Fish Oil Improves Outcome for Bipolar Disorder
Patients
ABSTRACT: A 4-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled
study was conducted comparing omega-3 fatty acids (9.6 g/d) vs
placebo (olive oil), in addition to usual treatment, in 30 patients
with bipolar disorder. A Kaplan-Meier survival analysis of the
cohort found that the Omega-3 fatty acid patient group had a significantly
longer period of remission than the placebo group (P = .002; Mantel-Cox).
In addition, for nearly every other outcome measure, the omega-3
fatty acid group performed better than the placebo group. Omega3
fatty acids were well tolerated and improved the short-term course
of illness in this preliminary study of patients with bipolar disorder.
Dr. Cass Comments on the Study:
This study is a step in the right direction, treating
underlying cause in a natural way, to replace the standard practice
of medicating as the first (usually, only) step in treatment. An
implication of this study is that the fish oil acts on a physiological
level to balance a biochemical deficiency, moving toward the (ortho)molecular
model of psychiatry as opposed to merely treating symptoms, and
has none of the drugs' side effects including inducing mania in
depressed bipolar patients. The results are not surprising to those
of us who practice orthomolecular medicine, which looks for specific
deficiencies and supplies the missing nutrients. The brain, and
nervous system in general has a large fatty acid component, so
replenishing deficiencies in this particular essential nutrient
is likely to help restore normal function. In my own practice,
I find that lower doses of fish oil will work when combined with
other supplements, such as vitamins, minerals, and amino acids
that are often deficient in these cases, and work together to help
restore balance. Omega-3 fatty acids have also proved useful in
treating attention deficit disorder (ADD) and ADHD (attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder), which has great relevance to the current
excessive use of stimulant medications such as Ritalin (methylphenidate)
used in treating these (mostly young) patients.
- Stoll AL, Severus WE, Freeman MP, Rueter S et al. Omega 3
fatty acids in bipolar disorder: a preliminary double-blind,
placebo-controlled trial. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1999 May;56(5):407-12
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