EFA Supplementation May Counteract Depression

TEL AVIV, Israel --Depression may be associated with an imbalance of essential fatty acids (EFAs) in brain composition--specifically between arachidonic acid (AA) and the omega-3 EFA, according to a study published in the June issue of Journal of Lipid Research (46, 6:1093-1096, 2005).

Researchers examined polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) composition in the brains of rats diagnosed with depression and compared findings with control rats fed an identical diet. In all brain regions studied, concentration of arachidonic acid (AA) was significantly higher in the depressed rats than in control rats. No significant differences in omega-3 fatty acids or saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids were observed between depressed and control rats. Researchers concluded both AA and omega-3 fatty acids are important factors in the pathphysiological processes underlying depression.

"The finding that in the depressive rats the omega-3 fatty acid levels were not decreased, but arachidonic acid was substantially increased as compared to controls is somewhat unexpected," said Pnina Green, M.D., Ph.D., researcher from the University of Tel Aviv. "But the finding lends itself nicely to the theory that increased omega-3 fatty acid intake may shift the balance between the two fatty acid families in the brain, since it has been demonstrated in animal studies that increased omega-3 fatty acid intake may result in decreased brain arachidonic acid."

Share this article: Email, Slashdot, Digg, Del.icio.us, Yahoo!MyWeb, Windows Live Favorites, Furl
Add this article feed to: RSS, My Yahoo, Newsgator, Bloglines