Posted by linkadge on August 31, 2005, at 20:36:23
In reply to Re: Why would fish oil make me weepy/emotional?, posted by Mistermindmasta on August 31, 2005, at 19:47:30
Dr. Andrew Stoll at Harvard university was really the first medical professional to bring to the forefront the psychiatric applications of the omega 3 fatty acids.
In his book: "The omega 3 connection" he basically lists some of the molecular targets of the fats.
He does mention that they do posess considerable antidepressant effects, however he likens their effects more to that of mood stabilizers than antidepressants.
He basically notes the main distinction in that SSRI's TCA's and MAOI's all seem to increase the activity of protein kinase C, whereas lithium, divalproex, and tegretol decreas its activity within the cell. The fats also affect the GSK-3b signalling system like lithium and divalproex. GSK-3b inhibitors have anti manic effects. Whereas stimulants and SSRI's all seem to increase GSK-3b mediated signalling.
Omega 3's are powerfull PKC inhibitors, like the mood stablilizers. They do seem to increase brain serotonin and dopamine content which may be responsable for some of their mood elevating effect. Their biggest effects on the catecholamines is probably thought enhancement of membrane integrity.
Mania can happen, but Stoll mentions that he has only seen this with flax seed oil which he does not recomend for psychiatric purposes.
I would still argue that fish oil posesses more of an overall mood stabilizing effect, since in addition to its effects on dampening signal transduction via PKC inhibition, they also increases the sensitivity of the cholingic system which is consistant with a depressant effect.
Of course individual results will vary.
I personally have noted an AD effect in the lower doses while higher doses seem to have a more pronounced depressant effect.
Stoll also mentions that high EPA content fish oils seem to work better in unipolar depression wheras those high in DHA seem to confer many of the mood stabilizing effects of the oils.
Just my 3 cents
Linkadge
poster:linkadge
thread:548452
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20050812/msgs/549414.html