Abstract: Need support for your mental health? Want to give your child a head start? Omega-3 fats are an important nutrient for your brain and mental health. The latest research suggests that omega-3 fats can prevent and alleviate ADHD, aggression, Alzheimer’s disease, autism, and depression. Particularly important for children, omega-3 has been found to increase childhood intelligence through maternal intake, and to improve development coordination disorder. Omega-3 is essential for brain and mental health.
KEYWORDS: omega-3, DHA, EPA, fish oils, brain health, mental health, Procare, Kids Intelligent, Neurocard
So omega-3 is good for your brain, but does it actually produce beneficial clinical outcomes?
Omega-3 has been investigated for a number of brain and mental health conditions with encouraging results. Research into the mechanisms involved in omega-3 benefits are currently underway. It is known that low levels of omega-3 can result in a range of brain and mental health conditions and insufficiencies.
There have been a number of studies undertaken with omega-3 fats in the prevention and treatment of mental illness. Below is an update of the latest research using omega-3 in clinical trials for mental conditions:
Summary of Clinical Findings
| Condition |
Investigators |
Omega-3 Source Used |
No. of trials |
Result |
Findings |
| ADHD |
Richardson et al.[1], Stevens et al.[2] |
DHA, EPA |
2 |
Positive |
DHA and EPA reduce symptoms of ADHD |
| Aggression |
Hamazaki et al. [3-5] |
DHA |
3 |
Positive |
DHA-treated subjects became less aggressive towards other people |
| Alzheimer's |
Morris et al.[6], Schaefer et al.[7], Johnson et al.[8] |
Fish, fish oil, DHA |
3 |
Positive |
Up to 60% reduction in the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease |
| Autism |
Amminger et al.[9] |
DHA + EPA |
1 |
Positive |
Omega-3 fatty acids reduced hyperactivity and stereotypy in autistic children. |
| Children's intelligence |
Helland et al.[10, 11] |
Fish oil |
2 |
Positive |
Child intelligence was significantly increased with maternal intake of fish oil. |
| Depression |
Mamalakis et al.[12], Frasure-Smith et al.[13], Su et al.[14, 15], Stoll et al.[16], Jazayeri et al.[17], Nemets et al.[18], Peet et al.[19], Rogers et al.[20] |
Fish oil, DHA, EPA |
9 |
Positive (1 no effect) |
Depression is linked with low levels of omega-3. Omega-3 improves symptoms associated with major and manic depression, childhood depression, and depression during pregnancy. Omega-3 provides an additive effect to antidepressants |
| Development Coordination Disorder |
Richardson et al.[21] |
Fish oil |
1 |
Positive |
Fish oil therapy significantly improved reading, spelling, ADHD-related symptoms, and behaviour in children. |
Whether in the form of increased fish consumption, concentrated fish oils, DHA or EPA, omega-3 fatty acids can alleviate a number of symptoms associated with brain and mental conditions. Research indicates that omega-3 is essential for our daily diet to maintain optimal brain function, and to reduce the risk of developing symptoms of mental illness. It is also reasonable to suggest that as research continues, omega-3 fatty acids may be found to improve other mental conditions.
1. Richardson AJ, Puri BK: A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the effects of supplementation with highly unsaturated fatty acids on ADHD-related symptoms in children with specific learning difficulties. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2002, 26(2):233-239.
2. Stevens L, Zhang W, Peck L, Kuczek T, Grevstad N, Mahon A, Zentall SS, Arnold LE, Burgess JR: EFA supplementation in children with inattention, hyperactivity, and other disruptive behaviors. Lipids 2003, 38(10):1007-1021.
3. Hamazaki T, Sawazaki S, Itomura M, Asaoka E, Nagao Y, Nishimura N, Yazawa K, Kuwamori T, Kobayashi M: The effect of docosahexaenoic acid on aggression in young adults. A placebo-controlled double-blind study. J Clin Invest 1996, 97(4):1129-1133.
4. Hamazaki T, Itomura M, Sawazaki S, Nagao Y: Anti-stress effects of DHA. Biofactors 2000, 13(1-4):41-45.
5. Hamazaki T, Thienprasert A, Kheovichai K, Samuhaseneetoo S, Nagasawa T, Watanabe S: The effect of docosahexaenoic acid on aggression in elderly Thai subjects--a placebo-controlled double-blind study. Nutr Neurosci 2002, 5(1):37-41.
6. Morris MC, Evans DA, Bienias JL, Tangney CC, Bennett DA, Wilson RS, Aggarwal N, Schneider J: Consumption of fish and n-3 fatty acids and risk of incident Alzheimer disease. Arch Neurol 2003, 60(7):940-946.
7. Schaefer EJ, Bongard V, Beiser AS, Lamon-Fava S, Robins SJ, Au R, Tucker KL, Kyle DJ, Wilson PW, Wolf PA: Plasma phosphatidylcholine docosahexaenoic acid content and risk of dementia and Alzheimer disease: the Framingham Heart Study. Arch Neurol 2006, 63(11):1545-1550.
8. Johnson EJ, Schaefer EJ: Potential role of dietary n-3 fatty acids in the prevention of dementia and macular degeneration. Am J Clin Nutr 2006, 83(6 Suppl):1494S-1498S.
9. Amminger GP, Berger GE, Schafer MR, Klier C, Friedrich MH, Feucht M: Omega-3 fatty acids supplementation in children with autism: a double-blind randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study. Biol Psychiatry 2007, 61(4):551-553.
10. Helland IB, Saugstad OD, Smith L, Saarem K, Solvoll K, Ganes T, Drevon CA: Similar effects on infants of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids supplementation to pregnant and lactating women. Pediatrics 2001, 108(5):E82.
11. Helland IB, Smith L, Saarem K, Saugstad OD, Drevon CA: Maternal supplementation with very-long-chain n-3 fatty acids during pregnancy and lactation augments children's IQ at 4 years of age. Pediatrics 2003, 111(1):e39-44.
12. Mamalakis G, Tornaritis M, Kafatos A: Depression and adipose essential polyunsaturated fatty acids. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 2002, 67(5):311-318.
13. Frasure-Smith N, Lesperance F, Julien P: Major depression is associated with lower omega-3 fatty acid levels in patients with recent acute coronary syndromes. Biol Psychiatry 2004, 55(9):891-896.
14. Su KP, Huang SY, Chiu CC, Shen WW: Omega-3 fatty acids in major depressive disorder. A preliminary double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2003, 13(4):267-271.
15. Su KP, Huang SY, Chiu TH, Huang KC, Huang CL, Chang HC, Pariante CM: Omega-3 fatty acids for major depressive disorder during pregnancy: results from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Clin Psychiatry 2008, 69(4):644-651.
16. Stoll AL, Severus WE, Freeman MP, Rueter S, Zboyan HA, Diamond E, Cress KK, Marangell LB: Omega 3 fatty acids in bipolar disorder: a preliminary double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1999, 56(5):407-412.
17. Jazayeri S, Tehrani-Doost M, Keshavarz SA, Hosseini M, Djazayery A, Amini H, Jalali M, Peet M: Comparison of therapeutic effects of omega-3 fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid and fluoxetine, separately and in combination, in major depressive disorder. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2008, 42(3):192-198.
18. Nemets H, Nemets B, Apter A, Bracha Z, Belmaker RH: Omega-3 treatment of childhood depression: a controlled, double-blind pilot study. Am J Psychiatry 2006, 163(6):1098-1100.
19. Peet M, Horrobin DF: A dose-ranging study of the effects of ethyl-eicosapentaenoate in patients with ongoing depression despite apparently adequate treatment with standard drugs. Arch Gen Psychiatry 2002, 59(10):913-919.
20. Rogers PJ, Appleton KM, Kessler D, Peters TJ, Gunnell D, Hayward RC, Heatherley SV, Christian LM, McNaughton SA, Ness AR: No effect of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (EPA and DHA) supplementation on depressed mood and cognitive function: a randomised controlled trial. Br J Nutr 2008, 99(2):421-431.
21. Richardson AJ, Montgomery P: The Oxford-Durham study: a randomized, controlled trial of dietary supplementation with fatty acids in children with developmental coordination disorder. Pediatrics 2005, 115(5):1360-1366.
