The evidence is convergent. Multiple independent sources reach the same conclusion, the underlying mechanism is well-characterized, and even the field's most cautious voices treat it as worth doing.
And so, for example, in animal studies, if you make an animal deficient in DHA, their serotonin receptors, dopamine receptors, they're affected because the structure of them is affected through the fluidity of the membrane.
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And then, another would be, well, DHA itself has been shown, it's a very important fatty acid that makes up cell membranes, many cell membranes, including in our neurons.
And, as you very well know, Andrew, the structure and function of receptors of transporters, these membrane-bound proteins on the surface of our cells, including neurons, are affected by the membrane fluidity, like how rigid and how fluid the cell membrane is, and DHA plays a role in that.
The influence of omega-3 fatty acids is central to that discussion.
for example in animal studies if you make an animal deficient in DHA their serotonin receptors dopamine receptors they're affected because the structure of them is affected through the fluidity of the membrane.
DHA itself has been shown it's it's a very important uh fatty acid that makes up cell membranes many cell membranes including in our neurons and as you very well know Andrew the structure and function of receptors of transporters these membranebound proteins on the surface of of our cells including neurons are affected by the membrane fluidity you know like how rigid and how fluid the cell membrane is and DHA plays a role in that.
well doah heex enoic acid DHA is very important for the cell membrane and particularly in neurons the cell membrane has a certain fluidity to it and this fluidity is very important because receptors are embedded in that cell membrane and if you disrupt that cell membrane fluidity it changes the structure and ultimately the function of those receptors including the serotonin receptors which cross the membrane seven times and it's been shown that when you deplete mice of DHA that their serotonin receptor changes in structure and subsequently they can't uh bind it does not bind to the serotonin as well
In fact, if you're not getting enough DHA, what happens is transporters and receptors like neurotransmitter receptors like serotonin, like dopamine, they're structurally not uh optimal because the membrane stiffer and so neurotransmitters can't bind them as well. And so you'll find that transport of nutrients, even glucose. There's been studies showing that glucose transport into the brain across the bloodb brain barrier because the glute transporters are they're they're structurally not optimal. When you don't have enough DHA, which accumulates at the bloodb brain barrier, then you're not getting enough
Well, DHA does the opposite. It makes it more flexible. it makes it more fluid and so um it's very important component of our cell membranes including in our neurons.
DHA is predominantly found in our cell membranes. It plays a role in the fluidity of our membrane. So it does kind of the opposite of what trans fats do. Trans fats will stiffen. They get incorporated into the cell membrane endthelial cells lining the lining our vascular system or arteries. They'll stiffen it and cause cardiovascular disease. Well, DHA does the opposite. It makes it more flexible. it makes it more fluid and so um it's very important component of our cell membranes including in our neurons.
but also the the cell membranes. It's it's in our in our neurons, the cell membranes are very important. And the fluidity, much like in our cardiovascular system, the fluidity is extremely important because all of our transporters and receptors for neurotransmitters, they're all in that cell membrane. It's very important for the structure and function of our receptors and transporters.