Omega 3 supplements: a valuable aid against bipolarism and alcoholism

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a food-derived Omega 3, is useful in counteracting the symptoms of bipolar disorder as well as reducing the tendency to alcoholism by regulating the expression of the same genes targeted by psychotropic drugs. This was discovered by researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine (Indianapolis, USA) and the University of California, San Diego (La Jolla, USA) in a study published in Translational Psychiatry. According to Alexander Niculescu, coordinator of the research, a diet rich in Omega-3 could be helpful in the treatment and prevention of bipolar disorder and alcoholism.

Bipolar disorder and alcoholism

Bipolar disorder is a psychiatric disorder characterized by alternating phases of depression and phases of euphoria, also called manic phases, associated with periods of stress. Years of studies have shown the efficacy of taking Omega-3 in conjunction with traditional drug therapies to stabilize the symptoms of this disorder. In particular, an analysis of data available in the scientific literature published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry highlighted the potential of Omega-3s as adjuvants in treating the depressive phases of the disorder. However, research by Niculescu and colleagues has elucidated the molecular mechanisms underlying this efficacy. The U.S. researchers found that the effect of Omega-3s also extends to the tendency toward alcoholism that patients with bipolar disorder may suffer from.

The benefits of Omega-3s for the mind and brain

The study coordinated by Niculescu involved integrating gene expression data in humans with those obtained in experiments in mice. The researchers used genetically modified animals prone to depression that under stress conditions develop symptoms typical of the manic phase of bipolar disorder. It was thus found that the behavior of mice in which Omega-3 DHA was administered returned to normal, eliminating depression and stress-induced manic phases. Analysis of gene expression in the brain revealed that DHA restores proper expression of the same factors that are targeted by psychotropic drugs. The researchers also observed for the first time that mice taking DHA drank significantly less alcohol than those with symptoms of bipolar disorder. The latter result was confirmed in experiments conducted in model rats for the study of alcoholism.

Omega-3, a targeted action on the brain

Niculescu explained that these data clearly demonstrate that at the molecular level Omega-3s act on the brain in a similar way to psychiatric drugs. According to the researcher, the discovery of these genetic markers will make it possible to conduct more targeted clinical studies in humans. The ultimate goal, Niculescu concludes, could be the use of Omega-3s as adjuvants in therapies, so as to minimize the amount of psychiatric drugs taken by patients. Such an approach would be most useful in the case of individuals, such as pregnant women, in whom Omega-3s have no significant side effects.    

Source 

1. Le-Niculescu H, Case NJ, Hulvershorn L, Patel SD, Bowker D, Gupta J, Bell R, Edenberg HJ, Tsuang MT, Kuczenski R, Geyer MA, Rodd ZA and Niculescu AB, "Convergent functional genomic studies of omega-3 fatty acids in stress reactivity, bipolar disorder and alcoholism," Transl Psychiatry (2011) 1, e4. Published online April 26, 2011 

2. Sarris J, Mischoulon D, Schweitzer I, "Omega-3 for bipolar disorder: meta-analyses of use in mania and bipolar depression," J Clin Psychiatry. 2011 Aug 9