Omega 3 fish oil EPA and chronic fatigue syndrome the real science

Since the publication of a book called 'Beat Chronichave a beneficial action on the chemical
Fatigue The Natural Way', many people areimbalances in the brain which we have identified."
turning to the natural substance omega 3, and inSince this study was published further advances
particular pure ethyl EPA, to help treat thehave been made, and the findings released by a
debilitating condition known as chronic fatigueleading professor in the United Kingdom state
syndrome.clearly that he considers Chronic Fatigue
What is chronic fatigue syndrome ?Syndrome to be a genuine physical illness. The
We all get tired. Many of us have felt depressedprofessor describes how he came to conclude
at times. But the mysterious chronic fatiguethat CFS could be successfully treated by
syndrome (CFS) is not like the normal ups andsupplementation with essential fatty acids,
downs we experience in everyday life. The earlyspecifically ultra-pure EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)
sign of this illness is a strong and noticeableand virgin evening primrose oil.
fatigue that comes on suddenly and often comesThe professor describes the changes in the
and goes - sometimes, it never stops. Youimmune system seen with CFS, as a reduction in
sometimes feel too tired to do normal activitiesnatural killer cell activity and a shift from TH1 cell
or are easily exhausted with no apparent reason.activity toward increased TH2 cell activity, known
Unlike the mind fog of a serious hangover, toas a type 2 immune response. He believes that
which researchers have compared CFS, thethis is best explained by the presence of a
profound weakness of CFS does not go awaypre-existing, long-term, viral infection to which the
with a few good nights of sleep. Instead, it slylyimmune system is reacting. Using MRI scanning to
steals your energy and vigour over months andcarry out neurospectroscopy examinations of
sometimes years.people with CFS, in order to obtain information
Who gets chronic fatigue syndrome?about the chemistry of the living brain, the
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) affects both menprofessor demonstrated a clear difference
and women, and its incidence cuts across widebetween the brains of people with CFS and
strata of age as well as racial and socio-economic‘normal' volunteers; the results indicated a
groups. It was first described in the 1930s; CFSvery significant change in the turnover of fatty
received a flurry of publicity in the mid-1980sacids in the cell membranes of CFS sufferers.
when the syndrome was erroneously associatedEssential fatty acids - linoleic acid (omega-6) and
with the Epstein-Barr virus. In the early toalpha linolenic acid (omega-3) - are known as such
mid-1990s it was being described as 'yuppie flu'.because they must be acquired from food and
Symptoms of chronic fatigue syndromecannot be manufactured by the body. The
* muscle aches and pains, especially after physicalprofessor explains how viruses can cause the
exertionsymptoms of CFS by inhibiting a crucial enzyme in
* feeling depressed and emotionalthe chains that convert these essential fatty acids
* poor sleep, difficulty getting off to sleep,into other fatty acids required by the body,
frequent wakings, and not feeling refreshed afterincluding GLA (gamma-linolenic acid), EPA and DHA
sleep(docosahexaenoic acid). This leads to a deficiency
* nausea and loss of appetitein these fatty acids. He believes the resulting lack
* a recurrent sore throat, feeling of enlargedof EFAs in the body leads to many of the
glands in the neck which come and gosymptoms familiar to CFS sufferers, including
* running a slightly high temperature for notiredness, poor immune response and painful
apparent reasonjoints.
* feeling of faintness and dizzinessThe professor concluded by saying that by giving
Omega 3 fish oil EPA and chronic Fatiguepatients large amounts of GLA and EPA the
syndromeeffects of the virus can be circumvented and
The most recent study that has been performedhow CFS patients taking high-dose supplements
was published in the journal Acta Psychiatricareported improvements in symptoms within 12
Scandinavica. In the study, doctors from Londonweeks. Crucially, the supplement should be
found that in the brains of people with chronicDHA-free, which means that the majority of fish
fatigue syndrome there are high levels of twooil supplements, which contain both EPA and DHA,
key chemicals, choline and creatine.are not suitable. The Professor also strongly
Choline is important for controlling fat levels inbelieves that the type of DHA found in most fish
brain cells while creatine provides energy.oil supplements inhibits some of the beneficial
The doctors said the findings suggested CFSactions of EPA.
patients had abnormal phospholipid metabolisms.Conclusion
Phospholipids are special types of fats which areSince both these sets of findings were released,
an essential component of cells. They aremore and more people are turning to high grade
protected by certain types of fatty acids.ethyl EPA fish oil to help with this debilitating
The London doctors believed fatty acidcondition. Whether this will lead to a mainstream
supplements could help to restore the chemicaltreatment for chronic fatigue syndrome, and
imbalance in the brain and alleviate the symptomswhether it will work for all sufferers, remains to
of CFS. EPA, which is found in omega 3 fish oilbe seen. However, a large majority of people
supplements, may be particularly useful.who are trying this as a form of treatment are
The leader of the study said: "This studyreporting some very interesting and very good
suggests that if patients with CFS take aresults.
high-EPA fatty acid supplement, then this should