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EPA Fish Oil - why all the fuss?

Article Summary: EPA is certainly grabbing the attention of health experts worldwide. A recent study by the Institute of Psychiatry in London and published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, reported that ethyl-EPA was an effective intervention for people with bipolar depression

Copyright 2006 David McEvoy

EPA is certainly grabbing the attention of health experts worldwide. A recent study by the Institute of Psychiatry in London and published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, reported that ethyl-EPA was an effective intervention for people with bipolar depression. Early in 2006, an Australian study conducted by the University of Adelaide claimed that fish oil was better than Ritalin for ADHD, the fish oil they used was high in EPA. Here in the UK, the Durham Trials continue to report on the positive effect that EPA has on mood, behaviour and learning, and that is just the beginning.

Incredibly, there are also indications that EPA might increase brain size. Scans have revealed regeneration in the cerebral cortex, the part of the brain responsible for memory, reason and processing information. This direct impact on the brain could be why EPA has demonstrated such a profound effect on mental functioning and on mood.

Numerous other studies have shown that EPA reduces the risk of sudden death in heart attack patients and possibly plays a significant role in reducing the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. It lowers bad cholesterol and reduces triglyceride levels; it thins the blood and lessens the risk of atherosclerosis. It can improve skin conditions such as psoriasis, acne and eczema, and helps to alleviate the inflammation and pain associated with arthritis and the list just goes on and on.

The fatty acid connection

Every second of our lives, our bodies are converting essential fatty acids into hormone-like compounds called eicosanoids. These eicosanoids control every physiological function in the body. Depending on what fatty acids are available, for example Omega 3 or Omega 6, the eicosanoids produced can either be anti-inflammatory or pro-inflammatory, so what we need is a healthy balance between Omega 3 and Omega 6.

But, according to experts, our consumption of Omega 6 has doubled in the last 70 years whereas our intake of Omega 3 has dwindled to just a fraction of what it used to be. This increased ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3 just happens to coincide with a dramatic rise in cases of depression, mood disorders, heart disease, arthritis and numerous other inflammatory conditions. This is where EPA comes in. EPA is the most important fatty acid in the Omega 3 chain and here's why. The Omega 3 chain consists of Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). ALA can be found in some plant sources and although the body can covert ALA to EPA this process is highly inefficient and some indications are that it is as low as 5%.

Interestingly, an increased ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3 fatty acids have been found in patients suffering from depression, anxiety and people who are under stress. Experts believe that EPA suppresses production of Arachidonic acid (AA), which is Omega 6. The higher the concentration of Arachidonic acid, we have in our cells, the greater the number of pro-inflammatory eicosanoids we produce and the greater our chances are of becoming ill both physically and mentally.

Consequently, we need a constant and steady supply of EPA as it is used up relatively quickly, unlike DHA, which remains in the body for some time, so there is not the same requirement for DHA as there is for EPA. Although DHA is important for the structure of the brain, it is EPA that appears to be the most important for the day to day functioning of the brain. Even at a basic level, it improves the flow of blood throughout the body and to the brain, promotes greater inter-connectivity between the neural networks and most importantly, it counteracts inflammation, the precursor of all disease.

So how do we get enough EPA?

Both EPA and DHA are found in oily fish and fish oil supplements. The body is able to convert EPA into DHA as required, but only if enough EPA is present. In theory, the body is able to produce EPA from DHA but again, this process is inefficient. So, it is vital that we get enough EPA in the diet either by eating more fish or by supplementing with fish oil. Sadly, as most of the fish in our seas are contaminated, we must rely on fish oil that has had the toxins removed. Ethyl-EPA is fish oil that has been subjected to a process known as trans-esterification to produce a purified and highly concentrated form of EPA.

Conclusion

Although as yet, no one knows exactly how EPA works it nonetheless continues to astonish and excite health professionals and scientists alike. Future studies will no doubt shed more light on this particular Omega 3 fatty acid. In the meantime, there is sufficient evidence to demonstrate that EPA fish oil is a safe and beneficial supplement for absolutely everyone.

Article Source: http://www.upublish.info

About the Author:
David McEvoy
Dave mcevoy is an award winning personal trainer with over 20 years experience; he also owns high quality health supplement websites. http://www.mind1st.co.uk http://www.mind1st.com