Omega-3 fatty acids Helps against psychosis?

Omega-3 fatty acids: help against mental illness? Researchers around Prof. Dr. Paul Amminger from the Universities of Vienna and Melbourne have discovered new findings on the improvement of brain activity in connection with polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids.

The researchers conducted a one-year study with 41 subjects, all of whom belonged to a risk group for a psychosis disorder. These took 12 weeks of fish oil capsules with 1.2 grams of polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids. 40 subjects in a control group took placebo.

Over the one-year observation period, only 4.9 percent of the group took fish oil capsules, a psychosis. In the control group, it was 27.5 percent. The risk of developing a psychosis fell by about 25 percent. The subjects who took the omega-3 fatty acids, experienced improvement in their symptoms and the limitations in everyday life. This to an extent that could be felt and felt by those affected.

Psychoses as a serious incision
About 2-3 percent of the population suffer from psychotic illnesses. Most of these occur even in adolescents or young adults for the first time. Since they often chronify and represent a serious incision in the lives of those affected and their families, usually fast and effective help is needed. A preventive treatment option has been poorly researched so far. According to the researchers there „signs that make it possible to identify patients at high risk for psychotic disorders.“ A psychosis occurs „only very rarely suddenly and "out of nowhere". In most cases, there are already symptoms in a weakened form over weeks to years.“ Already in this phase Prof. Dr. med. Employing Amminger and colleagues with their work.

Treatment with a natural substance
With their work, the researchers indirectly connect to natural medicine by performing a treatment with a naturally occurring substance. Here is an advantage that have been observed in the administration of fish oil as a natural means, no clinically relevant side effects. The omega-3 fatty acids contained in fish oil should also have a protective effect on the heart and circulation. British doctors recently observed that more than one serving of fish (salmon, herring, whitefish like plaice and halibut) per week also reduced diabetes risk by 25 percent. They assume that the effects of fatty acids are that they cause changes in the cell membranes. As a result, they have an influence on the neurotransmitter systems in the brain of those affected.

Previous treatments for psychosis with antipsychotic drugs have been able to „sexual dysfunctions, metabolic changes and weight gain“ lead, gives Dr. Amminger on the website of the University of Vienna. The results of his research have been published in the current issue (Volume 67, No. 2, February 2010) of the prestigious psychiatric journal „Archives of General Psychiatry“ released. A larger international study will now confirm these findings. (Thorsten Fischer, Naturopath Osteopathy, 04.02.2010)

To read more:

Article of MedUni Vienna
Study in the Archives of General Psychiatry
Fish recipes with a lot of omega-3 fatty acids