How could Vegepa E-EPA 70 help depression?
Whether you have only recently been diagnosed with depression or have been living with it for years, you’ll find information on this website to keep you updated with developments in the treatment field, including medical research and health news. Understandably, many people are frustrated with conventional approaches to depression, which all too often involve antidepressants. There is no doubt that medication is vital in severe cases, and we would always urge that you consult your GP immediately if you are feeling severely depressed and suicidal. In many other cases, however, depression can be influenced to a large degree by brain chemistry, and this in turn is affected by diet. By making fairly simple adjustments, it really is possible to lift even treatment-resistant depression.
‘How can fish oil be the answer to my depression?’
Fish is a vital source of the long-chain omega-3 fatty acid EPA, which is crucial for balancing the mood-enhancing neurotransmitter serotonin (it has a similar action to SSRIs – selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors). One of the purposes of omega-3 fats is to ensure that cell membranes in the brain and body are functioning fluidly and allowing electrical messaging to function properly. Depressive symptoms can occur when low levels of EPA create a chemical imbalance in the brain, which affects the production of mood-stabilising neurotransmitters. In addition, people with depression often have increased levels of inflammation, which is associated with symptoms such as fatigue, fever, lack of sleep, pain, and aching. EPA in fish oil is especially helpful in this respect, since it is converted within the body to anti-inflammatory eicosanoids and helps to tackle these specific symptoms. Taking a purified high-EPA fish oil may bring about improvements in the following:
- Low mood
- Anxiety
- Sleep problems
- Fatigue
- Poor libido
- Stress
- Immune function
What evidence is there?
Experts believe that the average Western diet is a major factor in the development of certain mental health problems, which affect 1 in 4 of us in the UK each year. [1] When comparing the average Western diet to that which is typical in the Far East, it appears that our diets fall somewhat short. Scientists suggest that one of the reasons for the low rate of depression in the Far East is their high intake of omega-rich oily fish. With an incidence of 6%, depression is 60 times more common in New Zealand where fish consumption is very low, when compared with Japan, where it affects just 0.12% of the population.[2]
Vegepa E-EPA 70 - pure ethyl-EPA with GLA
A number of trials have shown a link between depression and low levels of omega-3 fatty acids, particularly EPA. In several studies, scientists have demonstrated how effective pure EPA supplementation is for people with depression, ranging from those with mild or moderate depression, to those with severe depression and bipolar disorder. The American Psychiatric Association has since recommended treatment with at least 1g/day of omega-3 for these conditions as an addition to standard treatment. A double blind, randomised trial has shown that the omega-3 EPA is as effective as Prozac in the treatment of depression and, when used in combination, is even more effective.[3] Leading clinicians and researchers such as Dr Dianne LeFevre, a consultant psychiatrist with over 40 years’ clinical experience, and Professor Basant K. Puri, author of The Natural Way to Beat Depression and Head of the Lipid Neuroscience Department at Imperial College, London, use our pure EPA supplement Vegepa (now Vegepa E-EPA 70), for patients with depression, with extremely positive results. According to Professor Puri, “By taking a combination of ultra-pure EPA and virgin evening primrose oil, the body obtains the right fatty acids to rejuvenate the structure and functioning of the brain. The antidepressant action of this combination is just as good as, if not better than that of, conventional medicines, but without the adverse side-effects. In addition there are excellent benefits for the heart and circulation…The best EPA supplement available is Vegepa.” Our aim in producing natural EPA fatty acid supplements is to offer people effective and science-based alternatives to prescription medication. What’s more, you can be content in knowing that medical professionals and leading psychiatrists recommend Vegepa E-EPA 70, since its ingredients are backed by substantial research showing that omega-3 EPA balances brain chemistry and improves mood and our sense of well-being. Get started on a course of pure-EPA Vegepa E-EPA 70 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.’
The Natural Way to Beat Depression by Professor Basant Puri
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.
References
[1] The Office for National Statistics Psychiatric Morbidity report (2001). [2] Hibbeln, J.R. (1998) Fish consumption and major depression. Lancet. Apr 18;351(9110):1213. [3] Jazayeri, Shima; Tehrani-Doost, Mehdi; Keshavarz, Seyed A.; Hosseini, Mostafa; Djazayery, Abolghassem; Amini, Homayoun; Jalali, Mahmoud and Peet, Malcolm (2008) Comparison of therapeutic effects of omega-3 fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid and fluoxetine, separately and in combination, in major depressive order, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 42:3, 192 – 198.
