Re: Re: Tough case--need advice

[Guest guest]

Has anyone found fish oil usage to be helpful in binge eating disorders?

SR , RD

Madison, WI

" Monika M. Woolsey,

MS, RD " To:

<rd-usa >

<neuroendolist@afterth cc:

ediet.com> Subject: Re: Re:

Tough case--need advice

10/12/2004 09:43 AM

Please respond to

rd-usa

Dina,

Check out the book, " The Omega 3 Connection, " by Stoll. He is the

researcher who published the first double blind study using fish oil for

bipolar disorder.

In my eating disorder work, I apparently work with vegetarian extremists

who will often look for any excuse to avoid doing something new! But then

by my definition they are not true vegetarians--a vegetarian meets his/her

daily needs without the use of animal products, while a person with an

eating disorder does not eat animal products and does not replace those

eliminations with adequate substitutes. I don't even allow my clients to

call themselves vegetarian unless their diet is adequate.

Monika

Re: Tough case--need advice

Shirley,

One of the most readily available brands is Neuromins. It is made from

marine algae (technically not vegan but most vegans will use it).

Keep in mind marine algae is DHA only, there is no EPA. Most

psychiatrists

who use fish oils note that they work best when DHA and EPA are used in

equal

quantities. DHA will retroconvert to EPA once tissues are saturated, but

in

the case of an ED where DHA is likely depleted, it can take some time for

this

to happen. So the rapid changes I refer to may not be so rapid when

malnutrition complicates the picture and the client is " going through the

back door " to

get the essential nutrient.

Monika

[Guest guest]

Shirley,

If the bingeing is related to carbohydrate cravings or depression, then yes.

Monika

Re: Tough case--need advice

Shirley,

One of the most readily available brands is Neuromins. It is made from

marine algae (technically not vegan but most vegans will use it).

Keep in mind marine algae is DHA only, there is no EPA. Most

psychiatrists

who use fish oils note that they work best when DHA and EPA are used in

equal

quantities. DHA will retroconvert to EPA once tissues are saturated, but

in

the case of an ED where DHA is likely depleted, it can take some time for

this

to happen. So the rapid changes I refer to may not be so rapid when

malnutrition complicates the picture and the client is " going through the

back door " to

get the essential nutrient.

Monika

[Guest guest]

For a teen, would you recommend a standard 1000 mg fish oil supplement or

2000-3000?

SR , RD

Madison, WI

" Monika M. Woolsey,

MS, RD " To:

<rd-usa >

<neuroendolist@afterth cc:

ediet.com> Subject: Re: Re:

Tough case--need advice

10/14/2004 11:50 AM

Please respond to

rd-usa

Shirley,

If the bingeing is related to carbohydrate cravings or depression, then

yes.

Monika

Re: Tough case--need advice

Shirley,

One of the most readily available brands is Neuromins. It is made from

marine algae (technically not vegan but most vegans will use it).

Keep in mind marine algae is DHA only, there is no EPA. Most

psychiatrists

who use fish oils note that they work best when DHA and EPA are used in

equal

quantities. DHA will retroconvert to EPA once tissues are saturated,

but

in

the case of an ED where DHA is likely depleted, it can take some time

for

this

to happen. So the rapid changes I refer to may not be so rapid when

malnutrition complicates the picture and the client is " going through

the

back door " to

get the essential nutrient.

Monika

[Guest guest]

Shirley,

I work off of the assumption that I am resolving a deficiency, not maintaining

an already healthy state. So I double the recommended daily dose to 2

grams/day. If there are a lot of comorbidities, such as irritable bowel, memory

problems, you may wish to raise that to 3 or 4 if 2 isn't getting you anywhere.

An interesting thing I am observing in these kids is that as their fatty acid

balance resolves they start to complain of diarrhea/cramping/nausea when they

eat junk food. I have not seen this in the literature...but it has happened to

3 of my kids in a row. It's almost as if when the body is healthy it fights off

junk food! I love it because it's a negative reinforcement for eating that way.

Monika

Re: Tough case--need advice

Shirley,

One of the most readily available brands is Neuromins. It is made from

marine algae (technically not vegan but most vegans will use it).

Keep in mind marine algae is DHA only, there is no EPA. Most

psychiatrists

who use fish oils note that they work best when DHA and EPA are used in

equal

quantities. DHA will retroconvert to EPA once tissues are saturated,

but

in

the case of an ED where DHA is likely depleted, it can take some time

for

this

to happen. So the rapid changes I refer to may not be so rapid when

malnutrition complicates the picture and the client is " going through

the

back door " to

get the essential nutrient.

Monika