EPA helps severely depressed and suicidal man

EPA helps severely depressed and suicidal man

Omega 3 EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) was given to a severely depressed and suicidal man at the Hammersmith Hospital in London in 2001. He had a seven-year history of constant and severe depression.

The omega 3 oil was given to him in addition to the conventional antidepressant treatment, which hitherto had not relieved his symptoms.

MRI scanning and the niacin skin flush test were carried out at the start and again nine months later.

The addition of the omega-3 fatty acid, EPA, led to a dramatic, and sustained, clinical improvement in all the symptoms of depression, including his severe and unremitting suicidal thoughts.

Symptoms of social phobia also improved dramatically.

During the nine-month period:

the volumetric niacin response increased by 30%
the relative concentration of cerebral phosphomonesters increased by 53%
the ratio of cerebral phosphomonesters to phospodiesters increased by 79%, indicating reduced neuronal phospholipid turnover
registered difference images showed that the EPA treatment was accompanied by structural brain changes including, in particular, a reduction in the lateral ventricular volume

Eicosapentaenoic acid in treatment-resistant depression associated with symptom remission, structural brain changes and reduced neuronal phospholipid turnover.
Puri BK, Counsell SJ, Hamilton G, Richardson AJ, Horrobin DF.
MRI Unit, Imperial College School of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London, W12 0HS, UK.

Source: Int J Clin Pract. 2001 Oct;55(8):560-3.

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