Antidepressant effect of EPA fatty acid

The report of a Spanish study (January 28) claiming a connection between unhealthy diet and risk of depression adds validity to similar claims made in the UK in recent decades. The late David Horrobin was a pioneer in the identification of a link between a lack of dietary fish essential fatty acids and certain brain function abnormalities and inflammatory diseases such as skin eczema. One of Prof. Horrobin’s major contributions was the demonstration that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was treatable successfully with fish oil omega-3 essential fatty acids.

Basant Puri of London’s Hammersmith and Imperial College hospitals extended Prof. Horrobin’s work by claiming that of the two omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil (their long chemical names shortened to EPA and DHA), EPA is the one that has powerful brain function effects, particularly an antidepressant effect. All our cell membranes, including those of brain cells, are made up of special fats whose chemical nature and function can be altered by the types of fats in our diet. So-called saturated fats and trans-fatty acids, found in animal fats and margarine, and in particularly high amounts in industrial manufactured unnatural foods, such as biscuits, pastries and foods fried in vegetable oil (particularly so in reused oil), will get incorporated in our cell membranes if our diet is rich in these unhealthy fats.

Prof. Puri believes that when too much saturated and trans-fatty acids get incorporated into brain cell membranes, communication between brain cells is slowed down and may be expressed clinically as depression. This may not happen to everyone due to genetic differences.

Prof. Puri has made profound claims for the connection between diet and depression. His pioneering MRI brain scanning work has demonstrated grey matter shrinkage in depression which is reversible with fish oil extract. However, he claims that EPA, not DHA, is the useful omega-3 fatty acid in depression, and this claim is now receiving support from American research.

Prof. Puri further claims that a purified EPA extract (with a little unrefined omega-6 evening primrose oil) is not only a natural cure for all forms of depression but is also superior and safer than any pharmaceutical antidepressant. He claims that when the EPA omega-3 fatty acid replaces saturated and trans-fatty acids in brain cell membranes, brain cell communication improves and depression lifts.

Prof. Puri also claims that the pure EPA extract his research formulated (and which has been copied elsewhere) is a better and safer treatment for ADHD than the amphetamine type (Ecstasy-like) drugs recommended by conventional medical wisdom.

A small number of Maltese patients have already been successfully treated for depression and ADHD by Prof. Puri’s recommendation for this natural treatment. He is a psychiatrist and fatty acid expert of world renown and sits on our expert panel at the newly-established Academy of Nutritional Medicine based in London.