Have Bipolar Disorder? Fish Oil: Alternative to Lithium
I just discovered a study published in 1999 regarding the amazing benefits of refined fish oil in treating bipolar disorder (or manic depression), an affliction affecting over 13 million Americans. Dr. Andrew Stoll, a head psychiatric researcher at Harvard and pioneer in researching the benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids, had found that fish oil had tremendous mood stabilization effects without the common negative side effects of traditional medications (i.e. Lithium), such as cognitive dulling, weight gain, tremors, drowsiness, acne, and kidney problems.
Our subsequent clinical study, ultimately published in The Archives of General Psychiatry, suggested that these safe and natural oils had therapeutic value in the treatment of bipolar disorder. In this one study, looking at thirty patients over four months, Omega-3 fatty acids, used alone or with other medications, enabled a few seemingly incurable [emphasis added] patients to lead normal lives and enhanced mood stability for those already gaining some benefit from other medications.
Does Dr. Stoll put his money where his mouth is? Certainly!
Omega-3 fatty acids were also safer than valproate and lithium: they had few side effects, and, in my practice, at least, they have become one of the most frequently used “medications” for patients with mood disorders.
This research is incredibly promising for not only those suffering from bipolar disorder but for all who are affected by depression. Remember, Dr. Stoll’s patients took almost 10 grams of fish oil a day to achieve their results, and this can only be done safely by taking highly refined and purified fish oils.
You can also read the chapter Nature’s Mood Enhancers from Dr. Stoll’s book The Omega-3 Connection, and you can find out more about The Zone Diet in Dr. Barry Sears’s book,  The Anti-Inflammation Zone.
Tags: bipolar, depression, Dr. Andrew Stoll, harvard, lithium, manic depression
What’s interesting about Dr. Stoll’s research is that a much higher EPA/DHA ratio (7:1) provided the clinical benefits indicating that EPA was the long-chain omega-3 fatty acid responsible for the improvement. Lower EPA relative to DHA resulted in regression.
Here is another interesting (but not primary source) article on omega-3s and bipolar disorder.
Supposedly omega-3s are “similar to lithium and valproate in their modulation of neuronal signal transduction pathways”. However, I find that omega-3s are superior for two important reasons. One reason is that, unlike lithium, they don’t alter seizure threshold. This is crucial for bipolar patients whose symptoms are linked to temporal lobe epilepsy (quite a common link)! The other reason is that, unlike valproate, omega-3s don’t trigger androgen production. This, too, is crucial for bipolar patients (especially women) whose symptoms are linked to hormone regulation. (~20% of bipolar women and ~40+% of epileptic women on valproate develop polycystic ovarian syndrome!) Omega-3s have quite the opposite effect on hormone regulation, and in women may stabilize estrogen-progesterone ratios.
Since DHA also plays a rÙle in developing and maintaining myelination, fish oil treatments also have been proposed for such myelin-stripping diseases as multiple sclerosis.
I hope I won’t be deemed too far off-topic, but vitamin D3 has also been linked to alleviation of mood disorders. I’ve been reading http://www.cholecalciferol-council.com and, as a result, have increased my intake of vitamin D3. I’m also making sure I get large amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. I wonder how much suffering in industrialized countries has been a consequence of our (1) not getting the right fats in our diet and (2) staying heavily clothed or indoors so much that we no longer produce the vitamin D3 we need.
After a long and dibilitating struggle I was finally diagnosed as being bipolar in October 1995. At the time I understood the potential problems with my liver, acne, and lack of energy. I have only recently discovered that the tremors, cognitive dulling, and memory loss, all of which I suffer from, are linked to my lithium carb intake. The fact that I have been able to successfully function on the daily 1200mg of lithium carb, has kept me from pursuing any alternatives. Can the ill effects be reversed?
Thanks – Dan
Stabilize female hormones?! Thank the heavens I take a lot of fish oil. I believe it helped me to get my period back in 2004 when I lost it for several months. I use it still after learning everything else about it. It really is a multi functional food supplement. In so many areas it’s helpful, and eliminates the need for so many other supplements and presciption drugs. There are so may herbs and supplements that do the same things together as fish oil does alone that I usually tell people, “Drop all of that, just take fish oil.” It’s a great thing one thing does so much. Just goes to show you how far reaching omega 3 deficiency really is in this culture.
hi..
I spent at least two months of the year in the hospital with my bi polar illness. suicide attempts, craziness, kids intaking me.
I never liked the feelings of lithium, valproic acid, and all the other drugs that I was assigned to. The pharmasist at the hospital said for me to take 6000 mg of fish oil a day, and he would almost gaurantee me that I would never have a manic episode again.
Now my manic episodes are not gone tbut they sure are diminished to the point that I am not calling my children from another country and asking can ” they get me home?”
Fish oil works for manic depressive, by the way ? why did they ever change the name,? do you know why we are called bi polar now? I do.
Has taking fish oil helped anyone’s lithium-induced acne??
I’ve been on Lithium to treat my bipolar disorder for the past few years, and I have developed pretty bad acne. I have tried everything to cure the acne, even my dermatologist couldn’t help. I have been taking omegabrite fish oil pills for the past few years but only 1.5 grams a day. After reading this article, I am considering increasing my dose to treat the acne. I am concerned about side effects of taking too much fish oil and am also not sure how much to take.
Any information would be greatly appreciated.
I have pretty bad acne that is caused Does anyone have
Acne? Try charcoal soap if it’s real bad. You should be able to find good suppliers online. I have had bad scalp psoriasis for years, and no medicated shampoos or meds would work…charcoal soap does though. Remember to moisturize four face and rinse good after you use charcoal soap, otherwise some patches will dry out. …it’s a lot more powerful than meds for skin though.
Thanks for the input people, I just got some fish oil pills today from the drug store…I was on Klonipin for the past 3 years, but not anymore. Hopefully this will work better. I like the idea of a natural remedy too.
Concerning Dr. Stoll’s research, does anyone know where I can purchase Fish Oil with a higher EPA/DHA ratio level of 7:1 ? I tried to contact Dr. Stoll at McClean Harvard Hospital where he conducts his research, left messages on his answering machine though never received a reply! Can anyone recommend an Omega3 product that actually reverses Bipolar Affect Disorder ? I have been using GNC and Jarrow Fish Oil products with no success though wont accept the use of conventional medications such as lithium which over time destroys all the vital organs in the human body. I contacted Dr. Sahelian’s website though in his reply concerning the 7:1 ratio, he knows of no Omega3 product currently being sold to the public!
would appreciate hearing if anybody has any explanation as to why fish oils give me horrible migraines?
John or others, I think OmegaBrite fish oil was used in the Harvard study by Dr. Stoll. You may want to do a search for that product. Good luck.