Health Advice: Do Omega-3 Supplements Affect Mood?

By Janice Kiecolt-Glaser, Ph.D.

I've been considering taking Omega-3 supplements since I heard they can improve mood. Is there really a link?

Omega-3 supplements can be good for your mind as well as your body. Fish oil is the prime source of two key omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA). Epidemiological studies have demonstrated significant inverse relationships between annual fish consumption and prevalence of major depression: The more fish eaten, the lower the levels of serious clinical depression.

Researchers have shown that depressed patients have, on average, lower levels of omega-3 in their blood than nondepressed individuals; furthermore, they have found evidence that greater severity of depression is linked to lower levels of omega-3. A number of well-controlled depression treatment studies have found therapeutic benefits following omega-3 supplementation. Omega-3 fatty acids also benefit patients with cardiovascular disease, and there is a very well-known association between depression and cardiovascular disease that may reflect a common factor for both: deficiencies in omega-3 fatty acids. Link...