Omega-3 fatty acids ‘can reduce rates of depression’

A new study has underlined the potentially significant benefits that omega-3 fatty acids can provide in reducing the risk of depression.

International researchers, led by King's College London, have conducted a randomised placebo-controlled study in order to carefully evaluate the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on inflammation-induced depression.

A total of 152 patients with hepatitis C were given two weeks of treatment with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), two main omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil supplements, with their performance compared with placebo.

Treatment with EPA – but not DHA or placebo – was shown to decrease the incidence of interferon-alpha-induced depression in patients being treated for hepatitis C.

Senior author Dr Carmine Pariante said: "The study shows that even a short course of a nutritional supplement containing one such omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid reduced the rates of new-onset depression to ten percent."

Since patients with increased inflammation have a greatly elevated risk of depression, this could be an important finding – one that also adds to the body of evidence highlighting the manifold health benefits of omega-3.