Can Taking Fish Oil Help Depression?

Fish oil isn’t a replacement for an entire depression treatment plan, and it’s not going to make symptoms disappear altogether.

But some evidence suggests fish oil could help alongside antidepressants and cognitive behavioral therapy, says Ashton Scherrer, PhD, a clinical psychologist with Providence Swedish in the Greater Seattle area.

How Do Omega-3s Affect the Brain?

“EPA and DHA help maintain the integrity of cell membranes, support neurotransmitter activity, and have anti-inflammatory properties,” says Nick Bach, PsyD, a clinical psychologist and the CEO of Grace Psychological Services in Louisville, Kentucky.

Inflammation is often linked to changes in structure or function of the brain that are associated with depression.

Higher ratios of EPA to DHA seem to be better at fighting inflammation and soothing symptoms of depression. Evidence suggests EPA could influence serotonin and dopamine pathways, which are key for regulating mood, says Dr. Bach.

Another study found that taking a supplement with more EPA than DHA helped people with both major depressive disorder and low-grade inflammation reduce fatigue and sleep problems.

Some fish oil supplements have more EPA than DHA, but only certain brands may include this information on the label or their website.

What the Science Says About Fish Oil for Depression

“Fish oil has mixed scientific support when it comes to helping with depression,” says Dr. Scherrer.

Omega-3s seemed to boost motivation (enthusiasm, alertness, and energy) in people with both depression and signs of inflammation in one randomized controlled trial.

Meanwhile, a review of research on fish oil’s ability to treat depression found that while some studies suggested fish oil could reduce symptoms, others detected no benefit.

Why are the results so varied? A complex web of factors contribute to depression, and fish oil may address only some of these.

You might benefit from taking fish oil alongside antidepressants, according to an observational study. People with mild to moderate depression who took both fish oil and antidepressants saw a larger reduction in symptoms than those who took either treatment alone.

What Fish Oil Can’t Do

Fish oil alone is generally not recommended as a treatment for depression, given the small to nonexistent average effect on major depressive disorder. It also doesn’t appear to be effective for preventing depression among adults older than 50, according to a five-year clinical trial.

Even when fish oil does help, it’s absorbed and used by the body differently from an antidepressant. “Fish oil is first absorbed by the stomach, while a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) is processed through the liver,” Scherrer says.

Scherrer explains that SSRIs stop the brain from reabsorbing the serotonin we naturally release to use for various brain functions.

When antidepressants act on neurotransmitters, they change the way brain cells communicate, affecting mood. It’s unclear whether fish oil acts in a similar way.

Read the full article here

How Do Omega-3s Affect the Brain?

What the Science Says About Fish Oil for Depression

What Fish Oil Can’t Do

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