Posted by NoMotic on November 26, 2003, at 6:15:06
In reply to Omega-3 Fatty Acids, posted by sb417 on November 26, 2003, at 0:58:49
I have noticed little if any benefits from flax oil. However, when I use moderate doses of fish oil (like 1.5 grams EPA, 1.5 g DHA / day), while at the same time, restricting my omega 6 fats and other unhealthy fats, I've noticed definite improvements, in a very good way. There are many studies that show theoretically that Omega 3's, specifically fish oil, would raise monoamine levels, and I think that holds true for myself. I notice definite benefits.
My own personal opinion is that some people's depression is caused by cytokines and the immune system (food allergies or candida or parasites). I suspect people with this kind of depression are most helped with omega 3 fatty acids, as it causes a different inflammatory cascade to be activated that does not release as many inflammatory, possible mood-altering, immune chemicals like interleukins (st johns is a IL-6 blocker), Tumor necrosis factor alpha (kava and bupropion are TNF Alpha inhibitors) and others with names I can't remember. Regardless, my point is that inflammation and immune activation is strongly associated with mental disorders, and I think using something that lowers immune activation (i.e. - fish oil) will help out those certain people. It helps me.
Just as a side note, one of the running theories as to the cause of depression that is gaining support is the cytokine theory - except they don't know what's causing the cytokine release. I would strongly suspect altered intestinal flora causing the cytokine release, based on being in the candida / parasite type chatrooms for so long and seeing people's depression resolve (yes, CURED!!) as a result of resolving the underlying candida problem or parasite problem. Cytokines can actually, quite interestingly, throw off the cortisol feedback inhibition loop involved in depression.
Here's how my theory goes - something infects the body, long term, continuously releasing cytokines. When the infection flares, so does the mental disorder. For the case of depression, the infection and / or the byproducts of the infection (leaky gut causing food allergies) interacts with genetics, I believe, to cause cytokines to be released, which theoretically would offset the HPA axis balance. In other words, the body becomes unresponsive to inhibit its own stress hormones, thus causing uncontrolled release of stress hormones. This is a key finding in most depression studies - the dexamethasone test fails - people are unable to inhibit their own release of cortisol in response to a cortisol inhibitor (correct me if Im wrong on what the dexamethasone test is). Thus, bottom line: there is a feedback loop that should allow the body to regulate its own cortisol, but under the influence of cytokines, this does not happen. In a great majority of people with depression, this does not happen. Cortisol runs rampant. This has a toxic effect on brain cells, specifically in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Therefore, bam, we have depression, all caused by an infection. For some people, certain cytokines (IL-1 has a strong link to ADD) are released that only trigger ADD symptoms through messing up the prefrontal cortex only.
Anyway, so that's my theory. I don't claim for it to be flawless, nor do I claim it to be 100% correct. It just makes sense to me, and i believe it to be true for myself. :)
I suggest going to a board, I can't remember the website name, but its about a parasite called D. Fragilis. You'll see A LOT of reports of people with depression who were CURED when they cured their parasitic infection, which by way, was nearly impossible to detect via standard detection methods. Some people had to get 10 tests done before one came out positive - yet long term anti-amoebic treatment for what came out positive cured them. I would assume it "cured" their mental problems because the immune system changes had come back down to normal levels due to irradication on an infective agent. Interesting. To me, this is where it's at - this is where the research should be. Anyway, I'm way off topic. Hope my Omega 3 advice helps a bit.
poster:NoMotic
thread:283914
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20031122/msgs/283957.html