SUPPLEMENTS FOR BIPOLAR ILLNESS

Fish Oil

Studies show that in countries that eat the least fish there is a higher incidence of depression and bipolar mood disorder. In Japan the average fish consumption per person is 150 pounds a year whereas in New Zealand the average person eats only 40 pounds a year. New Zealand has sixty times the rate of depression as Japan. During the last 100 years the North American diet has changed dramatically and there is far less fish consumption and people are eating more harmful fatty acids. As a result, the depression rate has increased a hundred times. The therapeutic ingredient in fish oil is the Omega-3. Studies that tried using Omega-6 failed miserably. The ideal ratio is a 1:1 ratio of Omega 3 to Omega- 6. However, our North American diet consists of Omega-6 twenty times as much as Omega-3.

In a groundbreaking Harvard study in 1999, Dr. Andrew Stoll used 9.6 grams of fish oil on bipolar patients and placebos on the control group. The fish oil group improved, not in controlling mania, but especially in controlling depression. However, higher doses of fish oil do not necessarily improve the results. In 2001, a study showed that the patients that improved the most were taking one gram of fish oil. Others who had 2-4 grams improved only modestly.

The type of fish oil capsules to look for will have a high omega-3 concentration. If you have stomach problems you will want a fish oil that doesn't have a fishy aftertaste and is enteric coated. You'll also want one without cholesterol. Begin with 3 grams of essential fatty acids (EPA) a day and keep your fish oil in the refrigerator. If you are a strict vegan you can substitute 1-2 tablespoons flaxseed oil instead of the fish oil. The higher quality fish oils have utilized nitrogen to produce the supplements. Some reputable brands are:

Twininlabs MegaTwin EPA which can be ordered at: http://www.ihealthtree.com/fish-oil.html and Nutrasea products can be found at:

http://www.1stvitality.com/nutrasea/nutraseahp.htm . To answer your fish oil questions there is a helpful website at: http://www.vaughns-1-pagers.com/food/fish-oil-summary.htm .

Some people think that you should only use a pharmaceutical brand of fish oil, but it is more expensive. If you find that a cheaper brand works keep taking that.

Lecithin

A significant number of studies claim that lecithin or Phosphatidyl Choline acts simultaneously as a mood stabilizer and mood depressant similar to the drug Depakote. At the beginning a person should start with a low dose of 2 capsules of 35% concentration, increasing gradually as mood stabilization is established. Lecithin may be helpful in reducing some mood stabilizing drugs when side effects are bothersome. The doses should be spaced out two or three times a day or all at night.

L-Taurine

Those suffering from manic depression (especially rapid cyclers) may be helped by the amino acid L-Taurine which has anticonvulsant properties. The usual dose is 500-1000 mg. three times a day and pharmaceutical grade is best.

Gaba

Drug companies are trying to produce a Gaba Reuptake Inhibitor to keep the brain and body from becoming hyperactive. The amino acid Gaba helps anxiety and insomnia and has been termed as a natural Valium. It is best to begin at a low dosage of 250 mgs. at bedtime or when anxiety occurs. Interactions between mood stabilizing medication and gaba are possible, so proceed carefully if you are on these medications. Side effects such as numb extremities and torso and difficulty breathing are signs of an unpleasant interaction between the two.

L-Tyrosine and L-Tryptophan

During the depressed phase of bipolar illness, supplementation with the amino acid L-Tyrosine may be helpful. A daily dose of 500-5,000 mgs can be taken starting with the lower dose and gradually increasing it. L-Tyrosine should be taken on an empty stomach in the morning or early afternoon. L-Tryptophan is an amino acid which can be used as an adjunct therapy to boost antidepressants and to help combat insomnia. It is available only by prescription.

B Complex

Taking a B Complex vitamin formula is good for the nervous system and helps many bipolar people. Some take only one B50 while others may take up to six B100's. If you take B vitamins separately you might create a deficiency in some of the others, so a balanced combination of B vitamins is the best way to supplement.

Calcium and Magnesium

Magnesium deficiency is common in North American society and a lack of it can cause anxiety, tiredness, and insomnia. It is best to combine magnesium with calcium since the two react together. The usual dosage is 2:1 -- if 1,000 mgs. of calcium is used then 500 mg. of magnesium should be taken with it. Chelated minerals are best since calcium carbonate is not readily absorbed by the body. Bedtime is the best time to take your calcium and magnesium.

Zinc

Unless one gorges on oysters it is difficult to get enough zinc into your diet and zinc deficiency can create mental instability. The usual dosage is 30 mgs. per day.

Chromium

In the magazine, Psychology Today, some studies report that chromium can help depression. This mineral can be taken by itself or with antidepressants. At Duke University a trial used 600 mcg. and found it successful with atypical depression that is associated with overeating.

Conclusion

According to Dr. Benton PhD of the University of Wales, Swansea, "...The brain is arguably the most nutritionally sensitive organ in the body, playing a key role in controlling bodily functions. It is the most metabolically active organ, with two percent of the body's mass accounting for 20 percent of basal metabolic rate. With millions of chemical processes taking place, he went on to say, if each of these is only a few percent below par, it is easy to imagine some sort of cumulative effect resulting in less than optimal functioning." Dr. William Walsh PhD a senior scientist at the Health Research Institute and Pfieffer Treatment Center in Illinois, also comments that, " The brain is a chemical factory that produces serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and other brain chemicals 24 hours a day. The only raw materials for their syntheses are nutrients, namely amino acids, vitamins, minerals, etc. . If the brain receives improper amounts of these nutrient building blocks, we can expect serious problems with our neurotransmitters."

Although it is not advisable to go off of your medication without the guidance of your health provider, adding some of the nutrients discussed in this article to your diet may help you get better control over bipolar disorder. You don't have to try them all at once - just experiment with whatever your budget will allow. Probably the most important supplement mentioned is the fish oil.