Gamma linolenic acid and depression

Has anyone else here had any success treating a depressive disorder with a supplement that's high in gamma linolenic acid, such as evening primrose oil or borage seed oil? I've had success using both supplements in the past, although the success was temporary.

Do any of you have any ideas as to what the mechanism is by which gamma linolenic acid exerts its antidepressant effects? I know that gamma linolenic acid suppresses the secretion of interleukin 1 beta and tumor necrosis factor alpha (DeLuca et al., 1999) and that levels of these cytokines may be altered in patients with depressive illnesses (Goshen et al., 2008; Ovaskainen et al., 2009; Hestad et al., 2003; Himmerich et al., 2008). So, perhaps gamma linolenic acid exerts its antidepressant effects by affecting the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Does anyone else have any other ideas as to how gamma linolenic acid may exert its antidepressant effects?

Finally, does anyone have any ideas as to why gamma linolenic acid supplements only seem to exert antidepressant benefits during the first few days of being administered -- at least in me? And what, if anything, can be done to prolong the brief antidepressant response that I get from taking supplements that contain gamma linolenic acid?

I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts on this matter and even hearing from anyone who's benefited from gamma linolenic acid-containing supplements. It would be interesting to know if there are others who benefit from gamma linolenic acid and if those who do benefit from the fatty acid get sustained benefits.

DeLuca, P., Rossetti, R.G., Alavian, C., Karim, P., & Zurier, R.B. (1999). Effects of gammalinolenic acid on interleukin-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha secretion by stimulated human peripheral blood monocytes: Studies in vitro and in vivo. Journal of Investigative Medicine, 47, 246-250. Abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10361385

Goshen, I., Kreisel, T., Ben-Menachem-Zidon, O., Licht, T., Weidenfeld, J., Ben-Hur, T., et al. (2008). Brain interleukin-1 mediates chronic stress-induced depression in mice via adrenocortical activation and hippocampal neurogenesis suppression. Molecular Psychiatry, 13, 717-728. Abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17700577

Hestad, K.A., Tonseth, S., Stoen, C.D., Ueland, T., & Aukrust, P. (2003). Raised plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha in patients with depression: Normalization during electroconvlusive therapy. Journal of ECT, 19, 183-188. Abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14657769

Himmerich, H., Fulda, S., Linseisen, J., Seiler, H., Wolfram, G., Himmerich, S., et al. (2008). Depression, comorbidities, and the TNF-alpha system. European Psychiatry, 23, 421-429. Abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18504118

Ovaskainen, Y., Koponen, H., Jokelainen, J., Keinanen-Kiukaanniemi, S., Kumpusalo, E., & Vanhala, M. (2009). Depressive symptomology is associated with decreased interleukin-1 beta and increased interleukin-1 receptor antagonist levels in males. Psychiatry Research, 167, 73-79. Abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19346005

Dx: schizoaffective disorder

Treatments: Abilify, 6 supplements, cacao nibs, & counseling

tomatheus.blogspot.com

Gamma linolenic acid and depression

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