Benefits or Uses of EFA include

Are there any nutrients that help EFAs work more effectively

Vitamin C, vitamin E, GLA, lipoic acid, zinc, and fiber all increase the effectiveness of EPAs.

Are there any drug contraindications with taking EFA supplements?

Warfarin or other blood thinners contraindicate EFAs.

Eczema

Patients with eczema appear to have altered EPA and prostaglandin metabolism. Tests show a tendency for linoleic acid levels to be increased while levels of longer chain polyunsaturated fatty acids tend to be relatively low. These changes lead to a greater tendency to allergies and inflammation. Supplementing with EPA provides great benefit for those with eczema, since it reduces inflammation.¹

Asthma

Several clinical studies have been shown that children who eat fish more than once a week have one-third the risk of getting asthma as children who do not eat fish regularly. Several other studies show that increasing the intake of omega-3s (through supplementation with fish oils that contain EPA and DHA) offers significant benefits in treating asthma. In particular, improvements in airway responsiveness to allergens have been noted, as well as improvements in respiratory function.¹

Cardiovascular disease

EPA’s main function is to lower blood fat levels. The intake of dietary EPA/DHA is enhanced by eating coldwater fish regularly or by taking supplements. Increased intake of EPA/DHA has been shown in numerous studies to lower blood triglyceride and cholesterol levels, while raising HDL. Because of it’s lipid lowering effects, along with it’s ability to reduce platelets and clogging, EPA is important in the treatment or prevention of cardiovascular disease or for anyone with high blood fats or low HDL. EPA/DHA supplementation has been shown to reduce joint stiffness and soreness and to improve flexibility.

5-HTP & Omega-3 Acids: Promising Treatments for Autistic Children

Autism Research Review International Vol.13, No.1, 1999

Two nutrients are gaining attention among researchers as promising treatments for a variety of mental disorders ranging from depression to schizophrenia. Neither has yet been used extensively in the treatment of autism, but both appear to reduce anxiety, hyperactivity, sleep disorders, mood disorders, and other problems commonly seen in autistic individuals….

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

In September 1998, the National Institutes of Health held a workshop to examine preliminary findings indicating that omega-3 fatty acids may be an effective treatment for a wide range of disorders including depression, hyperactivity, and schizophrenia. Omega-3 fatty acids cannot be produced by the body, but are found in fish, leafy green vegetables, nuts, and flaxseed and canola oils.

While early humans ate a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids, most people now eat a diet low in omega-3 fatty acids and high in omega-6 fatty acids (found in corn, soybean, cottonseed, safflower, and sunflower oils).

Omega-3 fatty acids are critical components of synaptic membranes in the brain, and an increasing body of research links deficiencies of these fatty acids to cognitive, behavioral, and emotional problems. Researchers at the NIH workshop, for instance, noted that the rate of depression in Japan (where people eat an average of over 140 pounds of omega-3 -rich fish per year) is only 0. 12 percent while the rate of depression in Germany (where people eat an average of just over 20 pounds of fish per year) is 5 percent.

Among other research reviewed at the NIH workshop:

When Andrew Stoll et al. gave fish oil supplements to patients suffering from bipolar disorder, the subjects improved so dramatically that the researchers terminated the study five months earlier than planned. Nine of 14 patients taking the fish oil capsules responded positively, the researchers report, compared to only three of 16 taking a placebo.

Rhian Wyn Edwards reported that depressed patients have significantly lower levels of the omega-3 fatty acid DHA and its precursor EPA in red blood cell membranes than do non-depressed control subjects.

L. J. Stevens and colleagues measured levels of omega-3 fatty acids in boys between the ages of 6 and 12. They report that "a greater number of behavior problems, assessed by the Conners' R.N. in subjects with lower total omega-3 fatty acid concentrations." In a separate study, Stevens and colleagues found that children with ADHD had significantly lower concentrations of key fatty acids in their blood than other children.

Malcolm Peet and colleagues found that chronic schizophrenics have reduced levels of essential fatty acids in red blood cell membranes, and that omega-3 supplements significantly reduced their symptoms.

Researchers stressed that their findings are preliminary, but Jerry Cott, NIH chief of adult psychopharmacological research, said, "I don't know of any other preventive treatments for mental disorders. This is in a class by itself. It is extremely promising.” In related research, Jerry Cott of NIH says of omega-3 therapy, “I don’t know of any other preventative treatments for mental disorders. This is in a class by itself. It is extremely promising.’ P. Willafts and associates reported evidence that infants receiving formulas not supplemented with fatty acids score significantly lower on tests assessing IQ-related skills than do infants receiving supplemented formulas. The researchers speculate that supplementation with key fatty acids "may be important for the development of childhood intelligence."