Tasty scientific fun for all of you who like sorting through the gibberish to get to the facts. Interesting read…
Summary:
Mechanisms by which aggressive and depressive disorders may be exacerbated by nutritional deficiencies in omega-3 fatty
acids are considered. Early developmental deficiencies in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)
may lower serotonin levels at critical periods of neurodevelopment and may result in a cascade of suboptimal development
of neurotransmitter systems limiting regulation of the limbic system by the frontal cortex. Residual developmental deficits
may be manifest as dysregulation of sympathetic responses to stress including decreased heart rate variability and
hypertension, which in turn have been linked to behavioral dysregulation. Little direct data are available to disentangle
residual neurodevelopmental effects from reversible adult pathologies. Ensuring optimal intakes of omega-3 fatty acids
during early development and adulthood shows considerable promise in preventing aggression and hostility.
