Fish oil supplements are sources of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, or PUFAs. Omega-3 PUFAs, especially the eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) provided by fish oil, are important nutrients for health, and they may also be useful in the treatment of certain conditions, including depression. There is insufficient evidence, however, to determine whether fish oil is an effective treatment for depression, or how long you need to take fish oil to experience depression relief. Consult with your physician before using fish oil.
Length of Treatment and Depression Relief
The amount of time you need to take fish oil for depression relief may depend on a number of factors, including dosage, current omega-3 status and whether you're also taking antidepressant medication. In some people, fish oil may not provide depression relief regardless of treatment length. In one study, published in "Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids" in 2005, participants who augmented their current depression treatment with fish oil experienced depression relief after only two weeks -- however, so did the placebo group. In another study, published in "Journal of Clinical Psychiatry" in 2008, pregnant women with depression who took 3.4 g of omega-3 PUFAs daily for eight weeks experienced significant improvement in symptoms compared to the placebo group after six weeks, and even further depression relief compared to the placebo group after eight weeks of treatment.
Long-Term Supplementation
While neither the effectiveness of fish oil as a depression treatment nor the length of time you need to take fish oil to experience depression relief are well established, taking fish oil long-term is relatively safe and also provides some established health benefits. According to MedlinePlus, fish oil in small doses of 3 g a day or less is likely safe for most people, even for pregnant and nursing women. While long-term, low-dose fish oil supplementation isn't a proven effective treatment for depression, fish oil is, according to MedlinePlus, an effective treatment for high triglycerides, and it is likely effective for lowering risk of heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States. According to research published in "Journal of Clinical Psychology" in 2009, patients with major depressive disorder should consider adding fish oil to their conventional treatment because of its low risk of side effects and proven health benefits.
Considerations
Research on the effectiveness of fish oil to treat depression is inconsistent, according to MedlinePlus. While some studies show a benefit, others do not. The severity of depression may also influence the treatment outcome. According to Mayo Clinic psychiatrist Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D., fish oil is similar to conventional antidepressants in that it appears most helpful for severe forms of depression, but it seems less effective for mild and moderate depression. The best fish oil dose isn't clear, but supplements containing 100 to 300 mg of either EPA or a combination of EPA and DHA appear most helpful in relieving depression, notes Hall-Flavin. It is important to note that although fish oil may be beneficial for depression when taken in conjunction with antidepressants, fish oil alone is not considered an effective treatment for depression.
Precautions
When taken under the supervision of a licensed health care provider, fish oil is likely safe for most people to take for depression for an indefinite period of time. However, high daily doses of fish oil exceeding 3 g per day are possibly unsafe. According to MedlinePlus, high doses of fish oil may increase risk of bleeding, reduce the immune system's ability to fight infection and increase levels of "bad" LDL cholesterol. Fish oil may also interact with certain prescription medications and nutritional supplements, including birth control pills, antihypertensive drugs, the weight-loss drug orlistat, vitamin E, anticoagulants, and herbs and supplements that may slow blood clotting. Talk to your doctor before using fish oil for depression, especially if you have a serious health condition or take prescription medication.
References
- "Journal of Clinical Psychiatry"; Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Major Depressive Disorder During Pregnancy: Results From a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial; KP Su et al.; April 2008
- "Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids"; Randomised Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial of Fish Oil in the Treatment of Depression; KM Silvers, et al.; March 2005
- "Journal of Clinical Psychiatry"; Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Major Depressive Disorder; MP Freeman; 2009
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; February is American Heart Month; January 2011
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