Fish oil supplements can aid in treating a variety of different health problems, including cardiovascular disease and psychiatric disorders. Fish oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, a type of fat that plays a number of different roles in the human body. Although fish oil can relieve the symptoms of depression and bipolar disorder, you should not use it as a replacement for conventional therapies.
Fish Oil and Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are unsaturated fats your body cannot synthesize, so you must get them from foods such as fatty fish, tofu and flaxseed oil, or from supplements. Omega-3 fatty acids are important for regulating growth and development and are also necessary for the brain to function properly. Fish oil contains two different omega-3 fatty acids, known as EPA and DHA, or eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid.
Fish Oil and Depression
Low levels of EPA and DHA are common in people who suffer from depression, MayoClinic.com notes. Consequently, increasing your intake of these omega-3 fatty acids by consuming fish oil may relieve some of your symptoms if you are depressed. The optimal dose has not yet been established, but consuming between 100 and 300 mg of either EPA or EPA and DHA may lessen depression, MayoClinic.com explains. Fish oil may be more effective at treating severe depression than moderate or mild cases of this psychiatric disorder. A 2003 study published in "European Neuropsychopharmacology" found that a higher dose of omega-3 fatty acids, 9.6 g per day, improved symptoms in patients suffering from major depressive disorder.
Other Conditions
Fish oil may also benefit patients with other disorders, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and attention deficit hyperactive disorder, the University of Maryland Medical Center notes. A 1999 article in "Cochrane Reviews" analyzed studies examining the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on schizophrenia. The authors concluded that while some studies demonstrated benefits for patients with schizophrenia, there was not enough evidence to clearly demonstrate a positive effect. A 2010 article in "Lipids in Health and Disease" noted that omega-3 fatty acids improved symptoms in children with ADHD. In 2006, the "British Journal of Psychiatry" published a study that found that EPA was beneficial for patients with bipolar disorder.
Risks
Fish oil is safe for most people, including women who are breastfeeding or pregnant, MedlinePlus notes. Common side effects include loose stools, belching, nausea, bad breath and heartburn. High doses of fish oil can impair blood clotting, leading to a tendency to bleed or bruise more easily; this effect is more pronounced if you take medications, such as aspirin or warfarin, that thin the blood. Do not use fish oil supplements as a replacement for the care of a medical professional.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Omega-3 Fatty Acids
- MayoClinic.com: Fish Oil and Depression
- "Cochrane Reviews"; Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Supplementation for Schizophrenia; C.B. Irving, et al.; January 1999
- "The British Journal of Psychiatry"; Efficacy of Ethyl-eicosapentaenoic Acid in Bipolar Depression: Randomised Double-blind Placebo-controlled Study; Sophia Frangou, M.D., Ph.D., et al.; 2006
- "Lipids in Health and Disease"; Supplementation of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, Magnesium and Zinc in Children Seeking Medical Advice for Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Problems - an Observational Cohort Study; M. Huss, et al.; September 2010
- "European Neuropsychopharmacology"; Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Major Depressive Disorder: a Preliminary Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial; Kuan-Pin Su, et al.; August 2003
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