Omega-3 From Fish Oil Can Reduce Risk of Psychosis: Study

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Omega-3 fatty acid, which is commonly found in fish, is known to help lower triglycerides in the blood, making the person less prone to acquiring heart disease. Besides helping the heart, a new study has discovered that the fatty acid can also help prevent the development of full-blown mental illnesses, like that of schizophrenia and psychosis.

Live Science reports that based on the findings from a study conducted at the University of Melbourne in Australia, omega-3 fatty acid may be the cure experts are looking for to finally stop the occurrence of these extremely difficult-to-treat cognitive problems.

Dr. G. Paul Amminger, a psychiatrist and co-author of the study, said that although there are other antipsychotic medications available in the market, omega-3 fatty acids may be the best option for providing a longer-term treatment with lessened side effects.

Forbes Magazine elaborates that the study has evaluated 81 subjects with varying ages from 13 to 25 who have higher risks of acquiring a mental disorder and have asked them to consume either fish oil capsules or placebo capsules.

After seven years, the researchers have revisited the subjects, which have been downsized to 71, and have discovered that only 10 percent of those who have received the fish oil capsules have developed psychosis or schizophrenia while 40 percent of those taking the placebo capsule have been diagnosed with the dreaded mental problems.

The team has also taken into consideration other mood disorders like anxiety and although only a small number of participants have manifested the symptoms, the researchers are still able to conclude that 83 percent of the placebo users have showed signs of the mental condition while only 53 percent did so in the fish oil users.

However, The Guardian states that experts find the study on teenagers and young adults to be relatively small. Doctors feel that before they can provide a concrete recommendation, further studies should be done.

Clive Adams, co-editor of the Cochrane Schizophrenia Group at Nottingham University, said the study needs to be tested in coordination with other newer published trials to study further the effects of omega-3. He also believed that the study done by Dr. Amminger and his team may pave the way for new and better treatment of the mental condition.

The study has been published in the journal Nature Communications.