Can Fish Oils help situational depression?

Q. I was on anti-depressants for 6+ years, and the finest pure fish oils by Pharmax cured my depression! I think I was lacking the Omega 3’s. My question is, can omega-3 fish oils help situational depression? My sister is feeling like she is a little depressed but I think it's because she Russia and is having a very rough spot in her marriage, and her 7 year old is having some problems in school. Would taking fish oil help her fight her depression?

A. I'm so glad to hear that you've cured your depression though the Pharmax Finest Pure Fish Oil and haven't needed any medications!

Certainly fish oils could be helpful for your sister, but she could also be deficient in vitamin D due to the lack of sunlight a good portion of the year in Russia. I would also recommend this:

• D-Mulsion liquid vitamin D drops to help her get her vitamin D levels up. She could start off with 2-3 drops a day with meals to start improving her levels, then when she is feeling better go down to 1 drop a day for maintenance.

If trying these products do not improve her depression in 1-2 months, then she may need more help. Here are a couple of suggestions, I would recommend either she try one or the other first:

• 5HTP - 5 Hydroxytryptophan, made from the amino acid L-tryptophan with the help of Vitamin B6, is a precursor to serotonin production. The amino acid tryptophan can be found naturally in protein foods such as turkey and milk. Serotonin is a very important neurotransmitter known as "the feel good hormone". Using 5HTP has a similar effect as using an SSRI antidepressant, only without the drug side effects. It helps the body's own production of serotonin, which can be quite effective at improving depression. This is a 50mg dose, a good one to start with, as she can build up to 100 - 200mg a day to find the dose that works best for her.

• SAMe is a great product for improving mild to moderate depression. Please see the link I've included to read more about SAMe, it can be very helpful to elevate the brain's melatonin and phosphatidylcholine. Inadequate levels of SAMe in tissues and plasma and cerebral spinal fluid have been found to be highly correlated with conditions such as: depression, alzheimer's and dementia. Suboptimal levels of SAMe in some individuals may be due to insufficient amounts of the precursor amino acid methionine (diets low in protein, or diets containing mostly vegetarian protein which are typically low in methionine) and/or the necessary cofactors B12 (vegetarians, inadequate absorption) and folate and/or lack of a basic vitamin supplement.

For some individuals, even if they are supplementing methionine and/or getting sufficient amounts of methionine from animal proteins, SAMe synthesis is still not adequate due to a low activity of the enzyme SAMe synthetase.

Even if the body is producing normal or average levels of SAMe, certain physiological states create an increased demand for it, such as: aging, dietary deficiency, inflammatory states, emotional/physical stress or genetic polymorphysms, which can drastically improve depression.

What can I substitute for Paxil and avoid withdrawal symptoms for my anxiety?

Q. I am a long time Paxil user. I would like to get off this medication but I am afraid of the withdrawl period and also my symptoms returning. I am prone to anxiety and I exacerbate situations (anger) when off it. Is there anything that you could recommend?

A. This can certainly be done with 5HTP and other supportive nutrients. It does take a little adjusting of the Paxil dose down as you wean off, while taking starting on a low dose of 5HTP. You will also need to work with the doctor that is prescribing this to you to give you a lower dose of Paxil.

This is the DFH 5HTP Synergy supplement I recommend getting to start. It has vitamin B6, which is also necessary to make serotonin.

Let me explain a little of what will be happening. Currently, Paxil works by reducing the breakdown of serotonin in the brain. This action constantly sends signals to the brain to cut down on the level of serotonin that it produces. Therefore, if you were to suddenly to stop taking Paxil your brain can't make the necessary amount of serotonin due to lack of necessary nutrients, you would feel a worsening of your depression.

The 5HTP works by providing the nutrient building blocks needed for your brain to make serotonin. Once you cut down the Paxil dose, your brain should start to get signals it needs to make more serotonin. If you don't have the building blocks necessary already in there, that is where you would start to feel worse. 5HTP will help with prevent or minimize this from happening.

I would suggest starting with the product I gave you a link to, 1-2 days before you start on a lower dose of your Paxil. Start with 1 pill a day. If you feel that you are getting depressed, then up it to 2 pills a day, taken at a different time of day as you would your medication.

As you transition off your Paxil, you will need to gradually increase the 5HTP to 200mg a day (this is the generally recommended dose). Once you finish your first bottle of 5HTP Synergy, the you can buy the stronger one called 5HTP Supreme. It would cut down on the number of pills you take a day.

If you purchase your nutritional supplements from Rockwell Nutrition, then we can continue to counsel you during this process. If you wish to have more indepth help, you may want to consider a paid nutrition consultation.

I would also strongly recommend a you start on a good multi if you are not already taking one to make sure your other nutrient needs are being met. I'm including a link for one here: DFH Complete Multi caps

Fish oils or Flaxseed Oil are also helpful to provide essential fatty acids necessary in fighting depression. Anywhere from 1-3 grams a day are usually necessary. I've included some links for you to explore our selection of high quality products. If I can be of any help in the selection process, please let me know.

Try to focus your diet with lots of turkey, raw dairy products, nuts & seeds and getting ample rest and relaxing time. I hope you will e-mail me and keep me posted on how things are going.