By Elizabeth Barker
We already know that fish oil, rich in inflammation-fighting omega-3 fatty acids, appears to keep our bodies healthy by fending off heart disease and stroke, lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels, increasing bone density, preserving eyesight and protecting against some forms of cancer. Now research shows that fish oil might also protect mental health: A new study from Brain, Behavior and Immunity shows omega-3s may alleviate anxiety, while a recent report from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) points to a link between low omega-3 levels and suicide risk in the military.
For the former study, researchers assigned 68 medical students to 12 weeks of treatment with either omega-3 supplements or placebos. Surveys designed to gauge the participants’ psychological health determined that students given omega-3s experienced a 20 percent reduction in anxiety (compared to students in the placebo group). Members of the omega-3 group also saw a significant drop in levels of certain inflammatory chemicals, an effect that could diminish their risk for life-threatening conditions such as heart disease and cancer.
In the NIH study, investigators looked at data on 800 active-duty U.S. military personnel who had committed suicide and 800 military personnel with no history of suicide attempts. Results revealed that subjects with low blood levels of docosahexaenoic acid (or DHA, an omega-3 abundant in oily fish like salmon, mackerel, sardines, and herring) were 62 percent more likely to commit suicide than those with the highest blood levels of DHA. Although it’s unclear how or why maintaining optimal DHA levels may reduce suicide risk, previous research suggests that a high intake of omega-3s might help ease depression.
