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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 20 of 20. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on September 22, 2012, at 18:56:30
I have read that Omega 3 Fats (fish oil and flax seed oil) have eeb shown to result in improved mental status in moderate doseages, so i have been taking 4gm of fish oil per day, and 2gm of flax seed oil per day..... havent noticed any great difference to be honest, but given the other health benifits of omega 3 on heart disease etc, i think I'll keep them up.
Has anybody derived and significant benifit from these supplements?
Posted by phillipa on September 22, 2012, at 19:08:17
In reply to Omega-3 Fatty Acids, posted by jono_in_adelaide on September 22, 2012, at 18:56:30
Seems fish oil agitates me but flax seed oil caused dry eye syndrome to disappear so was able to have Lasik surgery 9 years ago. I need to go back on it. Phillipa
Posted by linkadge on September 22, 2012, at 19:21:47
In reply to Re: Omega-3 Fatty Acids » jono_in_adelaide, posted by phillipa on September 22, 2012, at 19:08:17
Look for a product that contains a standardized amount of EPA and DHA. 500mg of EPA and 500mg of DHA is a fiar dose.
Linkadge
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on September 22, 2012, at 19:37:46
In reply to Re: Omega-3 Fatty Acids, posted by linkadge on September 22, 2012, at 19:21:47
The fish oil product I take contains 180mg EPA and 120mg DHA per cap (this seems to be the standard ratio for fish oil products in Australia), and I take 4 a day. The Flax Seed Oil contains 540mg ALA and I take 2 of them.
Posted by poser938 on September 23, 2012, at 0:01:21
In reply to Omega-3 Fatty Acids, posted by jono_in_adelaide on September 22, 2012, at 18:56:30
Fish oil was just in the news last week. They're now saying that taking fish oil isn't as great as once thought when it comes to benefiting your heart.
But it was shown that eating actual fish is good for your heart. This might be because of a difference in how your body absorbs the fatty acids compared to fish oil by itself.http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/fish-oil-lifesaver-study-finds/story?id=17211288#.UF6V8rKPXFk
as for being beneficial for mood, i took fish oil for about a month and didn't notice a difference in my mood.
Posted by SLS on September 23, 2012, at 1:44:17
In reply to Re: Omega-3 Fatty Acids, posted by jono_in_adelaide on September 22, 2012, at 19:37:46
> The fish oil product I take contains 180mg EPA and 120mg DHA per cap (this seems to be the standard ratio for fish oil products in Australia), and I take 4 a day. The Flax Seed Oil contains 540mg ALA and I take 2 of them.
One line of thinking is that it is the EPA that is most responsible for the antidepressant properties of omega-3 supplementation. Too much DHA might actually worsen depression. It is the ratio of EPA/DHA that is important, not the absolute amounts. Omegabrite is a consumer product developed with this finding in mind. It has a ratio of 7:1 (350mg of EPA and 50mg of DHA).
http://www.omegabrite.com/products/gelcaps_brochure/?source=adwords&gclid=CIeHy4GMy7ICFcJo4AodXxMASw
Carlson's fish oil makes me feel worse.
I really should try Omegabrite, though, even if it is just for its cardiovascular benefits. EPA seems to be more important here, too.
- Scott
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on September 23, 2012, at 2:52:51
In reply to Re: Omega-3 Fatty Acids » jono_in_adelaide, posted by SLS on September 23, 2012, at 1:44:17
DHA is very important for brain health though, from what I've read......to be honest, i didnt expect it to work miracles.... but I'll keep taking it, because I know amega 3 fatty acids are generaly good for you, and i realy dislike fish.
Posted by poser938 on September 23, 2012, at 5:05:06
In reply to Re: Omega-3 Fatty Acids, posted by jono_in_adelaide on September 23, 2012, at 2:52:51
yeah that new study does kinda contradict what the FDA said when they approved Lovaza to lower triglycerides.
Posted by SLS on September 23, 2012, at 6:09:45
In reply to Re: Omega-3 Fatty Acids, posted by jono_in_adelaide on September 23, 2012, at 2:52:51
> DHA is very important for brain health though
Yes, but the body makes its own DHA from EPA. EPA is relatively scarce because it is not made in large amounts from precursor omega-3 fatty acids, and is reduced by the presence of omega-6 fatty acids. Conversion of ALA to EPA is the rate-limiting step in the synthesis of DHA. There isn't much EPA in many diets, so supplementation is the best way to introduce it. Otherwise, the synthesis
> from what I've read......to be honest, i didnt expect it to work miracles.... but I'll keep taking it, because I know amega 3 fatty acids are generaly good for you, and i realy dislike fish.Me, too. I would like to take fish oil, but my one experience with Carlson's fish oil was a negative one. I may yet decide to buy Omegabrite - not so much for positive effects on mood, but for its ability to reduce triglycerides without adding too much DHA into my diet.
- Scott
Posted by linkadge on September 23, 2012, at 7:09:19
In reply to Re: Omega-3 Fatty Acids, posted by poser938 on September 23, 2012, at 0:01:21
There are critics to the study posted above - namely in the sense that a large majority of study participants had already suffered various stages heart disease - and already taking pharmacudical antiinflamitories and blood thinners
Linkadge
Posted by linkadge on September 23, 2012, at 7:15:12
In reply to Re: Omega-3 Fatty Acids » jono_in_adelaide, posted by SLS on September 23, 2012, at 6:09:45
Alcoholics may (as some studies suggest) have reduced ability to produce DHA. This may extend to other illnesses (like bipolar). Lithium has been shown to increase brain levels of DHA and certain DHA metabolites.
DHA is definately important - it is a critical component of grey matter. DHA also has very potent neurotrophic effects.
I (personally) find DHA more of a mood stabilizer and EPA more activating / antidepressant.
I've tried pure EPA, pure DHA and mixtures. I actually use DHA more often. DHA feels like valproate to me. It really slows down my thinking and I feel much less impulsive. My thoughts are more logical and emotionally neutral.
Linkadge
Posted by SLS on September 23, 2012, at 8:00:07
In reply to Re: Omega-3 Fatty Acids, posted by linkadge on September 23, 2012, at 7:15:12
> I (personally) find DHA more of a mood stabilizer and EPA more activating / antidepressant.
>
> I've tried pure EPA, pure DHA and mixtures. I actually use DHA more often. DHA feels like valproate to me. It really slows down my thinking and I feel much less impulsive. My thoughts are more logical and emotionally neutral.That's interesting.
I would hate all of that valproate-like slowed-thinking and emotional neutrality. Valproate makes for a good acute antimanic, but continued treatment depresses me. Yuck.
- Scott
Posted by herpills on September 23, 2012, at 10:03:33
In reply to Omega-3 Fatty Acids, posted by jono_in_adelaide on September 22, 2012, at 18:56:30
>
> Has anybody derived and significant benifit from these supplements?I've been taking 2g of Lovaza for about 9 months I think. I find it helpful although I don't know how significant. I think the ratio of EPA and DHA is fairly even, with I believe slightly more EPA.
I've never gone above 2g and wonder if I would get more benefit with a higher dose. Ive read in different places that 2-4g is standard if you are taking it for mood. I would be interested in hearing from others about what dose of omega 3 works best for them. herpills
Posted by Trevpr on September 23, 2012, at 17:51:04
In reply to Omega-3 Fatty Acids, posted by jono_in_adelaide on September 22, 2012, at 18:56:30
They used to have a product like this in the old days... I believe it used to be called "snake oil." Feels like this whole fish oil business is a big placebo. I haven't noticed any significant differences, but then again, I haven't noticed any difference on wellbutrin, desipramine, nortryptaline, or abilify.
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on September 23, 2012, at 19:05:14
In reply to Re: Omega-3 Fatty Acids, posted by Trevpr on September 23, 2012, at 17:51:04
I didnt expect any huge difference in my mental state to be hoenst, I mainly take fish oil for the same reason i take a multivitamin - they are essential nutirients, and I'm not sure that my diet provides them in adequate amounts. They are cheap when compared to my total expensiture on food and drinnk, so they are in effect a cheap insurance policy
Posted by papillon2 on September 24, 2012, at 23:14:25
In reply to Re: Omega-3 Fatty Acids, posted by jono_in_adelaide on September 22, 2012, at 19:37:46
> The fish oil product I take contains 180mg EPA and 120mg DHA per cap (this seems to be the standard ratio for fish oil products in Australia), and I take 4 a day. The Flax Seed Oil contains 540mg ALA and I take 2 of them.
Fellow Aussie here. Look for Blackmores Omega Daily Concentrated Fish Oil. It has a big logo with "Double Strength 2x" on it. Odourless and vanilla flavoured. EPA = 351.7mg and DHA = 248.3mg per 1.034g capsule. I get mine from the chemist, I haven't seen them stocked in any supermarkets.
I take 2-3 capsules per day. I can't say whether it helps me since I started other meds at the same time, but it is backed up by science. In the studies that have been done, people were safely taking up to at least 9g of the stuff, so don't be afraid to take more than your current 2 capsules.
Posted by herpills on September 25, 2012, at 13:02:28
In reply to Re: Omega-3 Fatty Acids, posted by jono_in_adelaide on September 23, 2012, at 19:05:14
> I didnt expect any huge difference in my mental state to be hoenst, I mainly take fish oil for the same reason i take a multivitamin - they are essential nutirients, and I'm not sure that my diet provides them in adequate amounts. They are cheap when compared to my total expensiture on food and drinnk, so they are in effect a cheap insurance policy
This is pretty much how I feel too, that it is a nutrient that benefits my body, with no side effects. Strange though when I read the handout from the pharmacist it said a side effect of Lovaza was back ache? How the hell do you get a back ache from fish oil?? herpills
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on September 25, 2012, at 18:42:57
In reply to Re: Omega-3 Fatty Acids » jono_in_adelaide, posted by herpills on September 25, 2012, at 13:02:28
"This is pretty much how I feel too, that it is a nutrient that benefits my body, with no side effects. Strange though when I read the handout from the pharmacist it said a side effect of Lovaza was back ache? How the hell do you get a back ache from fish oil?? herpills"
I suspect that some of the more obscure side effects listed in the pamphelts are just statistical flukes during trials - I take a statin for cholesterol, and one of the side effects reported in trials is sinusitis..... i strongly suspect this was a statistical fluke, because I cant think of any mechanism by which a statin could lead to sinus infection.
Posted by poser938 on September 25, 2012, at 21:03:40
In reply to Re: Omega-3 Fatty Acids » jono_in_adelaide, posted by herpills on September 25, 2012, at 13:02:28
i used to think statins seemed like pretty benign drugs, too. but did you know they can actually ihibit your bodies natural CoQ10 synthesis?
basically it is because CoQ10 and cholesterol are made from the same substance in your body.
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on September 30, 2012, at 22:04:04
In reply to Re: Omega-3 Fatty Acids, posted by poser938 on September 25, 2012, at 21:03:40
Yeah, i had read that, so I take a CoQ10 supplement every day.... its inexpensive and it might be doing some good..... I know statins arnt benign, but dying from a heart attack isnt very benign either
This is the end of the thread.
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