I am wondering about Omega 3's and Depression?!


Question: I am wondering about Omega 3's and Depression.?
I was told that Omega 3's can help Depression..I am wondering if Fish Oils or Flax Seed capsules are better for Depression...also do people take both...also which form is better..oil or pills.?Health Question & Answer


Answers:
While flaxseed oil is a good source of ALA (the short chain omega 3) people who are hoping for a therapeutic benefit on the symptoms of depression are looking for EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid). In most folks, ALA is converted into EPA by the body, but for some reason which is currently not understood, people with depression can have reasonable levels of ALA, but low levels of EPA in the body.

Flax oil does not have EPA, but fish oil does. So you would want fish oil.

Most people don't like fish oil liquid, because of the taste. also, you would want to make sure that you are taking FISH OIL, and not cod liver oil - because by the time you are taking a therapeutic level of EPA, you would be taking a toxic level of Vitamin A. So whether you take capsules or liquid, you would want to take about 1,000 mgs of EPA total per day. In the capsules, that means taking anywhere between 2-6 capsules per day. (check the fine print on the side of the bottle - it will tell you how many mgs of EPA are in each capsule, divide that amount into 1,000mgs to determine how many a day you would want to take)

Taking that much EPA is going to cause you to bruise easier - EPA happens to be toxic to platelets - so if you have any bleeding disorders, or taking a medication that thins the blood, its a big NO NO.

also - you will need to take it for a month to determine if it really is going to work for you - it takes that long to become incorporated into the phospholipid membranes of the cells, and then after that to effect both the immune system and how they metabolize neutrotransmitters (I'm guessing you didn't know that depression is in part due to having a hyperactive immune system, and that most SSRIs suppress the immune system as well) Make sure that your doctor knows that you are taking it. Just because you can buy it over the counter, at doses like that, its a drug which changes structures and functions of the body - respect it for that, k.?

here are some links that might be of interest to you.

.?hl=en&q=ethyl+eicosapentaenoate&aq=2&oq=ethyl+ei" rel="nofollow">http://www.google.com/search.?hl=en&q=eth...
.?hl=en&q=eicosapentaenoic+acid+depression" rel="nofollow">http://www.google.com/search.?hl=en&q=eic...Health Question & Answer

Did my thesis research on just this topicHealth Question & Answer

Yes there are a few studies out there that link depression and omega 3s. Eating a diet that is low in refined carbohydrates (sugar, honey, etc), alcohol and soda will help as well. There are some brands out there that make good tasting fish oil but let's be honest, it's fish oil, how good do you expect it to taste.? I would recommend taking the liquid as you are going to get more EPA and DHA in 1 Tbsp of liquid than you will in a pill form. My personal favorite is EPA-DHA High Concentrate Liquid? from Metagenics.Health Question & Answer

http://www.metagenics.comHealth Question & Answer

Omega 3 fish oil is better. Flax seed has a tendency to build up in the body so if you take it you need to go off of it every month for about a week.

Get a good grade of the Omega 3, don't go to your local drug store, but to a health food store or on the Internet. Get pharmaceutical grade.

Start low and increase every three days until you have a positive change. Then stay at that amount.Health Question & Answer

Well Omega 3 is generally inportant to maintain brain activity levels and can make you feel more responsive and alert.

You can take both as both have different active ingrediants

And take capsules not oil the oil tastes horrible

Hope this helpsHealth Question & Answer

The omega 3 will have minimum effects for depression. If you are feeling real depression please see a specialist and get real help.Health Question & Answer



The consumer health information on youqa.cn is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions.
The answer content post by the user, if contains the copyright content please contact us, we will immediately remove it.
Copyright © 2007-2012 YouQA.cn -   Terms of Use -   Contact us

Health Q&A Resources