The oil of certain fatty fish, such as tuna, salmon and halibut, has omega-3 fatty acid, a necessary component for human health. However, omega-3 fatty acids are not produced naturally by the human body and can only be obtained through diet. Fish oil has not been found to cause anxiety and -- instead -- may help to lower your anxiety levels. Consult your physician before adding fish oil, or omega-3 fatty acids, to your diet.
Benefits of Fish Oil
Fish oil has been studied for its potential benefits for various disorders. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, the strongest clinical research on fish oil suggests that the fatty acid may help decrease the chance of heart disease. The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil play an important role in brain development and may help in certain cognitive and mental disorders, such as anxiety. Fish oil has a number of other uses including lowering your risk for certain cancers and reducing inflammation in arthritis.
Medical Students Study
A 2011 study published in "Brain, Behavior and Immunity" found that the omega-3 fatty acid in fish oil significantly reduces anxiety in healthy adults. The Ohio State University researchers used medical students as their study participants. The subjects were interviewed and their blood was tested during each visit to assess stress levels and anxiety. The study found that the group receiving omega-3 fatty acid supplements experienced 20 percent less stress than their counterparts. Research also found that omega-3 fatty acids reduced cytokines, which are normally increased during psychological stress.
Primate Study
In another 2011 study published in "PLoS ONE," researchers stated that prior research has found that rodents with deficient levels of omega-3 fatty acids display a number of severe cognitive impairments. Researchers in this study investigated primates' reactions when deficient in omega-3 fatty acids. Gray mouse lemurs were fed either a control diet or a diet supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids. The lemurs that had the supplementation exhibited lower anxiety levels than the control group.
Precautions
Consult with your physician before you add fish oil supplements to your diet. You can take fish oil through supplements or by including more fatty fish, like salmon or tuna, to your diet. Fish oil supplements can interact with certain medications and conditions. If you take any blood-thinning medications, be cautious about taking fish oil since it can also thin blood. Side effects of fish oil are generally mild and include gas, bloating and diarrhea.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Omega-3 Fatty Acids; Steven D. Ehrlich; June 2009
- "Brain, Behavior and Immunity"; Omega-3 Supplementation Lowers Inflammation and Anxiety in Medical Students; J.K. Kiecolt-Glaser, et al.; July 2011
- "PLoS ONE"; Omega-3 Fatty Acids from Fish Oil Lower Anxiety, Improve Cognitive Functions and Reduce Spontaneous Locomotor Activity in a Non-Human Primate; Nina Vino, et al.; June 2011
