Can Omega 3 supplementation help postpartum depression or depression during pregnancy?

We’ll find out soon.

For some time there has been research suggesting that increasing the intake of the Omega 3 fatty acids may have a role in helping treat depressive illnesses in women who are either pregnant, or after pregnancy.

Postpartum depression, and depression during pregnancy, are far more common than you may think. Although it is not entirely clear, because many women do not report suffering from some form of depressive condition, it is estimated that anywhere up to 20% to 25% of women can suffer from some form of postpartum depressive symptoms after giving birth.

There is now significant evidence that increasing the intake of the Omega 3 fatty acids may have a positive effect on depression generally, and there is also evidence that increasing the intake of Omega 3 can also be a partial treatment for postpartum depression.

Not only that but there are other powerful reasons why women who are pregnant should be taking some form of Omega-3 supplementation, including because this can help improve the neurological development of the fetus, as well as reduce the chances of postnatal depression, according to the US director of the mother and child foundation, David Kyle.

A new study is now being undertaken to examine this exact question, of whether or not an increase in the Omega 3 essential fatty acids can have any preventive effect on major depressive illnesses in pregnant women, or after birth.

In June of 2011 an abstract of the study was published indicating the study’s parameters.

The background to the study notes potential problems in the use of antidepressants during pregnancy, and in particular the concern about negative neurobehavioural outcomes in infants which may have been exposed to those antidepressants.

It also notes that as there is evidence of the beneficial use of Omega 3 fatty acids in depressive syndrome for non-pregnant people, that this may also extend to pregnant women.

It is also noted that observational studies in the psychiatric literature have suggested that a deficiency of DHA may well lead to the development of depressive disorders both during pregnancy and thereafter.

The study will recruit 126 pregnant women, of less than 20 weeks, from Michigan. Each of these women will be followed during pregnancy and up to 6 weeks thereafter.

There shall be 3 groups of women. One group shall take fish oil supplements high in EPA, with some DHA. The 2nd group shall take fish oil supplements high in DHA with some EPA and the 3rd group shall take a placebo. Read the rest of this entry

Is there any reason to increase the intake of Omega 3 fish oils if you have depression?

Depression can be one of the most debilitating conditions you can get. It can have severe consequences for your life, even leading to suicide. There’s many risk factors in depression, and the causes and treatments aren’t fully understood.

Lets have a look at one aspect of depression. The role of Omega 3 fats in depression, and more specifically whether increasing Omega 3 fish oils in the diet can have a role in reducing the incidence of depression.

Over the last 100 years the incidence of depression has skyrocketed. Although it’s not scientific to make the connection, it may be no co incidence that the amounts of Omega 3 in our diets have plummeted.

That’s for a number of reasons. Modern intensive farming practices, for example, have resulted in the reduction of the incidence of Omega 3 in some of our foods, like meat and eggs.

Depression is 60 times higher in New Zealand, where the average intake of fish is 40 pounds a year, compared to Japan where it’s 150 pounds a year.

None of this proves a link between Omega 3 and depression, but suggests that some studies would be useful.

And these studies are now appearing. For example a study published in the American Journal of Phychiatry in 2006 found that a deficit of Omega 3 may indeed “make an etiological contribution to mood disorders and that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids may provide a therapeutic strategy”.

That’s pretty clear. That isn’t the only study finding that low levels of Omega fats intake may contribute to mood disorders like bipolar, or manic depression.

How could this be? Well, again unscientifically, it’s well known that DHA fats found in Omega 3 fish oils make up over 50% of the brain. And not only that, they also make up a part of the membrane of nerve cells. And that these nerve cells help in brain communication, which is important in good mental health. Read the rest of this entry