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

Since the publication of a book called Beat ChronicSince this study was published further advances
Fatigue The Natural Way, many people are turninghave been made, and the findings released by a
to the natural substance omega 3, and inleading professor in the United Kingdom state
particular pure ethyl EPA, to help treat theclearly that he considers Chronic Fatigue
debilitating condition known as chronic fatigueSyndrome to be a genuine physical illness. The
syndrome.professor describes how he came to conclude
What is chronic fatigue syndrome ?that CFS could be successfully treated by
We all get tired. Many of us have felt depressedsupplementation with essential fatty acids,
at times. But the mysterious chronic fatiguespecifically ultra-pure EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid)
syndrome (CFS) is not like the normal ups andand virgin evening primrose oil.
downs we experience in everyday life. The earlyThe professor describes the changes in the
sign of this illness is a strong and noticeableimmune system seen with CFS, as a reduction in
fatigue that comes on suddenly and often comesnatural killer cell activity and a shift from TH1 cell
and goes sometimes, it never stops. Youactivity toward increased TH2 cell activity, known
sometimes feel too tired to do normal activitiesas a type 2 immune response. He believes that
or are easily exhausted with no apparent reason.this is best explained by the presence of a
Unlike the mind fog of a serious hangover, topre-existing, long-term, viral infection to which the
which researchers have compared CFS, theimmune system is reacting.
profound weakness of CFS does not go awayUsing MRI scanning to carry out
with a few good nights of sleep. Instead, it slylyneurospectroscopy examinations of people with
steals your energy and vigour over months andCFS, in order to obtain information about the
sometimes years.chemistry of the living brain, the professor
Who gets chronic fatigue syndrome?demonstrated a clear difference between the
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) affects both menbrains of people with CFS and normal volunteers;
and women, and its incidence cuts across widethe results indicated a very significant change in
strata of age as well as racial and socio-economicthe turnover of fatty acids in the cell membranes
groups. It was first described in the 1930s; CFSof CFS sufferers.
received a flurry of publicity in the mid-1980sEssential fatty acids - linoleic acid (omega-6) and
when the syndrome was erroneously associatedalpha linolenic acid (omega-3) are known as such
with the Epstein-Barr virus. In the early tobecause they must be acquired from food and
mid-1990s it was being described as yuppie flu.cannot be manufactured by the body. The
Symptoms of chronic fatigue syndromemuscleprofessor explains how viruses can cause the
aches and pains, especially after physicalsymptoms of CFS by inhibiting a crucial enzyme in
exertionfeeling depressed and emotionalpoorthe chains that convert these essential fatty acids
sleep, difficulty getting off to sleep, frequentinto other fatty acids required by the body,
wakings, and not feeling refreshed afterincluding GLA (gamma-linolenic acid), EPA and DHA
sleepnausea and loss of appetitea recurrent sore(docosahexaenoic acid). This leads to a deficiency
throat, feeling of enlarged glands in the neckin these fatty acids. He believes the resulting lack
which come and gorunning a slightly highof EFAs in the body leads to many of the
temperature for no apparent reasonfeeling ofsymptoms familiar to CFS sufferers, including
faintness and dizzinesstiredness, poor immune response and painful
Omega 3 fish oil EPA and chronic Fatiguejoints.
syndromeThe professor concluded by saying that by giving
The most recent study that has been performedpatients large amounts of GLA and EPA the
was published in the journal Acta Psychiatricaeffects of the virus can be circumvented and
Scandinavica. In the study, doctors from Londonhow CFS patients taking high-dose supplements
found that in the brains of people with chronicreported improvements in symptoms within 12
fatigue syndrome there are high levels of twoweeks. Crucially, the supplement should be
key chemicals, choline and creatine.DHA-free, which means that the majority of fish
Choline is important for controlling fat levels inoil supplements, which contain both EPA and DHA,
brain cells while creatine provides energy.are not suitable. The Professor also strongly
The doctors said the findings suggested CFSbelieves that the type of DHA found in most fish
patients had abnormal phospholipid metabolisms.oil supplements inhibits some of the beneficial
Phospholipids are special types of fats which areactions of EPA.
an essential component of cells. They areConclusion
protected by certain types of fatty acids.Since both these sets of findings were released,
The London doctors believed fatty acidmore and more people are turning to high grade
supplements could help to restore the chemicalethyl EPA fish oil to help with this debilitating
imbalance in the brain and alleviate the symptomscondition. Whether this will lead to a mainstream
of CFS. EPA, which is found in omega 3 fish oiltreatment for chronic fatigue syndrome, and
supplements, may be particularly useful.whether it will work for all sufferers, remains to
The leader of the study said: "This studybe seen. However, a large majority of people
suggests that if patients with CFS take awho are trying this as a form of treatment are
high-EPA fatty acid supplement, then this shouldreporting some very interesting and very good
have a beneficial action on the chemicalresults.
imbalances in the brain which we have identified."