The use of fatty acid supplementation for seizure management

Impressive research demonstrates the importance of essential fatty acids (FA) for many physiological and behavioral mechanisms, in both humans and animals. In humans, essential fatty acids must be supplied via the diet. The genesis, maintenance, exacerbation, and treatment for many chronic health conditions are often related to deficiencies in omega-6 (linoleic acid) and omega-3 (alpha-linolenic acid), and their derivatives. In animal studies, providing supplementation of these FA changes chemical, immune, and structural properties of the brain, including the fluidity of the neuronal membrane. Of particular interest to epilepsy, pre-treatment of a ratio of the FA omega-3 / omega-6 resulted in altering the threshold for seizures following administration of convulsant agents that reliably induce epileptic activity. This report reviews the human and animal clinical and experimental data and theoretical considerations that support the promise for FA supplementation for use by seizure patients.