Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on rodent models of bipolar disorder and alcoholism

Abstract

Our laboratory has previously identified the clock gene D-box Binding Protein (DBP) as a candidate gene for bipolar disorder and alcoholism using a Convergent Functional Genomics (CFG) approach. In subsequent work, we established mice with a homozygous deletion of DBP as a stress-reactive genetic animal model of bipolar disorder and co-morbid alcoholism. In the present study, we found that the omega-3 fatty acid, DHA, may have mood stabilizing capabilities in stressed DBP knockout mice, and reduces alcohol consumption in these mice as well as in the alcohol preferring (P) rats. Given their potential health benefits and their relative lack of negative side-effects, omega-3 fatty acids may become an important supplement for bipolar patients and co-morbid alcoholics, a potential that warrants continued research.