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Epilepsy can be treated with fish oil
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Fish oil can significantly help in the fight against epilepsy.
According to the results of the new experiment, the scientists established that docosahexaenoic acid allows to reduce the frequency of convulsive attacks in rodents, by increasing the content of estrogens in the brain.
In addition to the anticonvulsant activity of fish oil, specialists were able to prove the presence of synergism of said acid and estrogens. Details of the study are described in the Scientific Reports by the Japanese professor Yasuhiro Ishihara.
Epilepsy refers to chronic neuropathology, in which the main symptom are convulsive attacks caused by increased activity of nerve cells. Pharmacists offer a lot of drugs to correct the state of the patient with epilepsy, but only 70% of patients show a stable therapeutic effect.
Western medical specialists have long had information that one of the main female hormones - estrogen - is able to influence the activity of seizures. However, the specific effect of estrogen on the course of epilepsy has not yet been described.
Several years ago, physicians noticed that omega-3 fatty acids have a certain anticonvulsant effect . So, the fat of herring, mackerel and salmon fish led to a decrease in the frequency of convulsive seizures.
To finally confirm or deny this information, the Japanese decided to study in detail the properties of fish oil.
Experiments were carried out on rodents, which observed certain changes in diet for 28 days.
The first group of rodents was offered soy fat based food, the second group - fodder with linseed oil, and the third group - supplements with fish oil.
At the end of the experiment, the animals were injected with preparations that provoked the appearance of seizures. It was found that the rodents, which adhered to a diet based on fish oil, were the best ones.
Dr. Ishihara went further: he examined the content of estrogen in the brain of mice. He noted that soybean oil led to an increase in the amount of estrogen by almost half, compared to those mice that consumed flax oil. The specialist was surprised, but in the group taking fish oil, the values were the highest.
According to the results of the study it became clear that a high level of estrogen resists the appearance of seizures, and fish oil and the acid contained in it affects the increase in the amount of estrogen, providing anticonvulsant activity.
These conclusions were confirmed twice: the scientists conducted the following experiment, adding to all rodents an anti-estrogen remedy, Letrozole. After the injection of Letrozole guesses were confirmed: animals became more susceptible to convulsions.
Experts have published the results of their experiments and sincerely hope that the components of fish oil will be actively used in the treatment of convulsive syndrome. The following tests, which are already being prepared by scientists, are clinical experiments involving people who have epilepsy.
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