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Depression Recovery From Fish Oil

May 18, 2011 | By Jessica Ramer
Depression Recovery From Fish Oil
Photo Credit parody of bigger fish eat smallest fish image by Oculo from Fotolia.com

Research has shown that populations consuming large amounts of fatty fish, which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, have lower levels of depression than those who don't. These observations, combined with clinical studies showing that depressed patients frequently have lower levels of omega-3 fatty acids than non-depressed patients, have led to an interest in fish oil as a treatment for various types of depression.

Mild to Moderate Depression

While not all studies show that fish oil can alleviate mild depression, many do. A 2010 study in Italy found that omega-3 fatty acids reduced depression and improved quality of life for female nursing home residents. A similar, randomized, double-blind study in Iran found that low doses of fish oil for six months reduced depression among both male and female residents of a care center.

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Bipolar Depression

A review of double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical studies suggests that supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids produces modest improvements in major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder. A statistical analysis of these studies suggests that EPA may be more effective than DHA. However, patients were given fish oil in addition to traditional psychiatric medications. None of the data suggests that fish oil alone is an effective treatment for serious depressive disorders.

Post-Partum Depression

Studies of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation during pregnancy have produced mixed results. In a review of ten studies, six found no effect, two found mixed results and two reported positive effects. The studies showing that omega-3 fatty acids reduced perinatal depression used larger doses of two grams or more and began supplementing earlier in the pregnancy. These modest results do not mean that diet plays no role in preventing post-partum depression. A study of women in Crete found that women who ate a healthy diet consisting of fish, vegetables, fruits, nuts, beans and olive oil were 50 percent less likely to have symptoms of post-partum depression than women eating conventional western diets. This result suggests that it is the overall quality of the diet, rather than the presence or absence of one nutrient, that has the strongest impact on maternal mental health.

Preventive Strategies

While fish oil seems to have only modest effects in ameliorating depressive or bipolar symptoms once the disease process has begun, some research indicates that it can play an important role in preventing their onset. The earliest symptoms of bipolar disorder that appear before the onset of actual mania are depression, irritability, sleep disturbances, short attention spans and hypomania. Because early symptoms of bipolar disorder often appear in adolescents up to ten years before genuine mania develops, interventions must be safe and well-tolerated. Some antidepressants can trigger mania and have severe side effects, including ones that can alter the nervous system. Omega-3 fatty acids, on the other hand, have been shown to be useful in treating adolescent psychiatric disorders and have other benefits as well. Research suggests that a valuable strategy to delay, if not prevent, the onset of bipolar disorder would consist of a combination of supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids combined with supportive therapy.

References

Article reviewed by Jenna Marie Last updated on: May 18, 2011

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