Schizophrenia: Fewer Cases Thanks to Omega-3 Intake

Fish oil rich in omega-3 may prevent the onset of psychotic disorders in at-risk youth; in particular, three months of daily supplementation reduces the risk of progression to schizophrenia. These improvements also seem to persist for years after supplement intake.

This is reported by a study conducted by researchers at the University of Melbourne (Australia) and published in the prestigious journal Nature.

Omega-3 Are Components of Neurons

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for neural development and function. As key components of brain tissue, particularly DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), they play a critical role in brain development and function. Omega-3 fatty acids, abundant in fatty fish like salmon and mackerel but also available in fish oil capsules, appear to enhance the effectiveness of antidepressants and improve attention. Deficiency of these fatty acids may also be implicated in several mental health conditions, including schizophrenia, one of the most serious and common. Schizophrenia is characterized by delusions and visual or auditory hallucinations. It is often diagnosed between ages 15 and 35, and although it can cause disability, early pharmacological treatment seems to yield positive outcomes.

Beneficial Effects of Omega-3 Still Visible After 7 Years

In 2010, the same scientists from the University of Melbourne published a study demonstrating that 12 weeks of omega-3 supplementation could reduce the risk of progression to psychotic disorders by about one year in vulnerable youth aged 13 to 24. Specifically, in that research, the investigators selected young people highly vulnerable to developing severe mental illnesses who had experienced transient hallucinations or delusional thoughts or had a family history of serious mental illnesses. On average, youths in these categories have a 35-40% probability of developing schizophrenia, and nearly 7 out of 10 will develop other psychiatric disorders, including depression, bipolar disorder, and substance dependence. In this new study, the researchers completed their previous analyses by observing the same patients nearly 7 years after omega-3 supplementation.

The new study’s results showed that only 4 out of 41 youths who had taken fish oil for three months developed psychosis in the following seven years, compared to 16 out of 40 who had received a placebo capsule during treatment. Moreover, 54% of the placebo group were prescribed antipsychotic medications over the 7 years, while only 29% of those who took fish oil supplements required such therapies. Of the placebo group, 83% developed a psychiatric condition other than schizophrenia over the years, while only 53% of those who had supplementation received other psychiatric diagnoses.

Fish Oil and Psychosis: A Relationship Yet to Be Fully Understood

According to the researchers who conducted the studies, these results demonstrate that omega-3 supplements prevented the onset of psychotic disorders even 7 years after supplementation, and suggest the possibility of using polyunsaturated fatty acids as an alternative to early pharmacological treatment, which entails several side effects. Further studies will be necessary to clarify the action of omega-3 on psychosis in highly predisposed young people. To stay updated on the latest scientific research news about omega-3 subscribe to our newsletter.

Source: Amminger, G. P. et al. Longer-term outcome in the prevention of psychotic disorders by the Vienna omega-3 study. Nat. Commun. 6:7934 doi: 10.1038/ncomms8934 (2015).