Mood and Mind
Anti-depressant effect of omega-3 fatty acids
02.02.2008
Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids from fish oil showed significant anti-depressant effect in 10 double-blind, placebo controlled studies in patients with mood disorders.
Omega-3 supplimentation showed anti-depressant efficacy in a systematic meta-analysis of 10 double-blind, placebo-controlled studies lasting at least one month and involving 329 subjects. The results also indicate that high doses of fish oil omega-3 are far more effective than lower doses. Although the results are promising, more large-scale, well-controlled trials are needed to find out the favourable target subjects, therapeutic dose of EPA, and the composition of omega-3 fatty acids in treating depression.
P-Y Lin and KP SU (2007) A meta-analytic review of double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of antidepressant efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 68, 1056-61.