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FYI -- fish oil and brain


pr40

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story seems unbeleiveble, http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/18/health/fish-oil-recovery/

what's even more strange is that this appears not to be the first case.

i am positng it here since, in part, PANDAS healing involves recovery of certain parts of the brain.

we've been on fish oil (w/out mercury) for as long as on abx.

Edited by pr40
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I don't know that any of the specialists have come to any conclusive recommendations about fish oil dosages, and for some kids, fish oil doesn't work well but, in fact, seems to further encourage unwanted behaviors, including tics.

 

There have also been previous conversations here on the forum about EPA versus DHA and what ratios are ideal with respect to brain function. In our experience, the more readily-available, less expensive forms of fish oil tend to have a lower ratio; there was some research posted here many moons ago, however, that advocated for an EPA:DHA ratio of 7:1 as ideal for brain health, and we've only been successful in finding that in one supplement: Renew Life's Super Critical Omega. We used that formula/brand for nearly 3 years, to good effect, we thought.

 

Meanwhile, for some of the kids for whom fish oil does not appear to be an option, a non-inflammatory form of omega 6 -- evening primrose oil or EPO -- has been recommended and helpful (thanks, in particular, to LLM). We've been using EPO for the last year or so, and I can't say that I see a difference from the period during which we used the fish oil, though our DS is generally in a good place these days and requires less intervention overall.

 

As with most potential interventions, I would pursue this slowly and keep track of responses. Build up the dose, etc., rather than going heavy from the get-go.

Edited by momwithocdson
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Great article!!! Thank you for posting. Totally describes our journey with mainstream medicine and my aggressively seeking other answers (as some of you may know). :)

 

We just ran out of salmon oil, and doctor said it was ok to use Nordic Naturals Salmon Oil or Prenatal DHA. Have not really discussed with ds that he is taking prenatal DHA right now (already had it) for good reason. :)

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Love this article! What hope it offers. Not just the fish oils, but the progesterone as well. We need to repair that bloodbrain barrier! I give my PANS daughter Nordic Naturals - Ultimate Omega Junior EPA 325 mg, DHA 225 mg per dose - which is 2 soft gels. I homeschool her and have REALLY noticed an improvement in her reading and math since we started.

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Dr Murphy in Florida -- PANDAS researcher and treating doctor at USF recommends Omega 3 (only -- no 6 or 9) and to find one that is primarily EPA . Nordic Naturals makes a EPA Extra --

1000 mg a day is her recommendation.

 

I have started "sneaking" liquid Omega 3 (mostly EPA) by Nordic Naturals into my younger daughter's foods--for both daughters I think it seemed to help post-episodes. -- calming to one, though my oldest says she thinks it activates her...so she stopped it totally.

Edited by t_mom
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I think Omega's 6 and 9 are generally NOT recommended for our kids because they can be pro-inflammatory.

 

The difference is EPO, which, though it is an Omega 6, is anti-inflammatory, as I understand it. A good option for kids who's response to fish oil isn't good.

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Why is it better to have more EPA? If I recall correctly, there're a couple of reasons. For one, EPA is more highly anti-inflammatory than DHA. And while EPA is more helpful in that regard, it also slowly converts to DHA, so you want to start out with higher levels of EPA so that the benefits specifically tied to it are available to you, despite the fact that it converts over time.

 

Here's one of the best explanations I've seen:

 

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/in-the-zone/201204/what-are-the-real-differences-between-epa-and-dha

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