Omega-3 fatty acids and omega-3 phosphatidylcholine in the treatment of bipolar disorder

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method of treating patients with bipolar disorder by administering omega-3 fatty acids. These may be administered in a substantially purified form, as part of a pharmaceutical composition, or as part of a larger molecule, e.g. a triacylglycerol, which releases free fatty acid after ingestion by a patient. The present invention is also directed to triacylglycerols which are esterified at the gamma carbon of glycerol to phosphocholine and at either the alpha or beta carbon of glycerol to an omega-3 fatty acid. These “omega-3 phoshatidylcholines” are also used in the treatment of patients with bipolar disorder.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of treating a human patient for bipolar disorder, comprising administering an omega-3 fatty acid to said patient at a dosage sufficient to reduce or eliminate the symptoms of said disorder.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said omega-3 fatty acid is administered at a dose of between about 1 and about 30 grams per day.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said omega-3 fatty acid is in a substantially pure form.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said omega-3 fatty acid is eicosapentanoic acid.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said eicosapentanoic acid is administered at a dose of between about 2 and about 10 grams per day.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said omega-3 fatty acid is docosahexanoic acid.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said docosahexanoic acid is administered at a dose of between about 1 and about 5 grams per day.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising administering a source of lithium to said patient at a dose sufficient to reduce or eliminate the symptoms of said disorder.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising administering a source of choline to said patient at a dose effective at reducing or eliminating the symptoms of said disorder.  
     
     
         10 . An omega-3 phosphatidylcholine useful in the treatment of bipolar disorder consisting of glycerol, wherein: 
 a) the α and β carbons of said glycerol are both esterified to a fatty acid, at least one of which is an omega-3 fatty acid; and    b) the γ carbon of said glycerol is esterified to phosphocholine.    
     
     
         11 . The omega-3 phosphatidylcholine of  claim 10 , wherein both the α and β carbons of said glycerol are esterified to an omega-3 fatty acid.  
     
     
         12 . The omega-3 phosphatidylcholines of either  claim 10  or  11 , wherein eicosapentanoic acid is esterified to either the α or β carbon of said glycerol.  
     
     
         13 . The omega-3 phosphatidylcholine of either  claim 10  or  11 , wherein docosahexanoic acid is esterified to either the α or β carbon of said glycerol.  
     
     
         14 . The omega-3 phosphatidylcholine of  claim 10 , wherein eicosapentanoic acid is esterified to the α carbon of said glycerol and docosahexanoic acid is esterified to the β carbon of said glycerol.  
     
     
         15 . The omega-3 phosphatidylcholine of  claim 10 , wherein docosahexanoic acid is esterified to the α carbon of said glycerol and eicosapentanoic acid is esterified to the β carbon of said omega-3 phosphatidylcholines.  
     
     
         16 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising the omega-3 phosphatidylcholine of  claim 10 , wherein one or more unit doses of said composition provides an amount of said omega-3 phosphatidylcholine sufficient to reduce or eliminate the symptoms of said bipolar disorder.  
     
     
         17 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 16 , further comprising a source of lithium.  
     
     
         18 . A method of treating bipolar disorder in a human patient, comprising administering the omega-3 phosphatidyicholine of  claim 10  to said patient at a dose sufficient to reduce or eliminate the symptoms of said disorder.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising administering a source of lithium to said patient at a dosage sufficient to reduce or eliminate the symptoms of said disorder.  
     
     
         20 . A kit comprising a carrier containing enclosed confinement therein one or more components, wherein: 
 a) a first component contains an omega-3 fatty acid; and    b) a second component contains a therapeutic agent useful in the treatment of bipolar disorder.    
     
     
         21 . The kit of  claim 20  wherein: 
 a) said first component contains an omega-3 fatty acid selected from the group consisting of eicosapentanoic acid and docosahexanoic acid; and  
 b) said second component is selected from the group consisting of a source of choline and a source of lithium.  
 
     
     
         22 . A kit comprising a carrier containing in close confinement therein, none or more components wherein: 
 a) a first component contains an omega-3 phosphatidyl-choline; and    b) a second component contains a therapeutic agent useful in the treatment of bipolar disorder.    
     
     
         23 . The kit of  claim 22 , wherein the α carbon of said glycerol is esterified to eicosapentanoic acid and the β carbon of said glycerol is a esterified to docosa-hexanoic acid.  
     
     
         24 . The kit of  claim 22 , wherein the α carbon of said glycerol is esterified to docosahexanoic acid and the β carbon of said glycerol is a esterified to eicosapentanoic acid  
     
     
         24 . The kit of any one of claims  22 - 24 , wherein said second component is selected from the group consisting of a source of choline and a source of lithium.