Fish Oil For Depression

It may sound fishy, but fish oil for depression can be a great addition to your overall treatment. Researchers say taking a daily fish-oil supplement may boost the effectiveness -- or even replace -- antidepressants for treating depression in some people.

In a new study, people who added a daily dose of omega-3 fatty acids to their regular antidepressant treatment had significant improvement in symptoms, including anxiety, sleeping problems, sadness, decreased sexual desire, and suicidal tendencies.

Although there are many effective treatments for depression, most only work in a limited number of patients or have significant side effects that prompt users to stop taking them. That's inspired researchers to look for new ways to treat the mental illness or increase the effectiveness of existing treatments.

Previous studies have suggested that depressed people have lower-than-normal levels of a fatty acid known as EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), which plays an important role in maintaining normal brain function.

The omega-3 fatty acid may work to ease depression by improving the effectiveness and absorption of existing medications. However, there are some poeple who are not on antidepressant therapy but have seen improvements similar to drug treatment with fish-oil supplements alone.

From the standpoint of how the body works physiologically, researchers point out that cell membranes are made up partly of omega-3's. It is possible that increasing the omega-3 levels makes it easier for serotonin -- a neurotransmitter that carries messages from one brain cell to another -- to pass through cell membranes.

A handful of small studies have suggested that omega-3 fatty acids can help smooth out the mood swings of bipolar disorder as well. There are few effective treatments against the disease, so the news is a hot topic now.

In addition, they say treatment with fish oil for depression may be especially beneficial for depressed patients who are at risk for heart disease, in light of recent research about fish oil's heart-healthy effects.

The Food and Drug Administration is now considering what quantity of omega-3's to recommend; currently it has no recommendation but classifies three grams per day as safe.

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