confusion over what is the best dosage for pure EPA.

[ratboy83]

hi there,

research has shown that the most effective type of Omega 3 for depression is EPA. although studies using fish oil containing both EPA and DHA have yielded success for treating depression, studies using pure EPA have yielded the best results, and the only negative results have been for studies using pure DHA. for the studies using pure EPA it has been discovered that 'less is more' and the best daily amount of EPA is 1000mg.
for these reasons i have been taking mind1st's pure EPA (no DHA) for a couple of months now. i have experienced some success but i am now not sure if i'm taking the optimum daily amount. i have been taking the max dose (4 a day) but think that i should maybe drop down. the capsules come in 500mg strengths and within that 500mg is 300mg of EPA, so should i be taking 3-4 to get an average of 1000mg a day or does the optimum level relate to the strength of the overall caplsule, so therefore should i be taking just 2 capsules a day? what do people think?
does anyone else take this brand of EPA? what have their experiences been?

alex.

[vg2d]

I have never taken that brand. I take OmegaBrite which has 350 mg of EPA per 500mg capsule so it is a higher concentrate. The research I have read says 1-2 grams of EPA itself for depression and that over 2 grams has not been a benefit. But I know that Dr. Ratey and Dr. Stoll often use more than 2 grams for depression and ADD so I think that you have to use what works best for you. Dr. Wozniak just did a study on kids and bipolar (94% met full criteria for ADD) and her study found the best result for kids who took at least 2 grams of EPA per day. Her MGH study was done using OmegaBrite. I think you have to go with what works for you but I would not limit yourself to 1 gram. I take 5 OmegaBrite which is 1750 mg EPA and I like that alot. Try between 1-2 grams of EPA. And Ratey is very big on exercise with it for ADD and depression. You can try different amounts.