Posted by Hugh on September 20, 2012, at 12:19:29
In reply to Fish Oil, posted by brynb on September 19, 2012, at 22:14:09
This is from http://www.fattyacidtrip.com/stoll-interview-post/
Dr. Stoll: Our omega-3-fatty-acids-in-bipolar study was the first controlled study in psychiatry. We really had no way of knowing what the minimum effective dosage as, so we decided to use a moderately high dosage that had been successfully used in omega-3 studies of rheumatoid arthritis and other medical disorders. This dosage was about 10 grams per day (6.5 grams of EPA and 3.5 grams of DHA daily). Most of the newer omega-3 studies in major depression used a very low dosage of pure EPA added to partially effective or noneffective antidepressants. For example, in one small study, Dr. Malcolm Peet and colleagues from England compared one gram a day of EPA to two grams a day of EPA, and up to four grams of EPA per day. One gram of EPA did the best by far. The most recent depression study, done by a group from Taiwan, was another unipolar study where they added omega-3 to an antidepressant regimen that was not working. They used the same exact formulation that we didnearly 10 grams of EPA plus DHA in about a 3:2 ratiowith good results.
So, the question of optimal dosage remains unanswered. Practically, I start patients on one gram of EPA per day, and go up on the dosage gradually until an effect is seen on a persons mood. I usually do not have to exceed six grams of EPA per day. The amount of omega-3 in a supplement may be calculated from the side of the bottle.
It is important to know that the amount of active ingredients in supplements is listed on the label by serving size, not necessarily by how much of an ingredient or compound is in one capsule. Companies can make the serving size one, two, three, or a hundred capsulesas big or small as they want.
To determine omega-3 content, simply take the amount of EPA or EPA plus DHA per serving, as listed on the label, and divide it by the serving size to determine how much omega-3 is in each capsule. Thats not understood well by many people. It is important that people read labels carefully. They get fooled.
The FDA requires that supplement manufacturers list the ingredients or nutrients by serving size. But the company can put in any serving size they want, so it may look like there is a lot of EPA, for example, in a product, but the serving size may be 10 capsules. Consumers should be sure to divide whatever value is in the column for the amount of EPA by the number of capsules in a serving, and read labels carefully.
Post: What dose of omega-3 do you recommend and find most effective?
Dr. Stoll: I will distinguish the doses. I usually start everyone on one gram of EPA per day. I prefer to have a little bit of DHA in the formula. They should be at least in a 3:2 or 2:1 EPA to DHA ratio. If one gram doesnt help after one to two weeks, I will raise the dosage to two grams a day of EPA. I definitely use lower doses than I used to, based on the depression data. Occasionally, someone will call or e-mail me with an anecdote that they didnt respond until they were taking 10 grams a daythe original dose in our study. Hopefully, we will resolve that issue in the next few years.
poster:Hugh
thread:1026174
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20120530/msgs/1026232.html