The scientific literature contains numerous reports regarding the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids in relation to anxiety disorders; however, omega-3s have not been officially sanctioned as a treatment. The Internet news source Science Daily reported on research presented by University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers at the 64th meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society in 2006. Researchers discovered that adults with low blood levels of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids were more prone to anxiety and depression. According to the researchers, their study opened the doors to future research investigating the link between omega-3s and mood.
Anxiety in Substance Abusers
Physicians reporting in the December 2006 issue of "Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology" observed a strong association between anxiety disorders and substance abuse disorders in patients. Because substance abusers frequently have poor dietary habits, they investigated the theory that omega-3 supplements would decrease anxiety in a study group of abusers. Following three months of treatment, the researchers employed a self-administered test scale for anxiety, tension and mood. The authors reported there was a significant improvement in tension and anxiety in the treated group compared to placebo.
Anxiety in Students
Israeli researchers reporting in the August 2005 issue of "Nutritional Neuroscience" enrolled 126 male undergraduate college students diagnosed as suffering from unusual pre-exam anxiety into a trial to assess the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids on reducing their anxiety. Starting one month before a major exam, morning saliva samples were tested for stress hormone levels and participants answered questionnaires. At the end of the study, 80 percent of the anxious students no longer felt anxious and even non-anxious students in the control group felt more at ease. No improvement was noted in the placebo group.
Social Anxiety Disorder or SAD
Researchers reporting in the February 2006 issue of "European Neuropsychopharmacology" investigated the correlation between the risk of social anxiety disorder and body levels of omega-3s. SAD is characterized by intense fear of rejection and extreme shyness. Twenty-seven non-depressed SAD patients had their blood tested, and the researchers found their levels were about one-third lower than the control subjects. In addition, the researchers reported that patients with the lowest levels of omega-3s also suffered the highest anxiety scores. The results suggest a possible link between low omega-3 levels and social anxiety disorder.
Maternal Deficiency and Anxiety
Spanish researchers reporting in the January 2011 issue of "Nature Neuroscience" theorized that maternal dietary deficiency of omega-3s during gestation may influence synaptic activity in offspring, resulting in mood disorders. To test their hypothesis, they studied mice which had been fed a life-long diet deficient in omega-3s. The researchers discovered that the offspring of the deficient mice lacked cannabinoid receptors that play a major role in synaptic communications. The synaptic dysfunction was accompanied by anxious behaviors in the malnourished mice.
References
- Science Daily: Omega-3 Fatty Acids Influence Mood, Impulsivity and Personality; March 4, 2006
- "Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology"; Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Decrease Anxiety in Substance Abusers; Laure Buydens-Branchey; December 2006
- "Nutritional Neuroscience"; Mixture of Essential Fatty Acids Lowers Test Anxiety; Shlomo Yehuda et al.; August 2005
- "European Neuropsychopharmacology"; Red Cell Membrane Omega-3 Fatty Acids Are Decreased in Nondepressed Patients with Social Anxiety Disorder; February 2006
- "Nature Neuroscience"; Nutritional Omega-3 Deficiency Abolishes Endocannabinoid-mediated Neuronal Functions; Mathieu Lafourcade, et al., January 2011
Member Comments