There is an increasing amount of evidence that a diet containing omega-3 fatty acids, already known to help prevent cardiovascular disease, may also prevent depression. As a result, some researchers are calling for new studies to look into the mental health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids.
The push comes at a time when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has determined to put warnings on antidepressant medications warning about the drugs’ higher potential for those taking it to commit suicide.
Dr. Barbara Levine, associate professor of nutrition in clinical medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College and director of the DHA Information Center at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell is calling for the study of naturally occurring antidepressants, specifically omega-3 fatty acids, found most abundantly in fish and seafood. Dr. Levine has been studying a component of omega-3s and its effects on lowering triglycerides and raising HDL (“good”)cholesterol in overweight and obese patients with metabolic syndrome.
The relation of omega-3s and depression has been revealed in several studies worldwide. In a large Finnish study of fish consumption and depressive symptoms, published in Psychiatric Services in April 2001, researchers demonstrated that people are more like to be depressed if they didn’t eat much fish. They point out that Americans have lowered the amount of omega-3 that they eat, while the number of people suffering from depression has increased.
Dr. Joseph R. Hibbeln of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), discovered that omega-3 may influence serotonin functionality in the brain. Lower levels of this chemical in the brain are strongly associated with depression and suicide.
The bottom line? It appears that foods containing omega-3 fatty acids could help you avoid depression. Try increasing the amount you eat. If you take antidepressants, make sure to speak with your health care provider before making any major changes.
