Domestic Abuse and Omega 3

[Ted Hutchinson]

I will be adding to this thread the research available linking low Omega 3 DHA status to hostility, aggression and domestic violence.

Before I start I want to make it quite clear that this is not meant as an excuse for domestic abuse.

There is NO EXCUSE for violence against another person.

But having said that the threshold for violence in some people is very low and an explanation for this may be found in the nutrient status in the brain. While I personally consider the best, only advice to someone on the receiving end of Domestic abuse is leave, now, straight away and NEVER RETURN I am well aware, having friends who ran a safe house for battered wives, that people usually only seek refuge after several incidents of abuse, and many having reached the refuge and apparently got themselves sorted then either return to the abuser or find another partner who treats them in the same abusive manner.

It may be that providing the scientific nutrient deficiency basis underlying domestic abuse, self harm, suicide and other hostile and aggressive behaviours some people may find a way of reducing the level or frequency of abusive events.

[Ted Hutchinson]

The relationship between folate and docosahexaenoic acid in men. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=16278690)Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3), an essential omega 3 fatty acid, may protect against disorders of emotional regulation as well as cardiovascular disease. Animal studies demonstrate that dietary folate can increase tissue concentrations of DHA, although the literature, to date, includes no human studies examining the possibility that folate status may affect plasma DHA concentrations. The objective of this study is to determine if the blood concentrations of folate and DHA are correlated in humans. ..............The positive relationship between plasma DHA and RBC folate concentrations suggests that these two nutrients should be examined together in order to make the most accurate inferences about their relative contributions to disease pathogenesis. Our findings present one explanation why some conditions associated with hostility and low DHA status, such as cardiovascular disease and emotional disorders, are also associated with low folate status.

[Ted Hutchinson]

Omega-3 fatty acid deficiencies in neurodevelopment, aggression and autonomic dysregulation: opportunities for intervention. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=16777665)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.

[Ted Hutchinson]

Omega-3 status and cerebrospinal fluid corticotrophin releasing hormone in perpetrators of domestic violence. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=15576068&query_hl=14&itool=pubmed_docsum)BACKGROUND: Elevated levels of corticotrophin-releasing hormone in the cortical-hippocampal-amygdala pathway increase fear and anxiety, which are components of defensive and violent behaviors. Prostaglandins E2 and F2alpha, which increase corticotrophin-releasing hormone RNA expression in this pathway, are reduced by dietary intakes of omega-3 fats. METHODS: Among 21 perpetrators of domestic violence, cerebrospinal fluid and plasma were assessed for corticotrophin-releasing hormone and fatty acid compositions, respectively. RESULTS: Lower plasma docosahexaenoic acid (wt% fatty acids) alone predicted greater cerebrospinal fluid corticotrophin-releasing hormone (pg/mL), in exponential (r = -.67, p < .006) and linear regressions (r = -0.68, p < .003 excluding four subjects with the highest docosahexaenate levels). CONCLUSIONS: In this small observational study, low plasma docosahexaenoic acid levels were correlated to higher cerebrospinal fluid corticotrophin-releasing hormone levels. Placebo controlled trials can determine if dietary omega-3 fatty acids can reduce excessive corticotrophin-releasing hormone levels in psychiatric illnesses.

[Ted Hutchinson]

In humans, the seasonal variation in poly-unsaturated fatty acids is related to the seasonal variation in violent suicide and serotonergic markers of violent suicide. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=15172679&query_hl=14&itool=pubmed_docsum)Our results show that there is a true seasonality in long-chain PUFAs, such as AA, EPA and DHA. The results suggest that the seasonality in PUFAs may be related to the incidence of violent suicide and the expression of the serotonin transporter complex

[JAVISI]

Dear Ted,
Very interesting. I was abused by a man and left a year ago and divorced him. My illness really made me think if I wanted to live that way. My best friend said if you had a year to live would you be happy in your life the way you lived, The answer is NO!

My Ex was very mean especially when he would drink, His dad also was an abusive man. I don't know prior to that. I came from an alcoholic family my da was very abusive to my mom, never to us kids. Being the oldest I was the peacemaker and caregiver.

I so wanted to break the cycle so my kids did not fall into this pattern in their lives. I waited until they were grown and out of the house before I left. I thought that I was doing the right thing but now in hindsight, I am frustrated that I didn't leave sooner. Now all I can do is watch the destruction in their lives and feel guilty.

Dream Big, with hopes of inner Peace to all, Javisi:)

[Ted Hutchinson]

Dietary studies are indicated to determine if essential fatty acid supplementation can influence central nervous system serotonin and dopamine metabolism and modify impulsive behaviors related to these neurotransmitters.
(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=9715354&query_hl=3&itool=pubmed_docsum)

[Ted Hutchinson]

Patients (n=49) presenting after an act of repeated self-harm were randomised to receive 1.2 g eicosapentaenoic acid plus 0.9 g decosahexaenoic acid (n=22) or placebo (n=27) for 12 weeks in addition to standard psychiatric care. Six psychological domains were measured at baseline and end point. RESULTS: At 12 weeks, the n-3 EFA group had significantly greater improvements in scores for depression, suicidality and daily stresses. Scores for impulsivity, aggression and hostility did not differ. (http://bjp.rcpsych.org/cgi/content/abstract/190/2/118) While this report is about self-harm rather than domestic abuse, and it shows a 12 week course of 1.2EPA+.9DHA didn't reduce scores for impulsivity, aggression and hostility, it did show Supplementation achieved substantial reductions in surrogate markers of suicidal behaviour and improvements in well-being.

Maybe a longer course using a higher ratio of DHA<>EPA would have achieved a lowering of aggression and hostility?

[Ted Hutchinson]

Lower omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and lower docosahexaenoic acid in men with pedophilia. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=17187003&query_hl=11&itool=pubmed_docsum)One hypothesis is that a depletion of n-3 HUFAs and DHA may cause alterations in the serotonergic turnover, which are related to impulse discontrol and aggression-hostility, behaviors which are associated with pedophilia.

The point of including this abstract is to show another form of impulse discontol and aggression/hostility behaviour associated with low omega 3 (dha in particular).

[Ted Hutchinson]

Omega-3 fatty acids and rodent behavior. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=16973342)This paper reviews the role of the n-3 fatty acids in the regulation of cognitive functions, locomotor and exploratory activity and emotional status in rodents. There are disparate data on the performance of n-3 fatty acid deficient animals in the open field test and elevated plus maze. Results obtained in our laboratory indicated slower habituation to the open field in deficient mice, which affects total locomotor and exploratory parameters. We also observed no change in plus maze performance of deficient mice under low-stress but elevated anxiety under high-stress conditions. There is some evidence of elevated aggression and increased immobility time in the forced swimming test caused by n-3 fatty acid deficiency in rodents. Effects of n-3 fatty acid deficiency and supplementation on learning in several tests such as the Morris water maze, two odor olfactory discriminations, radial arm maze performance and avoidance tasks are reviewed in detail. There is some evidence of an enhanced vulnerability to stress of n-3 fatty acid deficient animals and this factor can influence performance in a variety of tests. Thus, behavioral tasks that involve a higher level of stress may better differentiate behavioral effects related to brain docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) status. It is suggested that a fruitful area for future investigations of functional alterations related to brain DHA status will be the delineation of the factors underlying changes in performance in behavioral tasks. The possible role of non-cognitive factors like emotionality and attention in the impaired performance of n-3 fatty acid deficient animals also requires further investigation.

[JAVISI]

Ted,
Being a R.N, this is very interesting. I think that it would be a wonderful world if domestic abuse could be erradicated! Maybe some day. I have a nurturing personality. I was the adult growing up. So becoming a Nurse was always easy for me.

Good luck in this endevour!
Dream Big, with hope for Inner Peace to all!
Javisi:)