Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs)
Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are essential fatty acids, meaning the body cannot make them on its own so they must be obtained through diet. They are both polyunsaturated fatty acids, however, they are found in different foods and have different roles in the body. Omega-3s are found in fish, nuts, seeds, and plant oils, while omega-6s are found in meats, vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, and processed foods.
The body requires a balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for good health. However, the western diet is abundant in omega-6-rich foods, shifting this balance in some cases by 20:1 or higher. While both beneficial and necessary for the maintenance of good health, omega-3 and omega-6s have opposite effects on inflammatory modulation – the omega-6 pathway being more pro-inflammatory, the omega-3 being more anti-inflammatory.
Inflammation & Depression
Neuroinflammation is an inflammatory response within the brain and is a known component of many brain disorders. Rapaport et al., conducted a study exploring whether inflammatory biomarkers might act as measures of clinical response to omega-3 fatty acids – specifically eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid – in subjects with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).
The subjects were assessed for their baseline biomarkers of inflammation, as well as the presence and severity of their depressive symptoms using the Hamilton Depression rating scale. They were then randomized to 8 weeks of double-blind treatment with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), or placebo. Those given EPA who had high inflammation consistently reported a significant decrease of depressive symptoms by treatment week 8. While also critical to brain function, DHA did not produce the same effect. This difference is possibly explained by the fact that EPA has the ability to dampen the inflammatory response, while DHA does not.
This study highlights the importance of individualized assessment and treatment in mental health, and the value of EPA as part of a comprehensive treatment plan for depression.
Written by Dr. Jacalyn Sieben ND
References:
Kalkman H. O. (2020). The Association Between Vascular Inflammation and Depressive Disorder. Causality, Biomarkers and Targeted Treatment. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland), 13(5), 92. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph13050092
Rapaport, M. H., Nierenberg, A. A., Schettler, P. J., Kinkead, B., Cardoos, A., Walker, R., & Mischoulon, D. (2016). Inflammation as a predictive biomarker for response to omega-3 fatty acids in major depressive disorder: a proof-of-concept study. Molecular psychiatry, 21(1), 71–79. https://doi.org/10.1038/mp.2015.22