Secret of Health

Study links low levels of DHA at risk of suicide among the U.S. military

Study links low levels of DHA at risk of suicide among the U.S. military
by US Department of Health and Human Services - 8/30/2011Bethesda, MD: a new study suggests that low levels of highly unsaturated Omega-3 essential fatty acids, especially DHA, may be associated with an increased risk of suicide. Researchers at the University of service Uniformed of Health Sciences (USU) and the National Institute of alcoholism and the abuse of alcohol (NIAAA) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has reached this conclusion on the analysis of a large random sample of death by suicide in the US military on active-duty between 2002 and 2008. This retrospective study results appear in the online version on August 23 of the Journal of clinical psychiatry.

"We were surprised how low levels of Omega-3 fatty acids are in the full sample," said the colonel of the Army (Dr.) Michael d. Lewis, lead author on the study and Assistant Professor in the Department of preventive medicine and biometrics at the usu "was there is always a significant suicide risk when we have stratified population." When we compared the 1,400 samples with the lowest levels of ADH to the 200 remaining, there was a risk of increased 62% samples were documented suicide. We must continue to assess these results with a well designed Interventional study, but it is a potential single nutritional intervention to justify further investigation. »

"Our findings add to a vast body of research that points to a fundamental role in the DHA and protection from mental health problems and suicide risk, other Omega-3 fatty acids", said the U.S. Public Health Service Capt. (Dr.) Joseph Hibbeln, acting Chief of the Division of nutritional neuroscience in the NIAAA laboratory of Membrane Biochemistry and Biophysics and author corresponding. "For example a previous placebo-controlled trial demonstrated that 2 grams of fatty acids Omega-3 reduces daily suicidal by 45%, depression and self-harm scores of anxiety in individuals with recurring." He added that in a previous study they found low blood levels of DHA correlated with the hyperactivity of brain regions in a pattern very similar to the pathology of major depression and suicide risk.

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Acids Fat Omega-3 are essential nutrients that the body cannot do, so they must come from food sources. DHA, the principal Omega-3 fatty acid, concentrated in the brain, is important throughout life for optimal brain development and function. Seafood is an important food source of Omega-3 fatty acids.

Previous studies have associated with low levels of fatty acids Omega-3 or low intake of seafood, with the suicide, the ideas of suicide and depression. Many, but not all, treatment of studies also reported the benefits for the mental health of DHA further, including reduced anxiety, depression and risk of psychosis.