Aggression and behavioral disorders, help from omega-3 and vitamin D combo

Behavior disorders: omega-3 and vitamin D combo is a winning aid

The combination of Omega 3 and vitamin D would improve cognitive function and social behavior by regulating serotonin levels. The 'synergistic action of the two nutrients could help combat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and attention deficit disorder (ADHD).

This is what Bruce Ames and Rhonda Patrick of the Hospital Oakland Research Institute in California, USA, hypothesize in a study published last month in the FASEB Journal.

Serotonin: the hormone that influences mood

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that regulates a wide range of brain functions. Its deficiency has been found to be associated with behavioral and neuropsychiatric disorders and depression. According to researchers, low serotonin levels in normal individuals are associated with antisocial behavior, uncontrolled aggression, and self-harm. 

Many studies in recent years have established that the omega-3s EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and vitamin D could be helpful in improving cognitive function and behavior, but they have not clarified the exact mechanisms related to these benefits.

Omega-3 and Vitamin D can regulate serotonin levels 

The researchers suggested that omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D together may maintain optimal levels of serotonin in the brain. The first part of this study showed that adequate levels of vitamin D are necessary for serotonin production in the brain, in a second part Ames and Patrick extended their research to include omega-3s, and their action on ADHD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and impulsive behavior. 

The synergistic action of the two substances can thus be explained in part by their effects on the serotonin system: vitamin D regulates its synthesis, EPA influences its release, and DHA by increasing the fluidity of cell membranes in neurons on which the hormone acts, promotes receptor accessibility. The authors also hypothesize that mental illness is less prevalent among women because of the 'protective effect provided by estrogen, which increases serotonin synthesis. 

Furthermore, to confirm their hypothesis, Ames points out that individuals with mental illness are often deficient in micronutrients, particularly vitamin D and Omega-3. According to Ames, this could explain why supplements of these micronutrients have been found to be effective in treating symptoms associated with ADHD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, impulsive behavior, depression, and obsessive compulsive disorder.

A future therapeutic treatment? 

Vitamin D and omega-3 supplements could be an attractive addition to current therapies, which often have negative side effects, according to researchers. Serotonin itself, when given alone, causes anxiety, nausea and blurred vision. Further clinical studies need to be conducted, however, to determine the optimal doses of vitamin D, EPA and DHA for each specific condition. 

In any case, promoting supplementation with these nutrients could be of great value because of widespread deficiency in the population, researchers say. To stay up-to-date on the latest news from Omega-3 scientific research, sign up for our newsletter. 

Source: Rhonda P. Patrick and Bruce N. Ames. "Vitamin D and the omega-3 fatty acids control serotonin synthesis and action, part 2: relevance for ADHD, bipolar, schizophrenia, and impulsive behavior" The FASEB Journal Published online ahead of print February 24, 2015, doi: 10.1096/fj.14-268342.