Does Fish Oil Help With Mood?

Introduction

Fish oil, rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), has been widely studied for its potential benefits on mood and mental health. This synthesis aims to evaluate the effectiveness of fish oil supplementation in improving mood based on findings from multiple research studies.

Key Insights

No Significant Improvement in Mood for Depression Patients:
- Several studies found that fish oil supplementation did not significantly improve mood in patients with depression when compared to placebo .
Limited Effects in Healthy Individuals:
- In healthy young adults, fish oil supplementation showed minimal effects on mood and cognitive function, even under stress.
Potential Benefits for Specific Subgroups:
- Fish oil may improve mood in specific subgroups, such as APOE4 non-carriers, who showed increased vigor and reduced mood disturbances.
- In adolescents at high risk for bipolar disorder, fish oil was not superior to placebo in reducing depressive symptoms but showed some improvement in global symptom ratings.
Neuroinflammation and Depression:
- Fish oil may help prevent depressive-like behavior by inhibiting neuroinflammation, as shown in animal studies.
Dietary Interventions:
- A Mediterranean-style diet supplemented with fish oil improved mental health and reduced depression in adults with self-reported depression.
No Effect in Non-Depressed Populations:
- Increased fish intake did not significantly affect mood in men with angina who did not have depressive symptoms.

Conclusion

The overall evidence suggests that fish oil supplementation does not consistently improve mood in the general population or in individuals with depression. However, it may offer benefits for specific subgroups, such as APOE4 non-carriers and those at high risk for bipolar disorder. Additionally, fish oil may help prevent neuroinflammation-related depressive behaviors and improve mental health when combined with a healthy diet. Further research is needed to identify the populations that might benefit the most from fish oil supplementation.

Summary

Consensus Meter

Introduction

Key Insights

Conclusion

Sources and full results

Randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial of fish oil in the treatment of depression.

Omega-3 fatty acids and stress-induced changes to mood and cognition in healthy individuals

An Exploratory Analysis of Changes in Mental Wellbeing Following Curcumin and Fish Oil Supplementation in Middle-Aged and Older Adults

Fish oil supplementation in the treatment of major depression: A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial

Effects of Moderate-Dose Omega-3 Fish Oil on Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Mood After Ischemic Stroke: A Randomized, Controlled Trial

Fish Oil Prevents Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Depressive-Like Behavior by Inhibiting Neuroinflammation

Emotion-Related Network Reorganization Following Fish Oil Supplementation in Depressed Bipolar Offspring: An fMRI Graph-Based Connectome Analysis.

Effects of Fish Oil Monotherapy on Depression and Prefrontal Neurochemistry in Adolescents at High Risk for Bipolar I Disorder: A 12-Week Placebo-Controlled Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Trial.

A Mediterranean-style dietary intervention supplemented with fish oil improves diet quality and mental health in people with depression: A randomized controlled trial (HELFIMED)

Advice to Eat Fish and Mood: A Randomised Controlled Trial in Men with Angina

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