New research was recently presented at a National Institute of Mental Health conference.  Preliminary research on Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), found primarily in fish, suggest a connection with major depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.  Research was undertaken after a recent study indicated that both incidents of depression and fatalities from coronary artery disease showed similar patters of variation when compared worldwide.  This suggested to researchers that similar risk factors could be of interest.  Cross-national studies comparing diets encountered lower levels of depression in countries where fish comprised a significant portion of the overall diet.

Omega-3 PUFA are know to be important for proper development and functioning of the nervous system and the of brain.  In a recent controlled study, plasma levels of certain omega-3 PUFA proved to be a predictor for a cerebrospinal fluid related to serotonin turnover and involved in regulating moods and behavior.  Several previous studies had found that low levels of this fluid are related to incidence of depression.  The relationship was not significant enough, however, to be a predictor.  Researcher believe that these data may help cultivate a better understanding of major depressive disorder.

In a recent double-blind placebo-controlled study more than half of a group of bi-polar patients experienced some improvement in outcome measures, such as mania and depression.  Two additional studies involving schizophrenics who did not respond to primary treatment yielded similar results with respect to delusions and hallucinations.

This does not mean that individuals who suffer from these illnesses should go out and consume a significantly greater proportion of fish on a daily basis.  These data are preliminary results from a few small studies.  Increased consumption of fish is not without dangers of its own.  Some shell fish contain high proportions of cholesterol.  Moreover, many individuals choose not to eat fish due to fears of exposure to heavy metals resulting from the pollution of many oceans, lakes and rivers.

Hopefully, these studies will result in an increased interest in research of this type to provide a fuller more reliable understanding of these preliminary data.  In the meantime, consumers are best served by remembering an old adage.  It is much easier to disprove something than it is to prove it.  It will likely be some time before patients have any helpful information from this line of research.