How Fatty Acids Help Schizophrenia

There is strong evidence which now suggests that there is an association between schizophrenia and abnormal metabolism of phospholipids, confirming that it is a biochemical, neurological disorder. Evidence suggests that this disorder is closely related to levels of fatty acids in the brain, affecting the levels of neurotransmitters, essential in the communication of messages between brain cells.

Specifically, scientists have found reductions of lipids in the brains of patients with schizophrenia. The consequences of this are significant, as this decreases the ability of brain cells to communicate. Professor Puri and colleagues found that EPA reversed the phospholipid abnormalities associated with schizophrenia, which resulted in a dramatic and sustained clinical improvement in both positive and negative symptoms.

Further corroborating the use of EPA in alleviating symptoms of schizophrenia, brain scans reveal a correlation between lateral ventricle size and psychoses; specifically, schizophrenics often have enlarged ventricles (spaces) in the brain, thus representing a reduction in ‘grey matter’ or brain tissue. When Professor Puri used EPA to treat a patient with schizophrenia, he discovered, to his surprise, that the patient’s brain size had actually increased (the size of the ventricles in the brain had decreased).

VegEPA is now successfully used by Diane Le Fevre of the Mental Health Unit at Basildon Hospital for patients with Schizophrenia.

For a list of research treating schizophrenia using EPA, please click here