Fish oil is the oil derived from the tissues of fish such as salmon, tuna and halibut. Fish oil is naturally rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which may be beneficial in the treatment and prevention of brain diseases such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Consult your doctor before adding any new supplement to your diet or if you are suffering from a brain disease.
Fish Oil
Fish oil is a naturally rich source of omega-3 fatty acids. It also contains both docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, or and eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA, which have been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease and may help reduce the risk of such brain diseases such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, according to MayoClinic.com. Fish oil can be taken in capsule form or simply by consuming fish on a regular basis. MayoClinic.com recommends eating fish twice per week or talking to your doctor about supplement dosage.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, omega-3 fatty acids may help reduce the risk of brain diseases such as bipolar disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and schizophrenia. Omega-3 fatty acids are important for regular cognitive and behavioral function as they are highly concentrated in the brain. Symptoms of an omega-3 deficiency include fatigue, poor memory, and mood swings or depression. Fish oil is one of the primary dietary sources of omega-3 fatty acids, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Bipolar Disorder
In a 1999 clinical study conducted at Brigham and Women's Hospital at Harvard Medical School in Boston, 30 patients with bipolar disorder were given fish oil supplements in addition to standard prescription treatments for bipolar disorder for four months. Several patients were given a placebo of olive oil in place of the fish oil in addition to their prescription medication over the same four months. The patients taking fish oil in addition to their prescription experienced fewer mood swings and relapses than the group who was receiving placebos.
Schizophrenia
Preliminary studies have shown evidence that omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil may improve psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia patients. In a 2003 study conducted at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa, researchers concluded that schizophrenia patients have better outcomes in countries where the diet is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. It is the EPA found in fish oil in particular that may have antipsychotic qualities. According to a 2003 study at the Swallownest Court Hospital in the United Kingdom, four out of five placebo-controlled trials of EPA in the treatment of schizophrenia have resulted in positive findings.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil, alpha-linolenic acid
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Omega-3 fatty acids
- "Archives of General Psychiatry"; Omega 3 Fatty Acids in Bipolar Disorder; A. L. Stoll, et al.;1999
- "CNS Drugs"; Clinical Potential of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in the Treatment of Schizophrenia; R. Emsley, et al.; 2003
- "Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes, and Essential Fatty Acids"; Eicosapentaenoic Acid in the Treatment of Schizophrenia and Depression; M. Peet; 2003
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