Balancing your omega threes and ensuring adequate intake of long chain omega threes DHA and EPA should assist neurological function.
At the most basic level neurons need DHA. Women have higher neuron density. Women have a higher DHA requirement.
Babies are DHA hoovers and may deplete a mothers brain DHA. Some women's brains do shrink in pregnancy.
This is a search of the NCBI library on DHA and depression. I have copied below as the list of trials is more powerful than any explanation I can give.
You may also be interested in the `Greek Diet' thread which looks at omega three and six and BC etc.
A trial in France where they looked at breast fat tissue at the same times as lump excisions produced the result that women in the highest third for DHA EPA fats in breast tissue had a 70% lower risk of the lumps being invasive.
If you click on the link below you will find the trial links below and more.
RB
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/en...ubmed_RVDocSum
Selective deficits in the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid in the postmortem orbitofrontal cortex of patients with major depressive disorder.
"
Deficits in DHA concentrations were greater in female MDD patients (-32%) than in male MDD patients (-16%), and could not be wholly attributed to lifestyle factors or postmortem tissue variables......
CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate a selective deficit in the omega-3 fatty acid DHA in the orbitofrontal cortex of patients with MDD [major depressive disorder]. This finding adds to a growing body of evidence implicating omega-3 fatty acid deficiency as well as the orbitofrontal cortex in the pathophysiology and potentially pathogenesis of MDD."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/en...pression%20dha
Related Articles
Conklin SM, Manuck SB, Yao JK, Flory JD, Hibbeln JR, Muldoon MF.
Abstract
High {omega}-6 and Low {omega}-3 Fatty Acids are Associated With Depressive Symptoms and Neuroticism.
Psychosom Med. 2007 Nov 8; [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 17991818 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
2:
Related Articles
Sublette ME, Bosetti F, Demar JC, Ma K, Bell JM, Fagin-Jones S, Russ MJ, Rapoport SI.
Abstract
Plasma free polyunsaturated fatty acid levels are associated with symptom severity in acute mania.
Bipolar Disord. 2007 Nov;9(7):759-65.
PMID: 17988367 [PubMed - in process]
3:
Related Articles, Links
Freeman MP, Sinha P.
Abstract
Tolerability of omega-3 fatty acid supplements in perinatal women.
Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2007 Nov 2; [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 17981449 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
4:
Related Articles, Links
Rogers PJ, Appleton KM, Kessler D, Peters TJ, Gunnell D, Hayward RC, Heatherley SV, Christian LM, McNaughton SA, Ness AR.
Abstract
No effect of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (EPA and DHA) supplementation on depressed mood and cognitive function: a randomised controlled trial.
Br J Nutr. 2007 Oct 24;:1-11 [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 17956647 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
5:
Related Articles, Links
Ross BM, Seguin J, Sieswerda LE.
Free Full Text
Omega-3 fatty acids as treatments for mental illness: which disorder and which fatty acid?
Lipids Health Dis. 2007 Sep 18;6(1):21 [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 17877810 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
6:
Related Articles, Links
Lin PY, Su KP.
Abstract
A meta-analytic review of double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of antidepressant efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids.
J Clin Psychiatry. 2007 Jul;68(7):1056-61.
PMID: 17685742 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
7:
Related Articles, Links
[No authors listed]
No Abstract
Omega-3 might ease depression, enhance mind & memory. There's a growing body of evidence that DHA benefits gray matter, but it's not a cure-all, say researchers.
Health News. 2007 Jun;13(6):4-5. No abstract available.
PMID: 17649598 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
8:
Related Articles, Links
Freund-Levi Y, Basun H, Cederholm T, Faxén-Irving G, Garlind A, Grut M, Vedin I, Palmblad J, Wahlund LO, Eriksdotter-Jönhagen M.
Abstract
Omega-3 supplementation in mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease: effects on neuropsychiatric symptoms.
Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2007 Jun 21; [Epub ahead of print]
PMID: 17582225 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
9:
Related Articles, Links
Sinclair AJ, Begg D, Mathai M, Weisinger RS.
Abstract
Omega 3 fatty acids and the brain: review of studies in depression.
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2007;16 Suppl 1:391-7. Review.
PMID: 17392137 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
10:
Related Articles, Links
Conklin SM, Harris JI, Manuck SB, Yao JK, Hibbeln JR, Muldoon MF.
Abstract
Serum omega-3 fatty acids are associated with variation in mood, personality and behavior in hypercholesterolemic community volunteers.
Psychiatry Res. 2007 Jul 30;152(1):1-10. Epub 2007 Mar 23.
PMID: 17383013 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
11:
Related Articles, Links
Bourre JM.
Abstract
Dietary omega-3 fatty acids for women.
Biomed Pharmacother. 2007 Feb-Apr;61(2-3):105-12. Epub 2007 Jan 2. Review.
PMID: 17254747 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
12:
Related Articles, Links
Freeman MP, Hibbeln JR, Wisner KL, Davis JM, Mischoulon D, Peet M, Keck PE Jr, Marangell LB, Richardson AJ, Lake J, Stoll AL.
Abstract
Omega-3 fatty acids: evidence basis for treatment and future research in psychiatry.
J Clin Psychiatry. 2006 Dec;67(12):1954-67. Review. Erratum in: J Clin Psychiatry. 2007 Feb;68(2):338.
PMID: 17194275 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
13:
Related Articles, Links
McNamara RK, Hahn CG, Jandacek R, Rider T, Tso P, Stanford KE, Richtand NM.
Abstract
Selective deficits in the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid in the postmortem orbitofrontal cortex of patients with major depressive disorder.
Biol Psychiatry. 2007 Jul 1;62(1):17-24. Epub 2006 Dec 22.
PMID: 17188654 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
14:
Related Articles, Links
Levant B, Ozias MK, Carlson SE.
Abstract
Specific brain regions of female rats are differentially depleted of docosahexaenoic acid by reproductive activity and an (n-3) fatty acid-deficient diet.
J Nutr. 2007 Jan;137(1):130-4.
PMID: 17182813 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
15:
Related Articles, Links
Huang SY, Yang HT, Chiu CC, Pariante CM, Su KP.
Abstract
Omega-3 fatty acids on the forced-swimming test.
J Psychiatr Res. 2008 Jan;42(1):58-63. Epub 2006 Oct 30.
PMID: 17070845 [PubMed - in process]
16:
Related Articles, Links
Bourre JM.
Abstract
Effects of nutrients (in food) on the structure and function of the nervous system: update on dietary requirements for brain. Part 2 : macronutrients.
J Nutr Health Aging. 2006 Sep-Oct;10(5):386-99. Review.
PMID: 17066210 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
17:
Related Articles, Links
Rao JS, Ertley RN, Lee HJ, DeMar JC Jr, Arnold JT, Rapoport SI, Bazinet RP.
Abstract
n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid deprivation in rats decreases frontal cortex BDNF via a p38 MAPK-dependent mechanism.
Mol Psychiatry. 2007 Jan;12(1):36-46. Epub 2006 Sep 19.
PMID: 16983391 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
18:
Related Articles, Links
Nieminen LR, Makino KK, Mehta N, Virkkunen M, Kim HY, Hibbeln JR.
Abstract
Relationship between omega-3 fatty acids and plasma neuroactive steroids in alcoholism, depression and controls.
Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2006 Oct-Nov;75(4-5):309-14. Epub 2006 Sep 7.
PMID: 16959481 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
19:
Related Articles, Links
McNamara RK, Carlson SE.
Abstract
Role of omega-3 fatty acids in brain development and function: potential implications for the pathogenesis and prevention of psychopathology.
Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2006 Oct-Nov;75(4-5):329-49. Epub 2006 Sep 1. Review.
PMID: 16949263 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
20:
Related Articles, Links
Levant B, Ozias MK, Carlson SE.
Free Full Text
Diet (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acid content and parity interact to alter maternal rat brain phospholipid fatty acid composition.
J Nutr. 2006 Aug;136(8):2236-42.
PMID: 16857847 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]