Omega-3s Fight Bipolar Disorder and Alcoholism
Omega-3 supplements: a valuable aid against bipolar disorder and alcoholism
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a dietary Omega-3, is useful to counteract the symptoms of bipolar disorder as well as to reduce the tendency towards alcoholism by regulating the expression of the same genes targeted by psychiatric drugs. This was discovered by researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine (Indianapolis, USA) and the University of California San Diego (La Jolla, USA) in a study published in Translational Psychiatry. According to Alexander Niculescu, coordinator of the research, an Omega-3 rich diet could be helpful in the treatment and prevention of bipolar disorder and alcoholism.
Bipolar disorder and alcoholism
Bipolar disorder is a psychiatric illness characterized by alternating phases of depression and phases of euphoria, also called manic phases, associated with periods of stress. Years of studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of Omega-3 supplementation alongside traditional pharmacological therapies to stabilize symptoms of this condition. In particular, a review of available scientific literature published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry highlighted the potential of Omega-3 as adjuncts in treating the depressive phases of the disorder. Niculescu and colleagues’ research clarified the molecular mechanisms behind this effectiveness. The US researchers discovered that Omega-3’s effect also extends to the tendency towards alcoholism seen in patients with bipolar disorder.
Omega-3 benefits for the mind and brain
The study coordinated by Niculescu integrated human gene expression data with experiments conducted on mice. Researchers used genetically modified mice prone to depression which develop typical symptoms of the manic phase of bipolar disorder under stress. It was found that mice given DHA Omega-3 returned to normal behavior, eliminating stress-induced depression and manic phases. Analysis of gene expression in the brain revealed that DHA restores the proper expression of the same factors targeted by psychiatric drugs. Researchers also observed for the first time that mice receiving DHA drank significantly less alcohol than those exhibiting bipolar disorder symptoms. This finding was confirmed in experiments on rat models studying alcoholism.
Omega-3, a targeted action on the brain
Niculescu explained that these data clearly show Omega-3 act at the molecular level in the brain similarly to psychiatric medications. According to the researcher, the discovery of these genetic markers will allow for more targeted clinical studies in humans. The ultimate goal, Niculescu concludes, could be the use of Omega-3 as adjuncts in therapies to minimize the amount of psychiatric drugs taken by patients. Such an approach would be especially useful for individuals, like pregnant women, in whom Omega-3 have no significant side effects.
Source
1. Le-Niculescu H, Case NJ, Hulvershorn L, Patel SD, Bowker D, Gupta J, Bell R, Edenberg HJ, Tsuang MT, Kuczenski R, Geyer MA, Rodd ZA and Niculescu AB, “Convergent functional genomic studies of omega-3 fatty acids in stress reactivity, bipolar disorder and alcoholism”, Transl Psychiatry (2011) 1, e4. Published online 26 April 2011
2. Sarris J, Mischoulon D, Schweitzer I, “Omega-3 for bipolar disorder: meta-analyses of use in mania and bipolar depression”, J Clin Psychiatry. 2011 Aug 9
