil can interact with blood thinners, diabetes medications and some cholesterol medications.
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