 Deficiencies of vitamin B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, folic acid, and biotin have all been found to cause depression, and alcohol depletes all of these vitamins. Alpert, J. and Fava, M. (1997) found 15 to 38 percent of depressed patients were deficient in folic acid. Alcohol depletes all of the B vitamins, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, zinc, potassium and selenium. Essential Fatty Acid MetabolismAlcohol increases depression and inflammation by altering essential fatty acid and prostaglandin levels. Alcohol depletes magnesium, zinc, and vitamin B6, interfering with the 6 delta desaturase enzyme. 6 delta desaturase is necessary to convert Omega-3 vegetable oils to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and decosahexanoic acid (DHA) essential fatty acids and Omega-6 vegetable oils to anti-inflamatory prostaglandins (PGE2). Artificially altered hydrogenated vegetable oils, also attach to active binding sites of the 6 delta desaturase enzyme, preventing it from functioning. These hydrogenated fats, previously liquid at room temperatures, are altered by addition of additional hydrogen to the carbon atoms, transforming them from unsaturated to saturated fats. Hydrogenation increases shelf life and spreadability of vegetable oils, margarines and peanut butter. Hydrogenation also straightens bends, in the fat molecule, altering physical configuration. These altered molecules, decrease cell membrane permeability, interfering with neurotransmitter release and reception, nutrient and waste transfer. Hydrogenated fats should be eliminated from the diet. Omega 3 Fatty Acids Without 6 delta desaturase enzyme, flax and other Omega 3 vegetable oils cannot be transformed to anti-inflamatory Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA). Producing DHA from EPA also requires 6 delta desaturase. Barry Sears, PhD, explains how EPA and DHA reduce heart attacks, stroke, hypertension, arthritis, asthma, emphysema, cancer, infection, Alzheimer's disorder and depression, in his best selling book, The Omega Rx Zone. DHA, is the most abundant fat in the brain, which is 60 percent fat. In a double blind, placebo controlled study, at Harvard Medical School, Stoll, A., et. al., (1999) compared supplementation with high Omega 3 fish oil to olive oil, in 30 patients with bipolar disorder. In the four month study, patients supplemented with fish oil, performed better on almost every outcome measure, especially time to relapse to depression or mania. At four months, relapse to depression or mania was 47 pecent lower, in subjects using high Omega 3 fish oil. Dosage was 6.2 grams eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 3.4 grams decosahexanoic acid (DHA) daily. Eight subjects in the study were not using any pharmaceutical medication for bipolar disorder and were equally divided into the experimental and control group. The four unmedicated subjects treated with fish oil remained remission free considerably longer than unmedicated placebo subjects. Statisically, the probability of this difference occurring by chance, was 4 in 100. (p=0.04). Omega 6 Fatty Acids Omega 6 fatty acid levels are altered in depression and alcoholism. Fortunately, they can be supplemented to decrease depression. Omega 6 oils comprise most of the vegetable oil in the American diet and include soy, sesame, corn, safflower, and sunflower oil. These oils are initially converted to gama-linolenic acid or GLA, by the 6-delta desaturase enzyme. As previously discussed, alcohol interferes with the 6 delta desaturase enzyme. GLA levels are decreased in depressed patients and alcoholics. GLA is a precursor for Dihomo gamma linolenic acid (DGLA) which can be converted to either Arachidonic Acid(AA) or anti inflammatory (PGE1) prostaglandins. AA is a precursor to many inflammatory prostaglandins. When less AA is produced from DGLA, more anti-inflammatory PGE1 prostaglandins can be produced from DGLA. EPA decreases (AA) production by limiting 5 delta desaturase enzyme production. Adams, P, et. al. (1996) found (AA)/EPA ratio increased with severity of depression, in a study of 20 moderately to severely depressed patients. As AA levels decrease, inflammatory prostaglandin production decreases, while anti-inflammatory production increases. One of the inflammatory prostaglandins produced from AA, is PGE2. (Lieb, J., et. al., 1983) measured inflammatory prostaglandin PGE2 in thirty depressed outpatients and found plasma PGE2 levels were elevated in 29 of 30 patients. Anti-inflammatory PGE1 prostaglandins can counteract the inflammatory PGE2 prostaglandins, which were elevated in depression. In summary, increasing EPA levels can reduce depression severity, by suppressing inflammatory prostaglandin production and increasing anti-inflammatory prostaglandin production. Supplementation with fish oil can effectively raise EPA levels and decrease depression.Supplementation with pharmaceutical grade fish oil can effectively bypass genetic or alcohol induced impairment of the 6-delta desaturase enzyme. Since cold water fatty fish oils contain high levels of EPA and DHA, 6-delta desaturase enzyme is not necessary to produce them, from vegetable oils. Newer pharmaceutical grade oils are distilled to remove mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other contaminants, which larger fish can bio-concentrate. Burping usually does not occur, since distillation removes "fishy" taste and odors. EPA and DHA are concentrated by distillation, reducing the need to swallow more than a tablespoon per day. The oils are flavored with lemon, lime or orange and actually taste pleasant. Danger of Vitamin D toxicity or overdose is eliminated, if the supplement does not contain cod liver oil. When joint pain, asthma, emphysema or other inflammatory conditions are present, formulas with a higher proportion of EPA to DHA, can be used to counter inflammation.GLA supplementation can also reduce depression and alcohol consumption. Borage, black currant or evening primrose oils can be used to boost GLA levels. David Horrobin, (1985) treated alcoholics in a placebo controlled study with GLA, for one year in Scotland. GLA reduced required tranquilizer doses, withdrawal symptoms, and alcohol craving more than placebo. GLA improved liver function more rapidly and increased one year alcohol abstinence. |
