Posted by Cam W. on June 17, 2000, at 11:25:33
In reply to Re: Fish Oil - has anyone tried this?-Angela, posted by JohnL on June 17, 2000, at 4:29:40
John - While I agree that SJW and , to a lesser extent, SAM-e do work for depression, I think that the present hypothesis for the mechanism of action of omega-3 fatty acids (fish oils) is more in line with current therapies for bipolar disorder.
Our standard bipolar disdorder therapies (eg lithium, carbamazepine, and valproate) and possibly the newer agents seem to work on the intracellular phosphoinositol pathway. This energy dependent (ATP?) pathway regulates the flow of calcium ions into the cell and also calcium ion release from the endoplasmic reticulum. A net result of which is the propagating of a more stable action potential (electrical signal) down the axon (of the nerve cell). Stated another way, the mood stabilizers seem to "even out" the electical flow (signals) along a nerve cell and presumably from one nerve cell to the next. Omega-3 fatty acids are thought to work on this same pathway.
So, while SJW and SAM-e may help with the depressive symptoms, theoretically omega-3 fatty acids (in a concentrated enough form) should decrease mania, as well as stemming depressive symptoms. The have been one or two isolated case reports that state that SJW has caused manic switch &/or hypomanic states in some people.
Just a thought - Cam
poster:Cam W.
thread:37548
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000610/msgs/37638.html