EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) is a major and natural component of cell membranes, responsible for regulating many physiological processes within the body, including the normal communication processes that occur between nerve cells.

If levels fall, this can have serious implications for this ’cell-talk’, with nerves unable to communicate messages efficiently.

Low levels of EPA has been shown to increase symptoms associated with:

• Major depression
• Mood disorders
• Attentional disorders
• Anxiety disorders
• Schizophrenia
• Bipolar disorder

Why am I deficient in EPA?
Negative changes in our diet and eating habits has had a major impact on how much EPA we consume. Consequently, many of us are at levels low enough to impact on both physical and mental health.

Taking EPA, which is a natural fatty acid purified from fish oil, impacts on brain function by:

• Protecting the cell membrane from loss of important structural components
• Improving neurotransmitter function (such as serotonin and dopamine)
• Improving the natural release and uptake of neurotransmitters (such as serotonin and dopamine)
• Restoring neurotransmitter function

Combining it with GLA (gamma linolenic acid), another important component of cell membranes, allows EPA to be taken at the therapeutic doses needed to treat depression successfully. In addition, people with depression often have increased levels of inflammation, (as measured by levels of compounds called cytokines [1]) which is associated with symptoms such as fatigue, fever, lack of sleep, pain, and aching. EPA is especially helpful in this respect, since it is converted within the body to anti-inflammatory products called eicosanoids and helps to tackle these specific symptoms.

Taking highly purified EPA with GLA may bring about improvements in the following symptoms:

• Low mood
• Anxiety
• Sleep problems
• Fatigue
• Poor libido
• Stress

To find out more about EPA & depression and to download our free help pack click here

Get started today on a course of omega-3 EPA Vegepa capsules now by ordering from our secure online shop. If you want to receive more detailed information, e-mail press@igennus.com with the subject line ’subscribe.’

We have chosen to donate profits from Professor Puri’s book The Natural Way to Beat Depression to the mental health project Time To Change, run by the charity Rethink – a campaign to raise awareness of the issues surrounding mental health within the general population. At Igennus we actively support charities and research organisations focused on finding effective natural treatments for a range of ailments, with a view to helping to improve the quality of life for those affected by mental and physical illness.