Gertsik, L. Omega-3 fatty acid augmentation of citalopram treatment for patients with major depressive disorder. Lesperance, F. The efficacy of omega-3 supplementation for major depression: a randomized controlled trial. Dashtikhavidaki, S. Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on depression and quality of life in maintenance hemodialysis patients. Article Google Scholar. A double-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial comparing eicosapentaenoic acid versus docosahexaenoic acid for depression.
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Mcnamara, R. Omega-3 fatty acid deficiency during perinatal development increases serotonin turnover in the prefrontal cortex and decreases midbrain tryptophan hydroxylase-2 expression in adult female rats: dissociation from estrogenic effects. Freund Levi, Y. Download references. The work described is original research that has not been published previously and is not under consideration for publication elsewhere, in whole or in part.
All of the authors listed have approved the enclosed manuscript. You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar. Correspondence to Beifang Fan or Ciyong Lu. The original online version of this article was revised: After the publication of the article the authors noticed that names of two authors have not been spelled fully.
Reprints and Permissions. Liao, Y. Transl Psychiatry 9, Download citation. Received : 12 November Revised : 29 April Accepted : 01 June Published : 05 August Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:.
Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article. Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative. Molecular Psychiatry Translational Psychiatry Scientific Reports Advanced search. Skip to main content Thank you for visiting nature. Download PDF. Subjects Clinical pharmacology Depression. This article has been updated. Abstract We conducted this meta-analysis of double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trials to estimate the efficacy of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids PUFAs , especially docosahexaenoic acid DHA and eicosapentaenoic acid EPA , in the improvement of depression.
Introduction A growing body of evidence has indicated that omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids omega-3 PUFAs have been effective in improving depression 1 , 2. These negative effects include:. These types of fish include:. Fish oil and omega-3 supplements may also interact with some medications — including some that are over-the-counter. Talk to your doctor before starting any new supplements or vitamins.
Although there are few side effects to getting the recommended amounts of fish oil and omega-3s into your diet, it should be something you discuss with your doctor. For other herbs and supplements, these may help in the treatment of your depression. While fish oil is typically praised for its benefits for heart health, it also has incredible effects on brain and mental health.
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Fresh foods and nutritional supplements are key. Depression can be debilitating for those that experience it. But there are many effective treatments available that can help you manage your symptoms. More states are legalizing medical marijuana, but what does that mean for people with depression? Learn more about medical marijuana as a possible…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect.
Mental Health. To give some perspective, 1 gram per day would correspond to eating three salmon meals per week. Meta-analyses research that combines and analyzes results of multiple studies generally suggest that the omega-3s are effective, but the findings are not unanimous because of variability between doses, ratios of EPA to DHA, and other study design issues.
While DHA is thought to be less effective as an antidepressant, it may have protective effects against suicide. Recent work at Massachusetts General Hospital and Emory University suggests that depressed individuals who are overweight and have elevated inflammatory activity may be particularly good candidates for EPA treatment. Children and adolescents with depression may also benefit from omega-3 supplementation. At Harvard, there is a large study underway examining whether omega-3 supplementation alone or in combination with vitamin D can prevent depression in healthy older adults.
Omega-3s have been studied in various mood disorders, such as postpartum depression, with some promising results. In bipolar disorder manic depression , the omega-3s may be most effective for the depressed phase rather than the manic phase of the illness.
The omega-3s have also been proposed to alleviate or prevent other psychiatric conditions including schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and attention deficit disorder. However, there is still not enough evidence to recommend the omega-3s in these conditions. I am more cautious in patients with bipolar depression, because the omega-3s may bring on mania, as can most antidepressants.
In these individuals, I recommend using omega-3 cautiously, and preferably in combination with a prescription mood stabilizer. Omega-3s are generally safe and well tolerated. Stomach upset and "fishy taste" have been the most common complaints, but they are less frequent now thanks to manufacturing methods that reduce impurities.
Past concerns about omega-3s increasing the risk of bleeding have been largely disproven, but caution is still advised in people taking blood thinners or who are about to undergo surgery. As mentioned, caution is needed in people with bipolar disorder to prevent cycling to mania. Because omega-3s are important to brain development, and pregnancy depletes omega-3 in expectant mothers, supplementation should theoretically benefit pregnant women and their children.
Fish consumption in pregnancy is supported by the FDA, but because we do not have long-term data on safety or optimal dosing of omega-3s in pregnancy, expectant mothers should consider omega-3 supplements judiciously.
Omega-3 fatty acids are promising natural treatments for mood disorders, but we need more research about how they work, how effective they really are, and their long-term safety before we can make conclusive recommendations for people managing mental health conditions or who wish to improve mood. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. While I think the article is good, it does not tell the reader that most of fish oil capsules sold over the counter are unregulated, and contain widely different ingredients and potency levels. They are mostly a waste of money.
If you have health concerns, you need to consult an MD or a Registered Dietitian. Not a naturopath, homeopath, or other pseudoscience practitioner. Eat a diet rich in whole grains, nuts, and some oily fish.
I take a multivitamin supplement made by CVS, formulated for my gender and age. Not from the food supplement shelves, which are unregulated, and might contain anything at all, or nothing but vegetable oil or cornstarch. Your concerns are very valid. The quality of commercially available omega-3 preparations can vary greatly.
In our clinical trials we use preparations made by reputable manufacturers with high standards. We also have the preparations analyzed by 2 independent labs to confirm omega-3 content, impurities, and degree of oxidation, prior to initiating the study.
While omega-3 fatty acids—like most nutrients—are ideally obtained through dietary practice, because many people may not enjoy omega-3 containing foods, supplements may be a good option for these individuals. Anyone who is interested in using an omega-3 preparation for treating a psychiatric condition should do so preferably under the supervision of a psychiatrist. The omega-3s found in vegetable sources differ from those found in fish.
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